On nomological validity and auxiliary assumptions: The importance of simultaneously testing effects in social cognitive theories applied to health behavior and some guidelines

Abstract

Tests of social cognitive theories provide informative data on the factors that relate to health behavior, and the processes and mechanisms involved. In the present article, we contend that tests of social cognitive theories should adhere to the principles of nomological validity, defined as the degree to which predictions in a formal theoretical network are confirmed. We highlight the importance of nomological validity tests to ensure theory predictions can be disconfirmed through observation. We argue that researchers should be explicit on the conditions that lead to theory disconfirmation, and identify any auxiliary assumptions on which theory effects may be conditional. We contend that few researchers formally test the nomological validity of theories, or outline conditions that lead to model rejection and the auxiliary assumptions that may explain findings that run counter to hypotheses, raising potential for 'falsification evasion. ' We present a brief analysis of studies (k = 122) testing four key social cognitive theories in health behavior to illustrate deficiencies in reporting theory tests and evaluations of nomological validity. Our analysis revealed that few articles report explicit statements suggesting that their findings support or reject the hypotheses of the theories tested, even when findings point to rejection. We illustrate the importance of explicit a priori specification of fundamental theory hypotheses and associated auxiliary assumptions, and identification of the conditions which would lead to rejection of theory predictions. We also demonstrate the value of confirmatory analytic techniques, meta-analytic structural equation modeling, and Bayesian analyses in providing robust converging evidence for nomological validity. We provide a set of guidelines for researchers on how to adopt and apply the nomological validity approach to testing health behavior models.

Effects of medication, treatment, and behavioral beliefs on intentions to take medication in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

“…However, it is consistent with previous research examining specific beliefs about medication in FH patients [9]. Some have argued that failure to find one of the key predictions in the theory is grounds for falsification of the theory predictions, at least in the population and for the behavior of interest [40]. In this context, it may be that the strong correlations and substantive shared variable between attitudes, intentions, and perceived behavioral control may have attenuated effects of perceived behavioral control.…”

The reasoned action approach applied to health behavior: Role of past behavior and tests of some key moderators using meta-analytic structural equation modeling

“…Second, an important implication of these findings is that tests of the RAA in the absence of past behavior are likely to yield inflated estimates of the averaged effects of intention on health behavior, and indirect effects of RAA constructs acting through intentions, and may lead to misleading conclusions regarding the size of the effects. This has important ramifications for the RAA given that the intention-behavior relationship is central to the model and fundamental to its validity (Hagger et al, 2017a;Trafimow, 2009). At the aggregate level, our analysis has important implications for interpreting the pattern of effects in the RAA and for future research.…”

“…Such designs do not permit the inference of causal relations among variables in the model. Such inferences are based on theory alone and alternative models that are plausible empirically, if not theoretically, could be proposed Hagger et al, 2017a) Another alternative would be to use a quasi-experimental design in which previous experience with the behavior is varied, for example by testing the RAA in novice and experienced participants enroled in a fitness center or exercise program. A further limitation was that most studies relied on self-report measures of past and prospective behavior.…”

The Influence of University Students’ Stress Mindsets on Health and Performance Outcomes

“…Specifically, we propose that a mediation process in which coping behaviors under stress and enduring physiological responses mediate the effect of stress mindset on health and performance outcomes. We will test these mechanisms simultaneously in a nomological network (8)(9)(10)(11).…”