Module 4 Section 2

Question 1

Measurement

Answer 1

-assigning numbers to represent the amount an attribute present in a person or object

Question 2

Advantages of Measurement

Answer 2

• Removes guessing out of gathering data
• tends to be more objective
• reasonably precise

Question 3

Errors in measurement

Answer 3

-measurement errors are systemic and random error associated with a person’s score on a measure, reflecting factors other than the construct

Question 4

Common factors contribute to measurement errors

Answer 4

1.Situational contaminants
-awareness of observers may affect their behaviours
2.Response-set biases
-characteristics of the respondents can interfere with
the accurate measures of target attribute
3. Transitory personal factors
- fatigue, hunger, anxiety and mood can affect
motivation to cooperate
4.Administration variations
-altering collection methods can alter results
5. Item Sampling
-sampling of items used to measure a characteristics
can contribute to error

Question 5

Reliability

Answer 5

• the accuracy and consistency of a measuring instrument

Question 6

Stability

Answer 6

-the ability to give consistent results when the same people are tested at different times

Question 7

Measure with test re-test reliability

Answer 7

-researcher gives the same test to a sample on 2 occasions then compares the results

Question 8

Reliability coefficient

Answer 8

-measure reliability with values between 0 to and 1. higher is equal to more reliability

Question 9

Limitations of test-retest

Answer 9

-subjects remember the items being tested
-traits of interest change over time
-repeating could change response given
-repetition could bore the participants causing them to
respond differently

Question 10

Internal consistency

Answer 10

-extent to wich all items on an instrument measure the same critical variables or attributes

Question 11

Measuring techniques

Answer 11

Split half technique
-split it into 2 halves to make comparisons
Spearman brown formula
-used to calculate the correlation coefficient
Item total correlations
-correlation between each item and total item. above
0.25 are acceptable
Kuder-Richardson (KD-20)
-yes or no response
Cronbach’s alpha
- coefficient measure in likert scale with each other simultaneously

Question 12

Equivalence

Answer 12

-the degree to wich 2 or more observers using a single instrument obtain the same results

Question 13

Validity

Answer 13

-an instrument measures what it was suppose to measure
-it addresses the question of how well we measure social reality using our constructs about it
4 major types of validity measurements
1.Face validity
2. Content Validity
3. Criterion-related Validity
4. Construct validity

Question 14

Face Validity

Answer 14

-looks like it is measuring the target construct

Test for with: expert opinion and panel of experts

Question 15

Content Validity

Answer 15

-extent the instrument covers the factors or situation under study
Test for with: verify with other evidence

Question 16

Criterion related validity

Answer 16

-is the extent to which a subjects performance coincides with behaviour
Includes
1. concurrent validity:
-one measure correlates with another measure of the
same phenomenon
test for with:
test instrument with another instrument
that measures the same and is valid
2. Predictive validity
- can accurately predict a phenomenon
- test for with
-using the instrument in a study and compare with
a future outcome

Question 17

Construct validity

Answer 17

• is the extent to which the test measures a theoretical concept
• test for with: hypothesis testing and convergent and divergent approaches, contrasted groups, factor analysis, casual modeling

Question 18

Trustworthiness of qualitative data

Answer 18

1. Credibility
2. Dependability
3. Confirmability
4. Transferability

Question 19

Credibility

Answer 19

-the believability of findings

Question 20

Ways to ensure credibility

Answer 20

1. prolonged engagement and persistent observations
   -increased time invested = increased credibility
   2.Triangulation
   
   • uses multiple methods to determine true info from
     info with errors
2. Peer debriefing
   -receive feedback about data quality and
   interpretation from peers
3. Member checks
   -obtain feedback from participants
4. Searching for disconfirming evidence
   -occurs through purposive sampling
   -facilitated through such processes as prolonged
   engagement and peer debriefs
5. Researcher credibility
   -is the researcher qualified to conduct research

Question 21

Dependibility

Answer 21

• stability and reliability of data

- will the results be consistent after time

Question 22

Confirmability

Answer 22

• objectivity or neutrality of the data and the data interpretation
• 2 or more independent people would agree with datas relevance and importance

Question 23

Transferability

Answer 23

-extent to which the qualitative findings have acceptability in other settings and groups

Question 24

Selecting measurement tools

Answer 24

• psychometrics
  
  • describe expertise in instrument construction. Should possess comprehensive subject expertise and knowledge and skill in test and scale constructions

Question 25

Characteristics of a good instrument

Answer 25

1. uniform set of items and response possibilities
2. Clear and concise statements
3. Only 1 idea per statement
4. Negative items and double negatives (confusing)
5. Restricted to a few variations
6. Not provide clues to other items
7. Should cover a broad area of defined behaviour
8. Adequately cover defined behaviour
9. Measure what its intended to measure (validity)

Question 26

Steps to develop measurement instruments

Answer 26

1. Define the concept to be measured
2. Formulate the items
3. assess items for content validity
4. Develop instructions for respondents and user
5. Pretest and pilot test the items
6. Estimate reliability and validity