Conceptualisation and operationalisation

Question 1

What are concepts composed of? (3)

Answer 1

Direct observables, indirect observables, constructs

Question 2

Example of direct observables?

Answer 2

Colour, height

Question 3

Example of indirect observables?

Answer 3

Questionnaire on age, income

Question 4

Example of construct?

Answer 4

IQ

Question 5

What is conceptualisation?

Answer 5

Mental process through which we specify concepts, make them precise

Question 6

What is the process of conceptualisation?

Answer 6

Specify indicators and dimensions of a concept

Question 7

What is the goal of conceptualisation?

Answer 7

To specify a working definition to keep operationalisation

Question 8

What are indicators?

Answer 8

Markers or signs that tell you about the absence or presence of a concept

Question 9

What are dimensions?

Answer 9

Terms that define subgroups or aspects of a concept

Question 10

What’s an operational definition?

Answer 10

A clearer working definition that specifies how we can measure the concept

Question 11

How do we operationalise? (4+1)

Answer 11

All about the measurements
You must link the abstract to the concrete
Think about dimensions and indicators
Link your definition to a specific set of measurement techniques

Identify variables and their attributes

Question 12

What are the different levels of measurement? (4)

Answer 12

Nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio

Question 13

Nominal?

Answer 13

Difference in quality rather than quantity - no ranking

Characteristics are mutually exclusive (gender)

Question 14

Ordinal?

Answer 14

Order/ranking. Values differ in quantity. Ex. socio-economics status

Question 15

Interval?

Answer 15

Fixed, uniform, intervals: 0 value doesn’t mean the value isn’t present. Ex. Celsius scale

Question 16

Ratio?

Answer 16

Zero point means something. Ex. Age

Question 17

What are the 3 important elements to remember about reliability?

Answer 17

• Consistent measurement
• Same results when replicated
• Does not ensure accuracy

Question 18

How do you improve reliability? (5)

Answer 18

• Importance of clarity
• Increase level of measurement
• Test- retest method (measure twice with same subjects)
• Split-half method : assessed by using multiple indicators
• inter-observer reliability: ensure researchers are getting the same results from the same sample

Question 19

Validity?

Answer 19

A measure that accurately reflects the concept it is intended to measure

Question 20

Ways to ensure Validity? (…-validity –> 4)

Answer 20

• Face validity (eyeball test)
• Content validity - is definition represented in the measure?
• Criterion validity See how well it can predict
• Construct validity: does operational definition correlate with the other variables?

Question 21

Ways to calculate data? (2) … construction logic

Answer 21

• Index construction logic (different actions, get 1 point for each - sum)
• Scale construction logic (pyramid accumulation)

Question 22

Things to consider when selecting indicators? (5)

Answer 22

• Face validity
• Unidimensionality
• Level of specificity
• Variance
• Relationship between indicators