A formative measurement validation methodology for survey questionnaires

Abstract: Model misspecification of formative indicators remains a widely documented issue across academic literature, yet scholars lack a clear consensus on pragmatic, prescriptive approaches to manage this gap. This ambiguity forces researchers to rely on psychometric frameworks primarily intended for reflective models, and thus risks misleading findings. This article introduces a Multi-Step Validation Methodology Framework specifically designed for formative constructs in survey-based research. The proposed framework is grounded in an exhaustive literature review and integrates essential pilot diagnostics through descriptive statistics and multicollinearity checks. The methodology provides researchers with the necessary theoretical and structural clarity to finally justify and adhere to appropriate validation techniques that accurately account for the causal nature of the constructs while ensuring high psychometric and statistical integrity.