2 Conceptualizatoin operationalization levels of measurement

8/7/2019 2 Conceptualizatoin operationalization levels of measurement

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Conceptualization,

Operationalization and

Measurement Concepts, Levels of Measurement,

and Measurement Validity.


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Aspects ofMeasurement

Validityin Social Research

What is a Concept in sociological research ?Concept :

1. Mental Constructs, or images, developed to

symbolize ideas, persons, things, or events.

(symbolic interaction)

2. An Organized principle used to differentiate

those classes of phenomena with common

characteristics from other classes of

phenomena.

Are we measuring what we intend to measure ?

OR ,Are we measuring the correct Concept ?


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Conceptualization

In Deductive research, conceptualization helps totranslate portions of an abstract theory into specificvariables that can be used in testable hypotheses.

In Inductive research, conceptualization is an importantpart of the process used to make sense of related

observations.

Conceptualization is the process of specifying

what we mean by a term. ( A clear, verbal

specification of your variable (concept) so that

others know what it is and can place cognitive

borders around it.


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Conceptualization

ContinuedIfwe hypothesized that lower social status in

college students directly correlates to an

increase in deviant behavior, then whatexactly is Deviant Behavior? (The conceptualDV we are measuring)

-Deviant Behavior as: Causing physical harm, Talking

out loud in class, Underage Drinking, etc, etc.


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The Multi-Dimensions of

Conceptual Definitions

What is a Table ?

What is a Car ?

What is Religiosity ?

1. Ideological Dimension 3. Ritualistic Dimension

2. Experiential Dimension 4. Consequential Dimension

5. Intellectual Dimension * What about VS


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Concepts in Research

Conflicts in Measurement Validity

1. All concepts are Multi-Dimensional What do we mean by social status?

Lets do a study to see if there is a Direct relationship between Social Status of

parents and Deviant Behaviorin college students.

Social Status

Power Privilege Prestige

Indicators

O E I G R E A B R

Income Possessions, Fashion, Teeth, Self-Report,Jewelry, etc.

Process of

Conceptualization

And

Operation-

alization


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OperationalizationIn Social Research, there areOperations ofMeasurement.

Operation: Aprocedure for identifying or indicating the value

of cases on a variable. (Instructions)

Operationalization: The process of specifying the operations

that will indicate the value of cases on a variable


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Operationalization

The Measure (Or observation scheme)

The Application

Self administered questionnaire Male

E-Mail

Interview

Face-to-face

Phone

Scoring/ Coding/ Scaling


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Lets say we were to Operationalize the

effects of Sending Flowers and Get

well cards to a Patient, as a method ofIncreasing Health.

Shorter hospital stays Operationalized

as Days spent in the hospital Normal heart rates and blood pressures

Operationalized in Beats per minute andDiastolic and systolicpressures.

Increased morale Operationalized by askingpatients a series of questions about theirattitude, current outlook, emotions.

How will we measure Increasing

HealthofPatients ?


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Levels of Measurement

The Level of Measurement is the mathematicalprecision with which the values of a variable can beexpressed.

The Nominal (name) level of measurement, which isqualitative, has no mathematical interpretation;

The Quantitative levels of measurementOrdinal,Interval, and Ratioare progressively more precisemathematically.

When we know a variables level of measurement, we can better

understand how cases vary on that variable and so understand

more fully what we have measured.

Nominal

Ordinal

Interval

Ratio


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*CAUTION *

LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT CANT BE

DETERMINED WITHOUT

CONSIDERING BOTH THE CONCEPTAND THE MEASURE

(Conceptualization and Operationalization)


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The Nominal level of measurementidentifies variables whose values have nomathematical interpretation; they vary in

kind or quality but not in amount.

Nominal Measures

In terms of the variable Dog Breed, you can say thatthe German Shepherd is not equal to the Terrier, but youcannot say that the German Shepherd is dog breedieror less dog breedy than the Terrier.

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Wienirs Nominal Examples

UCR categories?

Sex

Race-ethnicityReligious identification

Architectural style


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At this level, you specify only the order of the cases, in

greater than and less than distinctions. At the pet

shop, for example, you might choose between a small,

medium, or large breed of dogthats ordinalmeasurement. We havent specified anything in the

way of inches or weight.

Ordinal Measures

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Wienirs Ordinal examples

Sex

Race

Religious identification Level of seriousness of crime

Class standing

Likert scales?


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At the interval level of measurement, numbersrepresent fixed measurement units but have noabsolute zero point.

Interval Measures

Your text uses the example of temperatures measured with theFahrenheit scale. The temperature can definitely go belowzero, as indicated in this weather forecast for Fargo, ND.

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Sunrise: 8:05 am UV Index: 1,Minimal Sunset: 5:12 pm

Moonrise: 7:56 pm Phase: Waning

Gibbous Moonset: 9:53 amAverages and Records for Jan 20

Monday:Mainly sunny. High 4F. WindsNW at 10 to 15 mph.

Monday night:Clear to partly cloudy skies.

Low -12F. Winds Wat 5 to 10mph.

4 F -12

F

-16C -25C


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Wienirs Interval Examples

Income as a measure of wealth

Likert scales ?


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A ratio level of measurement represents fixed

measuring units with an absolute zero point. Zero, in

this situation, means absolutely no amount of whatever

the variable indicates. On a ratio scale, 10 is two pointshigher than 8 and is also two times greater than 5. Ratio

numbers can be added and subtracted, and because

the numbers begin at an absolute zero point, they can

also be multiplied and divided (so ratios can be formed

between the numbers).

Ratio Measures


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Ratio Measures

There are 1/3 fewer petsin photo #2.

Photo #1

The variable is Numberof pets on the couch

Photo #2


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Wienirs Ratio Examples

# Kids

#Behaviors

Rates

Comparison of how many times as

intense

#s depending on the conceptualdefinition e.g. pillars


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More Ratio Examples

City Size

S.S. Stephens Rating Scale


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Differentiation between LOM

Ratio: Is there an absolute zero point?

Interval : Is there a standard measure

between rankings ? Ordinal : Are there rankings between

categories ?

N

ominal :A

re there categories


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Examples of Appropriate

comparison statements math operations

A is equal to (not equal to) B = ()A is greater than (less than) B > (

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2 Conceptualizatoin operationalization levels of measurement