Improving measurement models in clinical epidemiology: time to move  beyond the inherent assumption of an underlying reflective measurement model

The nature of a construct's measurement model, most decisively being predominantly reflective or formative, is essential for its development, validation, and use. Differentiating between these types of measurement models cannot be done based on statistics alone, but has to rely on expert judgment, preferably guided by checklists and theoretical assumptions. However, consideration and substantiation of the choices of the measurement models is lacking in most studies describing the validation of measurement instruments in the field of clinical epidemiology.
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - Category: Epidemiology Authors: Tags: Commentary Source Type: research