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The experimental psychology behind coordination
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The experimental psychology behind coordination

Flavia Padovani
History and philosophy of the life sciences, v 48(2), 17
18 Mar 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40656-026-00724-7
PMID: 41849018
Featured in Collection :   Research Supported by Drexel Libraries' OA Programs
url
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40656-026-00724-7View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Open Access via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2026CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Original Paper
In the philosophy of science, the problem of coordination concerns the difficulty of linking abstract theoretical concepts with their empirical counterparts—that is, determining how theoretical terms such as “mass” or “temperature” correspond to observable phenomena. A closely analogous issue arises in psychology in relation to the concept of construct validity, which addresses the extent to which an empirical measure accurately represents the theoretical construct it is intended to assess. From the perspective of contemporary literature on coordination and validity, Reichenbach’s interpretation of coordination stands out as uniquely engaging, not only because it offers an account involving issues of particular significance within the philosophy of measurement, but also because it originated in a less limited conceptual landscape than it is generally assumed. In this paper, I will emphasize some historical aspects underlying Reichenbach’s formulation, particularly his early engagement with experimental psychology, which underpins and strengthens the potential of the connection between the concept of coordination and that of construct validity.

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