Eye-Based Construct Measurement and Its Validity: A Systematic Review

Feiyan Jia; Choon Ling Sia; Yue Liu; Jingwei Li

doi:10.4018/JDM.394245

Eye-Based Construct Measurement and Its Validity: A Systematic Review

Feiyan Jia^*
, Choon Ling Sia
, Yue Liu
, Jingwei Li

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Information Systems

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

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Abstract

Objective eye movement data have the potential to measure users’ states instantly and in real time, providing a basis for timely intervention and personalized adaptation. Despite the broad applicability of eye-based construct measurement, research on its development and validation remains limited. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines, this review analyzes 127 studies that investigate the use of eye-tracking metrics to measure abstract constructs and the corresponding validity evidence. The findings reveal that eye-tracking metrics can measure a wide variety of constructs. Drawing on validity evidence commonly employed in psychometric-based construct measurement, this study synthesizes and summarizes validity evidence applicable to eye-based construct measurement. To illustrate the application of eye-tracking metrics and their supporting evidence, this article uses the example of detecting a vehicle driver’s cognitive load, offering guidance for future studies and practical applications. © 2025 IGI Global. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Number of pages	45
Journal	Journal of Database Management
Volume	36
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4018/JDM.394245
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Funding

This research is partially supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council and City University of Hong Kong [Project No. CityU 11509223/9043616], the Hong Kong Research Grants Council and City University of Hong Kong [Project No. CityU 11504417/9042571], and City University of Hong Kong [Project 7008133], the Engineering Technology Research Center for Ordinary Universities in Guangdong Province (No.2024GCZX005), and the Research Project on Student Mental Health by the National Center for Mental Health, China (XS25B026). Open Access made possible with partial support from the Open Access Publishing Fund of the City University of Hong Kong.

Research Keywords

Blinks
Construct Measurement
Eye Tracker
Fixations
Pupil Diameter
Response Process
Saccades
Validity Evidence

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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title = "Eye-Based Construct Measurement and Its Validity: A Systematic Review",

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keywords = "Blinks, Construct Measurement, Eye Tracker, Fixations, Pupil Diameter, Response Process, Saccades, Validity Evidence",

author = "Feiyan Jia and Sia, \{Choon Ling\} and Yue Liu and Jingwei Li",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.4018/JDM.394245",

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AU - Jia, Feiyan

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AU - Liu, Yue

AU - Li, Jingwei

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Objective eye movement data have the potential to measure users’ states instantly and in real time, providing a basis for timely intervention and personalized adaptation. Despite the broad applicability of eye-based construct measurement, research on its development and validation remains limited. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines, this review analyzes 127 studies that investigate the use of eye-tracking metrics to measure abstract constructs and the corresponding validity evidence. The findings reveal that eye-tracking metrics can measure a wide variety of constructs. Drawing on validity evidence commonly employed in psychometric-based construct measurement, this study synthesizes and summarizes validity evidence applicable to eye-based construct measurement. To illustrate the application of eye-tracking metrics and their supporting evidence, this article uses the example of detecting a vehicle driver’s cognitive load, offering guidance for future studies and practical applications. © 2025 IGI Global. All rights reserved.

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Eye-Based Construct Measurement and Its Validity: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

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GRF: Enhancing Diagnosticity and Credibility of Healthcare Information in Websites through Integrating Multiple Information Sources: Impact of Prior Beliefs and Consistency of Different Information Sources

GRF: Development of a Model of Antecedents of Trust and Distrust: Validating through Health Information Websites

SRG: Recommendation Agents: Impact of Recommendation Source and Timing on Consumer Decisions

Cite this

Eye-Based Construct Measurement and Its Validity: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

GRF: Enhancing Diagnosticity and Credibility of Healthcare Information in Websites through Integrating Multiple Information Sources: Impact of Prior Beliefs and Consistency of Different Information Sources

GRF: Development of a Model of Antecedents of Trust and Distrust: Validating through Health Information Websites

SRG: Recommendation Agents: Impact of Recommendation Source and Timing on Consumer Decisions

Cite this