RESEARCH METHODS Lecture 5

CONCEPTS AND VARIABLES

Concept Things we observe  Observable realities  physical or abstract For purposes of identification of a reality we try to give a name to it. By using name we communicate with others. Part of language Names are constructs. These constructs are concepts.

Concepts are mental images of reality Concept is an idea expressed as symbol or in words. Words are also symbols. Agreement to represent ideas by sounds or written words. Concepts can be symbols.

An Abstraction of reality Table, leadership, productivity, morale are all labels given to some phenomenon (reality)  Concepts stand for phenomenon not the phenomenon itself. It may be called an abstraction of empirical reality.

Concepts are Abstractions of Reality Level Empirical Level OBSERVATION OF OBJECTS AND EVENTS (REALITY)

Degree of Abstraction Moving up the ladder of abstraction, the basic concept becomes more abstract, wider in scope, and less measurable.

A Ladder Of Abstraction For Concepts Vegetation Fruit Increasingly more abstract Banana Reality

Sources of Concepts We create concepts from personal experience. Mass, speed, family. We borrow from other disciplines. We develop a specialized jargon or terminology for a particular subject.

Importance to Research Concepts are basic to all thought and communication. Special problems grow out of the need for concept precision and inventiveness. We use concepts in hypothesis formulation.

Definitions Confusions about the meanings of concepts can destroy the value of a study. Definitions are one way to reduce this danger. Two types of definitions: 1. Dictionary (theoretical) definition 2. Operational definition.

Dictionary definition Also called as Conceptual/Theoretical/Nominal Concept is defined with a synonym. Use other constructs to explain a construct. How to define a “customer,” “client,” “a satisfied worker”?

Operational Definition Working definition: stated in terms of specific testing or measurement criteria. Concrete indicators that can be observed/measured. Specify empirical indicators.

We use both the definitions in research Observational phenomenon  Construct  Conceptual def.  operational definition  data.

RESEARCH METHODS Lecture 5