Content experts frequently are used in the judgment-quantification sta
ge of content validation of instruments. However, errors in instrument
ation may arise when important steps in selecting and using these expe
rts are not carefully planned. The systematic process of choosing, ori
enting, and using content experts in the judgment-quantification stage
of instrument development is addressed, with particular attention to
the often neglected, important step of familiarizing these experts wit
h the conceptual underpinnings and measurement model of the instrument
. An example using experts to validate content for a measure of caregi
ver burden is used to illustrate this stage of instrument review. (C)
1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.