Construct

Abstract

A construct in social science describes a theoretical idea, entity, or concept. The entry differentiates between two types of constructs: empirical and hypothetical constructs. When the construct is derived from empirical data, it is called an empirical construct. In contrast, a hypothetical construct is based on an a priori formulated theoretical definition and then supported by empirical measurement. In communication research there exist many hypothetical constructs, which largely rely on indirect measurements, due to the complex nature of the investigated phenomena.