A Substruction Approach to Assessing the Theoretical Validity of Measures

Authors

Polly Ryan, University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeFollow
Marianne E. Weiss, Marquette UniversityFollow
Paula E. Papanek, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

2019

Publisher

Springer Publishing Company

Source Publication

Journal of Nursing Measurement

Source ISSN

1061-3749

Abstract

Background

Validity is about the logic, meaningfulness, and evidence used to defend inferences made when interpreting results. Substruction is a heuristic or process that visually represent the hierarchical structure between theory and measures.

Purpose

To describe substruction as a method for assessing the toretical validity of research measures.

Methods

Using Fawcett's Conceptual-Theoretical-Empirical Structure. an exemplar is presented of substruction from the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory to the Striving to be strong study concepts and empirical measures.

Results

Substruction tables display evidence supporting theoretical validity of the instruments used in the study.

Conclusion

A high degree of congruence between theory and measure is critical to support the validity of the theory and to support attributions made about moderating, mediating, causal relationships, and intervention effects.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Nursing Measurement, Vol. 27, No. 1 (2019): 126-145. DOI. © 2019 Springer Publishing Company. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Ryan, Polly; Weiss, Marianne E.; and Papanek, Paula E., "A Substruction Approach to Assessing the Theoretical Validity of Measures" (2019). Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications. 168.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/exsci_fac/168