Conceptual framework for validating the intended uses and interpretations of process data

Process data research is a rapidly growing field within educational measurement. Amongst that literature, incorporating process data into psychometric models to improve the psychometric properties is a specific topic that has increasingly popular. Previous works have encouraged validation efforts in order to support the inclusion of process data in psychometric models. However, these works have largely had a narrow focus, often emphasizing a specific validation issue. In this manuscript, we aim to build on existing works by proposing a comprehensive framework to guide the collection of validity evidence evaluating the intended uses and interpretations of process data. This framework begins with a theoretical foundation established by subject matter experts with each subsequent tier supporting additional analyses in hopes of facilitating the rigorous evaluation of propositions supporting the inclusion of process data in psychometric models.