Deck 4

Question 1

What are the key steps in operationalization?

Answer 1

1. Construct: a theoretical idea (a word, a term), e.g. characteristics, a function, a behavior, an attitude or a cognition.
2. Indicators: a set of the analytically relevant aspects/ elements reflective of the construct.
3. Variables: indicators as expressed on a measurement scale, with values potentially varying across units otherwise, it is a constant
4. Research instruments: the tools used to measure the variables, (+ procedures for calibrating and/ using it).

Question 2

What are the different scales of variables?

Answer 2

• Nominal - different values, no order e.g. town name, species
• Ordinal - values are ordered but not equivalent. e.g. top 10 livable cities. It sometimes has natural 0.
• Interval - values have order and equal intervals, but no natural 0. l.g. IQ score, years from calendar
• Ratio - has all of the characteristics of Interval and a natural 0. e. g. length in cm, number of children.

Question 3

What is research unit?

Answer 3

The person, animal, object or phenomenon you want to make inferences about.

Question 4

What is observation unit?

Answer 4

• The person, animal, object or phenomenon you actually collect data on.

Question 5

What is the difference between theoretical target population vs. Operational target population?

Answer 5

Operational target population is a more defined/ restricted target population ( target population is the population you want to make inferences about).