Chapter 5 Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement

Measurement Careful, deliberate observations of the real world for the purpose of describing objects and events in terms of the attributes composing a variable.

Conceptualization Process of specifying what we mean when we use particular terms. Produces an agreed upon meaning for a concept for the purposes of research. Describes the indicators we'll use to measure the concept and the different aspects of the concept.

Indicators An observation that we choose to consider as a reflection of a variable we wish to study. For example, attending religious services might be considered an indicator of religiosity.

Dimension A specifiable aspect of a concept. “Religiosity,” for example, might be specified in terms of a belief dimension, a ritual dimension, a devotional dimension, a knowledge dimension, and so forth.

Concept to Measurement 3 Forms of Measurement Nominal: describes a variable that has attributes that are merely different Ordinal: describes a variable with attributes we can rank-order along some dimension. Interval: describes a variable whose attributes are rank-ordered and have equal distances between adjacent attributes.

Kaplan’s Classes Things Scientists Measure Direct observables - things that can be observed simply and directly. Indirect observables - things that require more subtle observations. Constructs - based on observations that cannot be observed.

Measurement Quality Precision and accuracy Reliability Validity

Reliability Quality of measurement method that suggests the same data would have been collected in repeated observations. The question “Did you attend religious services last week?” would have higher reliability than “About how many times have you attended religious services in your life?”

Tests for Checking Reliability Test-retest method - take the same measurement more than once. Split-half method - make more than one measurement of a social concept (prejudice). Use established measures. Check reliability of research-workers.

Validity A term describing a measure that accurately reflects the concept it is intended to measure. Example: IQ would seem a more valid measure of intelligence than the number of hours spent in the library.

Ethics of Measurement Most of the concepts of interest to social researchers are open to varied meanings. If personal bias made you want to minimize support for a position, you might be tempted to frame the concept and the measurements based on it in biased terms violating accepted research ethics.