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Conceptualization, Operationalization and Measurement

Conceptualization, Operationalization and Measurement. Concepts, Levels of Measurement, and Measurement Validity. Aspects of Measurement Validity in Social Research. Are we measuring what we intend to measure ? OR , Are we measuring the correct Concept ?.

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Conceptualization, Operationalization and Measurement

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  1. Conceptualization, Operationalization and Measurement Concepts, Levels of Measurement, and Measurement Validity.

  2. Aspects of Measurement Validity in Social Research Are we measuring what we intend to measure ? OR , Are we measuring the correct Concept ? What is a Concept in sociological research ? Concept : 1.Mental Constructs, or images, developed to symbolize ideas, persons, things, or events. (symbolic interaction) 2. An Organized principleused to differentiate those classes of phenomena with common characteristics from other classes of phenomena.

  3. Conceptualization • In Deductive research, conceptualization helps to translate portions of an abstract theory into specific variables that can be used in testable hypotheses. • In Inductive research, conceptualization is an important part of the process used to make sense of related observations. Conceptualizationis the process of specifying what we mean by a term.( A clear, verbal specification of your variable (concept) so that others know what it is and can place cognitive borders around it.

  4. Conceptualization Continued… If we hypothesized that lowersocial status in college students directly correlatesto an increase in deviant behavior, then what exactly is Deviant Behavior? (The conceptual DV we are measuring) -Deviant Behavior as: Causing physical harm, Talking out loud in class, Underage Drinking, etc, etc.

  5. The Multi-Dimensions of Conceptual Definitions • What is a Table ? • What is a Car ? • What is Religiosity ? • 1. Ideological Dimension 3. Ritualistic Dimension • 2. Experiential Dimension 4. Consequential Dimension • 5. Intellectual Dimension TALL BIG * What about VS

  6. Social Status Prestige Power Privilege Indicators O E I G R E A B R Possessions, Fashion, Teeth, Self-Report, Jewelry, etc. Income Concepts in Research Conflicts in Measurement Validity 1. All concepts are Multi-Dimensional • What do we mean by social status? Lets do a study to see if there is a Direct relationship between Social Status of parents and Deviant Behavior in college students. Process of Conceptualization And Operation-alization

  7. Operationalization In Social Research, there are Operations of Measurement. Operation: A procedure for identifying or indicating the value of cases on a variable. (Instructions) Operationalization: The process of specifying the operations that will indicate the value of cases on a variable

  8. Operationalization • The Measure (Or observation scheme) • The Application • Self administered questionnaire • Male • E-Mail • Interview • Face-to-face • Phone • Scoring/ Coding/ Scaling

  9. Lets say we were to Operationalize the effects of “Sending Flowers and Get well cards” to a Patient, as a method of “Increasing Health.” • Shorter hospital stays – Operationalized as “Days spent in the hospital” • Normal heart rates and blood pressures – Operationalized in “Beats per minute” and “Diastolic and systolic pressures”. • Increased morale – Operationalized by asking patients a series of questions about their attitude, current outlook, emotions. How will we measure “Increasing Health”of Patients ?

  10. Ratio Interval Levels of Measurement Ordinal Nominal • The Level of Measurement is the mathematical precision with which the values of a variable can be expressed. • The Nominal (name) level of measurement, which is qualitative, has no mathematical interpretation; • The Quantitative levels of measurement—Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio—are progressively more precise mathematically. • When we know a variable’s level of measurement, we can better understand how cases vary on that variable and so understand more fully what we have measured.

  11. *CAUTION* LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT CANT BE DETERMINED WITHOUT CONSIDERING BOTH THE CONCEPT AND THE MEASURE (Conceptualization and Operationalization)

  12. Nominal Measures The Nominal level of measurement identifies variables whose values have no mathematical interpretation; they vary in kind or quality but not in amount. In terms of the variable “Dog Breed”, you can say that the German Shepherd is not equal to the Terrier, but you cannot say that the “German Shepherd” is “dog breedier” or “less dog breedy ” than the Terrier. © Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2004

  13. Wienir’s Nominal Examples • UCR categories? • Sex • Race-ethnicity • Religious identification • Architectural style

  14. Ordinal Measures At this level, you specify only the order of the cases, in “greater than” and “less than” distinctions. At the pet shop, for example, you might choose between a small, medium, or large breed of dog—that’s ordinal measurement. We haven’t specified anything in the way of inches or weight. © Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2004

  15. Wienir’s Ordinal examples • Sex • Race • Religious identification • Level of seriousness of crime • Class standing • Likert scales?

  16. Sunrise: 8:05 am    UV Index: 1, Minimal   Sunset: 5:12 pm Moonrise: 7:56 pm     Phase: Waning Gibbous    Moonset: 9:53 am Averages and Records for Jan 20 Monday:Mainly sunny. High 4F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.Monday night:Clear to partly cloudy skies. Low -12F. Winds Wat 5 to 10 mph. 4 °F -12 °F -16°C -25°C Interval Measures At the interval level of measurement, numbers represent fixed measurement units but have no absolute zero point. Your text uses the example of temperatures measured with the Fahrenheit scale. The temperature can definitely go below zero, as indicated in this weather forecast for Fargo, ND. © Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2004

  17. Wienir’s Interval Examples • Income as a measure of wealth • Likert scales ?

  18. Ratio Measures A ratio level of measurement represents fixed measuring unitswith an absolute zero point. Zero, in this situation, means absolutely no amount of whatever the variable indicates. On a ratio scale, 10 is two points higher than 8 and is also two times greater than 5. Ratio numbers can be added and subtracted, and because the numbers begin at an absolute zero point, they can also be multiplied and divided (so ratios can be formed between the numbers).

  19. Ratio Measures The variable is “Number of pets on the couch” Photo #2 There are 1/3 fewer pets in photo #2. Photo #1

  20. Wienir’s Ratio Examples • # Kids • #Behaviors • Rates • Comparison of how many times as intense • #s depending on the conceptual definition e.g. pillars

  21. More Ratio Examples • City Size • S.S. Stephens Rating Scale

  22. Differentiation between LOM • Ratio: Is there an absolute zero point? • Interval : Is there a standard measure between rankings ? • Ordinal : Are there rankings between categories ? • Nominal : Are there categories

  23. The Types of Comparisons That Can Be Made With Different Levels of Measurement Relevant level of measurement Nominal Ordinal Interval Ratio √√ √√ √ √√ √√ √ Examples of Appropriate comparison statementsmath operations A is equal to (not equal to) B = (≠) A is greater than (less than) B > (<) A is three more than (less than) B + (–) A is twice (half) as large as B´ (/) © Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2004

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