Operationalising concepts

Question 1

Operationalisation

Answer 1

Defining a concept is a clear way so it can be measured. Usually involves identifying a series of indicators e.g social class may use indicators such as housing, education and occupation.

Question 2

The British Household Panel Study

Answer 2

Qualitative research might be useful for generating hypotheses to be tested in quantitative research. It might also be used to aid measurement. For example, it can help researchers to operationalize complex concepts in questionnaires through an understanding of what the concepts mean to those being studied. The British Household Panel Study used discussions and interviews to clarify the concepts included in questionnaires. - Asking about housing or benefits - validity/ objectivity - can find out how valid the indicator is to the research

Question 3

Dobash and Dobash

Answer 3

Dobash and Dobash discovered that 1/5 women experience domestic violence over their lives (their definition (operationalization) of domestic violence controversially included ‘sustained verbal attack’ which some argued led to a disproportionately high figure of domestic violence being recorded.) - reliability - can be repeated with the same concepts

Question 4

Other

Answer 4

measurement
recording data
data analysis
quantitative and qualitative approaches
patterns and trends
abstract concepts

Question 5

Simpson - Middle Aged Gay Men Negotiating Urban Spaces

Answer 5

used the economic definition (if their job is professional and high paid = middle class, or less skilled and lower paid = working class), plus a cultural dimension (those with a wide set of cultural interests and skills = middle class, those with a narrower set of cultural experiences and skills = working class).