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Related Concept Videos

Schemas01:42

Schemas

A schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
Concepts and Prototypes01:24

Concepts and Prototypes

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Elaborative Rehearsals01:07

Elaborative Rehearsals

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Structuralism01:26

Structuralism

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A schema is a mental framework that helps individuals organize and interpret information. Schemata, formed from previous experiences, influence how we process new information: how we encode it, the inferences we make, and how we retrieve it. For instance, a schema for what a typical classroom looks like might include desks, a teacher's desk, a whiteboard, and students in such an environment. This expectation helps us quickly understand and navigate new classrooms without needing to analyze each...
Impact of Schemas01:30

Impact of Schemas

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
10:23

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Beyond redundancy: rethinking construct proliferation through meaning, practice, and taxonomy.

Lorne M Hartman1

  • 1Translational Research Program, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Frontiers in Psychology
|July 16, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Construct proliferation (CP) in organizational research is a complex issue. This paper argues that semantic divergence under shared labels is as important as redundancy, requiring conceptual clarity and better integration for effective research and application.

Keywords:
academic-practice gapconstruct proliferationjingle-jangle fallacysemantic toolstaxonomic incommensurability

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
10:23

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Organizational Behavior
  • Management Science
  • Research Methodology

Background:

  • Construct proliferation (CP) in organizational research is often viewed as a problem of redundant measures with different names but similar meanings (jingle-jangle fallacy).
  • Existing approaches tend to focus on the 'jangle' aspect (different names, same meaning) while overlooking 'jingle' (same name, different meanings).
  • This overlooks the critical issue of semantic divergence where shared labels mask distinct conceptual underpinnings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a more comprehensive understanding of construct proliferation (CP) in organizational research.
  • To highlight the underemphasized problem of semantic divergence under shared labels.
  • To propose that CP stems from deeper structural dynamics and suggest novel analytical approaches.

Main Methods:

  • This perspective paper analyzes the conceptual and methodological challenges of construct proliferation.
  • It critiques prevailing frameworks by contrasting the jingle-jangle fallacy with semantic divergence.
  • It proposes leveraging semantic analysis for a deeper understanding of construct meaning.

Main Results:

  • Prevailing approaches to construct proliferation (CP) overemphasize redundancy and neglect semantic divergence under shared labels.
  • CP is linked to structural dynamics like audience misalignment and uncoordinated construct definition and use.
  • These dynamics lead to taxonomic incommensurability, hindering meaningful integration of constructs.
  • Semantic analysis offers a promising tool to address CP at the meaning level, beyond measurement.

Conclusions:

  • Construct proliferation (CP) requires addressing semantic divergence, not just redundancy.
  • Deeper structural issues, including audience misalignment and lack of coordination, fuel CP.
  • Effective solutions involve conceptual clarification, cross-domain coordination, and integrating research with practice, enhanced by semantic analysis.