Psychometrics and clinimetrics in assessing environments: A comment suggested by Mackenzie et al., 2002

Psychometrics is the name commonly used for the principles and methods of developing valid and reliable measures of intelligence, attitudes, skills, and other characteristics. One focus of psychometrics is the homogeneity of the items selected to measure the (unidimensional) latent construct of interest. Clinical scientists often use operationalizations of constructs that incorporate multiple dimensions, which may be quantified using only a single indicator. The difference between the two approaches is significant enough that Feinstein proposed a new science, clinimetrics. Homogeneity of items is of limited importance in clinimetrics, and construct indicators may be "causal" rather than "effectual." In measuring environments of individuals, the clinimetric approach seems more appropriate than the psychometric one. An article by Mackenzie et al. (J Allied Health 2002; 31:222-228) is used to show how adhering to psychometric models may suggest analytical procedures that are misleading. Some principles of the clinimetric method are set forth.