Table 2 Definitions of key terms applied in theory development
Key term | Definition |
|---|---|
Conceptual definition | Defines a construct in abstract or theoretical terms |
Operational definition | Defines a construct by specifying the procedures used to measure that construct |
Concept | Mental representation of a kind or category of items or ideas (APA, 2017) [65] |
Construct | The building block for theorising (Glanz et al., 2008) [66] |
Conceptualisation | Involves concept formation, which establishes the meaning of a construct by elaborating the nomological network and defining important subdomains of its meaning (p. 4 Hox 1997 [33]) |
Operationalization | Involves the translation of a theoretical construct into observable variables by specifying empirical indicators for the concept and its subdomains (p. 4 Hox, 1997 [33]) |