The constructs used for studying human psychology has many definitions. Also, there are corresponding instructions for obtaining and coding qualitative data for measuring the constructs. So, how can researchers communicate which definition(s) and guideline(s) are being followed during the empirical and secondary research.
The constructs used for studying human psychology has many definitions. Also, there are corresponding instructions for obtaining and coding qualitative data for measuring the constructs. So, how can researchers communicate which definition(s) and guideline(s) are being followed during the empirical and secondary research.
In psychology, many different guidelines exist for developing measurement instruments and manipulations of constructs. When conducting empirical research or secondary research, therefore, it is important to have a clear idea and communicate, which guidelines are followed. It follows that there is a need for developing a final authoritative taxonomy.
However, because the guidelines are fragmented and there is no consensus on how a construct should be measured or manipulated, a universal taxonomy is not feasible. At the same time, there is no change in the importance of researchers communicating their study-specific taxonomy. The need of the hour is decentralized construct taxonomies that will enable both, the necessity of having a taxonomy and communicating clearly.
Decentralized Construct Taxonomies (DCTs) are plain text files. They follow a number of conventions that enable unequivocal communication and reference to specific constructs and definitions, as well as their assumed structural composition. Specifically, for any given construct, DCTs allow explicit specification for construct metadata; the construct’s definition; construct measurement; construct manipulation; construct aspects, and relationship with other constructs. Furthermore, the main specifications can be based on a source that can also be specified in a human and machine-readable manner.
DCTs enable researchers to communicate easily how they define their target constructs and exactly what implications this carries for operationalization. This will help other researchers adopt the same definitions by simply copying the DCT specifications and publishing them with their paper. Alternatively, they can adjust them, or use different ones.
In addition to facilitating clear communication without imposing the need for central curation, DCTs facilitate building databases of construct definitions and accompanying instructions. A lab or course can collect a set of DCT specifications and simply use the DCT package to compile them into sets of instructions for developing operationalizations, or for coding qualitative data, consistent with the other work done at that lab or institution.
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