The Nomological Network

1. The Nomological Network

2. What Is the Nomological Net? • An idea developed by Cronbach, L. and Meehl, P. (1955). Construct Validity in Psychological Tests, Psychological Bulletin, 52, 4, 281-302. • Nomological is derived from Greek and means “lawful”. • Links interrelated theoretical ideas with empirical evidence.

3. What Is the Nomological Net? A representation

4. What Is the Nomological Net? A representation of the concepts (constructs) of interest in a study, Construct Construct Construct Construct Construct

5. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs What Is the Nomological Net? A representation of the concepts (constructs) of interest in a study, Construct Construct Construct Construct Construct ...their observable manifestations,

6. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs What Is the Nomological Net? A representation of the concepts (constructs) of interest in a study, construct construct construct construct construct ...their observable manifestations, and the interrelationships among and among these.

7. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs What Is the Nomological Net? Theoretical Level: Concepts, Ideas Construct Construct Construct Construct Construct

8. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs What Is the Nomological Net? Theoretical Level: Concepts, Ideas Construct Construct Construct Construct Construct Observed Level: Measures, Programs

9. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles Scientifically, to make clear what something is means to set forth the laws in which it occurs. Construct Construct Construct This interlocking system of laws is the Nomological Network.

10. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles The laws in a nomological network may relate... Construct Construct Construct observable properties or quantities to each other.

11. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles The laws in a nomological network may relate... Construct Construct Construct different theoretical constructs to each other.

12. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles The laws in a nomological network may relate... Construct Construct Construct theoretical constructs to observables.

13. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles Construct Construct Construct At least some of the laws in the network must involve observables.

14. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles "Learning more about" a theoretical construct is a matter of elaborating the nomological network in which it occurs. Construct Construct Construct

15. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles "Learning more about" a theoretical construct is a matter of elaborating the nomological network in which it occurs... Construct Construct Construct or of increasing the definiteness of its components.

16. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles The basic rule for adding a new construct or relation to a theory is that it must generate laws (nomologicals) confirmed by observation... Construct Construct Construct Construct

17. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles The basic rule for adding a new construct or relation to a theory is that it must generate laws (nomologicals) confirmed by observation... Construct Construct Construct Construct or reduce the number of nomologicals required to predict some observables.

18. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles Operations that are qualitatively different "overlap" or "measure the same thing"... Construct Construct Construct

19. Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Obs Principles Operations which are qualitatively different "overlap" or "measure the same thing"... Construct Construct Construct if their positions in the nomological net tie them to the same construct variable.

20. The Main Problem with the Nomological Net It doesn't tell us how we can assess the construct validity in a study.