Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement

1
Chapter 5

• Conceptualization, Operationalization, and
  Measurement

2
Chapter Outline

• Measuring Anything That Exists
• Conceptualization
• Definitions in Descriptive and Explanatory
  Studies
• Operationalization Choices
• Criteria of Measurement Quality

3
Conceptualization

• Process of specifying what we mean when we use
  particular terms.
• Produces an agreed upon meaning for a concept for
  the purposes of research.
• Describes the indicators we'll use to measure the
  concept and the different aspects of the concept.

4
Definitions

• Real - mistakes a construct for a real entity.
• Nominal - assigned to a term without a claim that
  the definition represents a "real" entity.
• Operational definitions - Specifies how a concept
  will be measured.

5
From Concept to Measurement

• Progression from sense of what a term means to
  measurement in a scientific study
• Conceptualization
• Nominal Definition
• Operational Definition
• Measurements in the Real World

6
Four Levels of Measurement

• Nominal - offer names for labels for
  characteristics (gender, birthplace).
• Ordinal - variables with attributes we can
  logically rank and order.

7
Four Levels of Measurement

• Interval - distances separating variables
  (temperature scale).
• Ratio - attributes composing a variable are based
  on a true zero point (age).

8
Kaplans Classes

• Things Scientists Measure
• Direct observables - things that can be observed
  simply and directly.
• Indirect observables - things that require more
  subtle observations.
• Constructs - based on observations that can not
  be observed.

9
Measurement Quality

• Precision and accuracy
• Reliability
• Validity

10
Tests for Checking Reliability

• Test-retest method - take the same measurement
  more than once.
• Split-half method - make more than one
  measurement of a social concept (prejudice).
• Use established measures.
• Check reliability of research-workers.