Chapter 5 Flashcards
words or symbols in language to represent mental images
Concepts
process by which we specify precisely what we mean when we use particular terms
Conceptualization
some specifiable aspect of a concept, a grouping
Dimension
Attributes composing a variable should be (Blank)
exhaustive
Attributes composing a variable must be (blank)
Mutually exclusive
conceptual definition= (blank)
working definition
Definition that spells out precisely how concept will be measured
Operational definition
Nominal level variables represent:
Simplest level of measurement
Nominal level variables consist of:
Mutually exclusive categories
Examples of nominal level variables
sex, race, religion, marital status (will be represented in numbers)
variables whose attributes may be logically rank ordered
ordinal level
when actual distance that separates the attributes composing a variable does have meaning
Interval level
meets minimum requirements for interval measures but has a TRUE zero point
Ratio level
example of ratio level
Number of prior arrests, blood alcohol content, $ value of loss from a burglary
concerned w/stability & consistency of measurement
reliability
asks whether the instrument (survey) measures what it has been designed to measure
construct validity
entails examining each unit in your instrument to judge whether each element accurately measures concept you are trying to measure
Content Validity
whether a particular instrument applied repeatedly to same thing will yield same result every time
Reliability
if same instrument is administered twice to same population & if results are the same, stability of measurement is assumed
test-retest method
comparing measurements from different raters
interrater reliability
combining individual measures often produces more valid & reliable indicators, especially when measuring something complex
composite measures
ability to empathize or understand people
perspective
degree of comfort in using coercive force against people
passion
