HOC13 : MEASUREMENT : OPERATIONALIZATION & SCALING

Question 2

what does the operationalization of variables mean

Answer 2

Rigorous definitions, known as operational definitions, are crucial for understanding and measuring concepts and constructs in research. This enables measurement and testing processes.
* it is about developing measures of the concepts in which the research is interested

Question 3

what is the measurement , how of operationalization of variables

Answer 3

-> allocating a number to a concept -> which leads to construction of a scale
* measure to :
- to identify differences in characteristics
- to have a consistent instrument for measuring the differences
- to have a precise estimate of degree of relationships between concepts

Question 4

what does concept mean

Answer 4

• can be either objectively measured → ex. weight , length
• or can be subjective or abstract → difficult to measure ex. motivation
• or can be specifically developed for research purposes = a construct → ex. ‘organizational commitment’

Question 5

what does operationalizing the concepts mean

Answer 5

=> how can we make concepts measurable -> by breaking abstract notions down into observable , tangible characteritiscs

Question 6

what to do if concept is too general

Answer 6

create dimensions and elements

Question 7

what are the steps of operationalizing the concept ( if concept too general )

Answer 7

1. Define concept
2. Refine, and create dimensions
3. Choose instruments to measure
4. Create scale a response format
5. Assess validity and reliability

Question 8

what does scaling mean

Answer 8

a tool to categorize and quantify variables -> has 4 types

Question 9

define nominal scale

Answer 9

• categorizes variables by assigning subjects to categories ( ex.child and adult) and code numbers ( ex. 1 and 2)
• is categorical , no rank order ( ex. ‘child’ is not greater or more important than ‘adult’
• no intrinsic value
• collectively exhaustive
• mutually exclusive
• information : counts ,percentage ( or frequency)

Question 10

define ordinal scale

Answer 10

• categorizes variable by differentiating between values
• rank-orders the values
• distances between two values ( e.g., btw 2 and 3 , 3 and 4 ) are not equal across the range = no indication of the magnitude of the differences

Question 11

define interval scale

Answer 11

• categorizes and rank-order
• differences in the variable have same magnitude :
  
  • difference between any two neighboring values on the scale is identical to different between any other two neighboring values on the scale
  = equal intervals between the values
  -> can use Likert scale

Question 12

define ratio scale

Answer 12

• categorizes
• rank-orders
• differences with same magnitude
• two units of distance represent twice the distance of one unit
• zero is meaningful , exists , is not arbitrary

→ used in research when exact numbers on objective factors are required