ABSTRACT

This chapter describes issues involved in the measurement of hypothetical constructs. It begins with an overview of the concepts of reliability and validity of measurement. It then addresses the reliability of measures: the ways in which reliability can be assessed, suggestions for choosing the appropriate type of reliability assessment, standards for reliability, and the use of item response theory to improve the reliability of measurement. The section on validity assessment discusses categories of validity evidence, discriminant validity, relationships among the categories of validity evidence, and guidelines for determining a measure’s degree of validity. The chapter next addresses modalities of measurement—the ways in which constructs can be measured. These modalities include self-report measures, behavioral measures, physiological measures, and implicit measures; this section also includes guidelines for choosing a measurement modality. The chapter concludes with information on locating and evaluating measures.