Selection and use of content experts for instrument development

Area of Science:

• Health measurement
• Instrument development
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Content experts are vital for instrument validation.
• Errors can occur if expert selection and utilization are not planned.
• Systematic processes are needed for effective expert engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a systematic process for selecting and using content experts in instrument development.
• To emphasize familiarizing experts with the instrument's conceptual underpinnings and measurement model.
• To illustrate expert validation using a caregiver burden measure.

Main Methods:

• Described a systematic process for choosing, orienting, and using content experts.
• Highlighted the importance of familiarizing experts with the instrument's conceptual framework.
• Provided an example of expert validation for a caregiver burden instrument.

Main Results:

• A structured approach to expert engagement enhances the reliability of content validation.
• Thorough familiarization of experts with the instrument's model is essential for accurate judgments.
• The caregiver burden measure example demonstrated the practical application of the proposed process.

Conclusions:

• Systematic selection and orientation of content experts are critical for robust instrument validation.
• Ensuring experts understand the instrument's conceptual and measurement models minimizes errors.
• This systematic approach improves the quality and validity of developed instruments.