Methodological convenience, not theory, often determines how concepts get defined

Evidence

One could decide to use averaging aggregation and then go back and change the conceptualization and ontology. This is the cart driving the horse. Conceptualization should drive aggregation and measurement, not the other way around. — Gary Goertz, Social Science Concepts and Measurement, 943

Categorization

• APHORISMS: A compact, transferable rule of method: the measurement tail should never wag the conceptual dog.
• XREF: Echoes debates in psychometrics and in construct validity (Cronbach & Meehl) about letting available instruments dictate the construct.