Special Interest Groups

At the EHPS conference, contributions that critically discuss our field’s approach to conceptualization, formalization and measurement have increased in recent years, and are frequently well attended. Yet, we still have a long way to go to improve our practices regarding these issues within health psychology research. This SIG was founded in 2025 to support this process.

This SIG aims to tackle fundamental issues in health psychology research, ranging from the conceptualization and measurement of our constructs to the formalization of our theories and organizing frameworks. Stagnation in these areas hinders scientific progress and leads to research waste. We are thus aiming to bring together researchers that are interested in topics such as:

Comprehensive and transparent conceptualization of psychological constructs using rigorous approaches that promote collaboration and critical discussion

Moving from narrative theory-building towards formal modeling of relationships between constructs

Adoption of theory-based approaches to validity (v. overreliance on statistical validation techniques)

Explicit incorporation of causal inference in theoretical models

Moving towards more ontologically plausible theories of the human behavior and health and corresponding methods (e.g. exploring systems thinking, abandoning assumption of ergodicity)

The aims of the SIG are:

To connect health psychology researchers interested in the topics of the SIG

To facilitate sharing of ideas, questions, resources, and collaboration, as well to advertise relevant publications, events, and other potential endeavours of interest.

To develop solutions for pervasive issues within health psychology research, including (but not limited to) the replication crisis, the theory crisis, and the measurement crisis, and promote taking these issues into account within health psychology research.

To develop, support, maintain, and steward community-owned, open infrastructure to work on these issues

The SIG will submit an annual workshop, a roundtable discussion and a symposium for the EHPS conference, introducing, setting out challenges and potential solutions in formal ways of knowledge representation, or developing policy and practice in the health domain.

We will organise an annual general meeting at the EHPS conference to provide a report of our activities and collect input for improvement from the SIG members.

The SIG will organise at least one online activity (e.g. a webinar) per year, allowing for discussion of relevant topics within health psychology research by the attendees. Topics will be chosen by the committee members, but members will be able to submit topics. Topics can include recent papers, members’ own work, help with planning research, feedback from conferences, or any other relevant topic. Submissions will be used to guide the leadership committee in determining an agenda for learning and progress.

The SIG will strive to collaborate with other existing groups (e.g., CREATE, other SIGs) to organise events that will reach a larger audience at EHPS.