Construct

Concepts have progressive levels of abstraction — that is, the degree to which the concept does or does not have something objective to refer to. Table is an objective concept. We can point to a table, and we have images of the characteristics of all tables in our mind. An abstraction like personality is much more difficult to visualize. Such abstract concepts are often called constructs. A construct is an image or abstract idea specifically invented for a given research and/or theory-building purpose. We build constructs by combining the simpler, more concrete concepts, especially when the idea or image we intend to convey is not subject to direct observation.

• Concept (Dictionary Entry)