Operationalization

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Operationalization

• Definition
• Operationalization
• Reliability, Validity and Utility

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Definition
definition
problem definition
general statement
DEFINITION to state the meaning of a concept by
means of a short and concise description
from problem definition to research questions
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ALL FORMULATIONS, p. 180
Question formulation Result formulation
definition
problem definition
general statement
general statement
gene- rali- zation
FINDING
research statement
ope rationa lization
research statement
research- question
observation question
observation statement
observ. statement
FINDING
OBSERVATION ---------gt ANALYSIS
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Operationalization
OPERATIONALIZATION making concepts from the
problem definition manageable and observable for
the execution of research
ope rationa lization
research statement
research question
observation question
observ. statement
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Operationalization of concepts
From research questions/statements to observation
questions/statements

• PLACE/ TIME FURTHER DESCRIPTION
• UNITS FURTHER DESCRIBED GROUP OF PEOPLE
• VARIABLES OBSERVABLE CHARACTERISTICS
• VALUES DESCRIBED CATEGORIES OF VARIABLES

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Operationalizing concepts and characteristics
into variables through scales

• A certain concept or characteristic is made
  observable through
• multiple questions variables
• with the same or similar values

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Quality criteria

• RELIABILITY observations are accurate, stable
  and not random
• observations free of accidental errors
• VALIDITY observations of those aspects of
  phenomena to which the problem definitions
  relate
• observations free of systematic errors
• UTILITYresearch results in knowledge that is
  useful in decision-making

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Brief and to the point

• Reliable measurement measuring each time the
  same aspects in the same manner
• Valid measurement measuring each time the
  correct aspects and no others

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Reliability

• RELIABILITY
• accurate, stable and not random observations are
  free of accidental errors

REPEATED MEASUREMENTS MULTIPLE OBSERVERS PARALLEL
OPERATIONALIZATIONS
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Validity

• VALIDITY observations free of systematic errors

Each choice of a certain observation should match
the research questions OBSERVE WHAT YOU NEED TO
OBSERVE TRAINING IS NOT STATUS SUICIDE IS NOT
FLUE DISLIKE OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IS NOT A CHOICE
OF MUSIC
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Types of validity

• Content validity through experts
• Concurrent validity through congeners
• (old and new questions)
• Convergent validity through diverse measurements
  (verbal versus written)
• Construct or concept validity through diverse
  congeners
• Predictive validity through predictions
• Population validity
• Ecological validity

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External validitypopulation or ecological
validity
general statement
If the research statement is correct (internally
valid), does it also apply externally? May it be
generalized into a general statement?
gene- rali- zation
FINDING
research statement
observ. statement
FINDING