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

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.