1. Concept Explication

2. Research Concepts Research concepts
Terms and labels used to organize our everyday experiences and communicate with others
Require careful explicit definitions
Critical for classification and comparison
Determines what we measure and analyze
What do we mean when we want to study…
Prejudice, Participation, or Patriotism

3. Types of Concepts Singular: denote particular objects
Ex. George Bush, NYC, UW-Madison
Class: collections of singular concepts
Ex. Politicians, cities, universities
Variables: possess some differentiating dimension
Ex. Honesty, volunteerism, size
Relational: make connections between concepts
Ex. Decreasing, negatively associated, greater than
Meta-concept: complex concept with numerous dimensions
Ex. Democracy - value-laden and emotionally held

4. Criteria for Good Concepts
Abstractness
Distanced from particular object
Generalize from one object to another
Operationalizability
Can be observed and assessed
Other can replicate the observation
Precision/Clarity in meaning
Communicate concept and relationships
Technical language must be clear

5. Concept Explication
The process by which abstract concepts are systematically linked to observed variations in those concepts in the real world
Conceptual definitions
Essential properties the researcher intends to be included within the concepts meaning
Operational definitions
Procedures by which the concept is to be observed, measured, or manipulated

6. Two Stages in Process Meaning analysis Empirical analysis
deductive process
process of developing interrelated conceptual and operational definitions
Empirical analysis
inductive process
process of evaluating definitions on the basis of empirical evidence (observations)

7. Meaning Analysis
Logical procedures used to clearly connect conceptual and operational definitions
Six steps in this stage of explication
Preliminary identification of concept
Literature review about concept
Empirical description of concept
Develop tentative conceptual definition
Develop tentative operational definition
Data gathering

8. Concepts, Dimensions, Indicators

9. Reconstructing Concept Definitions

10. Theory Construction
Theory: An organized explanation of some recurrent phenomena of research interest
Convey a sense of understanding
Reasoning behind the explanation is logical
Theory: A collection of statements asserting a relationship between two or more concepts as they vary among a class of objects
Dependent and independent variables
Hypotheses of relationships between variables

11. Relationship Between Theory and Research

12. Group Discussion
Engage in a concept explication of “informational Internet use” or “socially conscious consumption”
Define the concept
Discuss its dimensions
Outline key indicators
Offer a theory about your concept
What will it be related to?
How will it be related?