Research Methods Conceptualization Measurement Conceptualization Operationalization w Conceptualization

Research Methods Conceptualization & Measurement

Conceptualization & Operationalization w Conceptualization: What do we mean by _______? w Operationalization: The process of developing working definitions (how will we measure it_______? )

4 Levels of Measurement w Qualitative 1. Nominal (Categorical) w Quantiative 2. Ordinal 3. Interval 4. Ratio

Validity w Face validity: If a variable appears valid “on its face” – E. g. asking someone their favorite color to determine their level of religiosity isn’t a face valid measure of the variable religiosity w Content validity: The measure covers the full range of the variable’s meaning – E. g. use several questions to measure “religiosity” w Criterion validation: When the results from one measure match those obtained from an already validated measure – E. g. a breathalyzer might be used as the criterion validator for self reported measure of drinking w Construct validation: When one can show that a measure is related to a variety of other measures as specified in a theory

Reliability w Test-Retest reliability: When the scores from several tests remain roughly the same – You take the same math test six months apart and score about the same w Interitem reliability: If you use several indicators to measure a variable then those indicators should be highly associated with one another w Alternate forms reliability: When researchers compare subjects’ answers to slightly different versions of the questions and the answers are the same or about the same w Interobserver reliability: When all the observers rate thing measured consistent with one another – E. g. the writing section on the GRE is graded by three people

Ways to Improve Reliability & Validity w Use previously conducted scales w Ask more than one question w Use good questions (use pilot study to ferret out bad questions)