Chapter 4 Flashcards
What is conceptualization and how is it relevant to a research study
The process of specifying what we mean by the term. And deductive research, conceptualization helps to translate portions of an abstract theory into testable hypotheses involving specific variables. And inductive research conceptualization is an important part of the process used to make sense of related observations.
How do you identify nominal measurement
Mutually exclusive categories, exhaustive
How do you identify ordinal measurement
Mutually exclusive categories, order hierarchy
How do you identify interval measurement
Mutually exclusive categories, order hierarchy, equal spacing between values (numerical)
How do you identify ratio measurement
Mutually exclusive categories, order hierarchy, equal spacing between values (numerical), true zero/absolute zero
What are the two types of measurement error
Random errors, not consistent or predictable; systematic error, consistent and patterned
What are the three types of systematic errors
Social desirability, acquiescence bias, leading questions
What is the difference between reliability and validity
Reliability- a measure’s ability to yield consistent or equivalent results/scores each time it is applied (when the phenomenon is not changing).
Validity is the accuracy of a measure; this exists when an instrument really measures what we think it measures.
What is test – retested
A commonly used type of measurement reliability that involves giving a group of people a test and then giving them the same test to compare results
When giving a test multiple times what are some of the potential effects
Recalling previous answers, changing responses for variety, become bored with instrument
Define alternative or multiple forms
A type of measurement reliability that involves creating two separate but equivalent forms of the same instrument and administering to the same group of people during the same session
Define internal consistency approaches
A type of measurement reliability that involves using a single scale administered to the same people to establish validity
What is an example of an internal consistency approach
The split half approach involves administering one test and then randomly dividing it in half and assessing to see whether the two halves are correlated
Define interrater reliability
A type of measurement reliability; the degree of agreement when similar measures are obtained by different observers using the same people, events, or places
Define intrarater reliability
Consistency of ratings by an observer of an unchanging phenomenon at two or more points in time
Define face validity
It is the logical relationship between the variable and the proposed measure
Define content validity or sampling validity
Does it cover the full range of meanings or forms. An adequate measure provides adequate or representative sample of all content or elements or instances of the phenomenon being measured
Define criterion validity and list the two types
Comparing your measure to another existing measure. Concurrent validity and predictive validity
Define concurrent validity
A type of criterion validity that compares the instrument under evaluation to some already-existing criterion, such as the results of another measuring device that is already being tested for validity
Define predictive validity
Assessing to see if the instrument predicts some future behavior or state of affairs
Define construct validity
Very complex; involves relating a tool to an overall theoretical framework to determine if the instrument is correlated with all the concepts and propositions of the framework. Example: multi-trait multi method approach
Define multi-trait multimethod approach
Based on two concepts: two instruments that are valid measures of the same concept should correlate with each other and two instruments, even if similar, should not correlate if they do not measure the same concept
What are six ways to improve the reliability and validity of existing measures
Have extensive conceptual development, better training of those who will administer measuring devices, get feedback from research subjects regarding the measurement device, use higher level of measurement, use more indicators of a variable, conduct an item-by-item assessment of multiple-item measures
What is a concept
A mental image that summarizes a set of similar observations, feelings, or ideas
If we have a scale to assess depression and we decide to establish a cut off point of 60 points what have we done
We have operationalized our variable
Julie included the variable age in her instrument. What level of measurement is this
Not enough information to answer
Measurement moves from the blank to blank
Abstract to concrete
And research what are the two types of measurement for concepts
Nominal is the dictionary type of measurement. Operationalization makes the concept measurable.
