STAGES OF SOCIAL RESEARCH Formulation of the Research Problem Research Design Measurement 1.Select variables of interest 2.Identify types and levels of measurement 3.Questionnaire/abstract form design Sampling Data Collection Data Analysis/Interpretation Disseminate Results

VARIABLE MEASUREMENT Define or conceptualize Formulating and clarifying a concept How does previous literature or theory conceptualize/define your variables of interest? How many dimensions are there in a particular variable? Describe those dimensions. Operationalize Specifies a value or category by the specific questions asked together with the response categories to which cases are assigned.

Concept Variables Type of measurement Level of measurement Operation 1.Seek health care for women’s issues 2.Delayed health care (yes/no) 3.Reasons for delaying health care Categorical Dichotomous Categorical Nominal Asked in self- administered questionnaire Reproductive health 1.# times pregnant 2.# children 3.past contraceptive use Continuous Dichotomous (categorical) Ratio Nominal Asked in self- administered questionnaire Demographics 1.Age (in years) 2.Education level 3.Health status Continuous Categorical Ratio Ordinal Asked in self- administered questionnaire

TYPES AND LEVELS OF MEASUREMENT Two types of measurement: categorical or continuous Four levels of measurement: 1)Nominal: Gender Are you: 1 = Male 2 = Female 2)Ordinal: likert scale of attitudinal variable To what extent do you agree or disagree that sex education should be implemented in high schools in NC? 3)Interval: temperature How hot is it outside? ______ degrees F 4)Ratio: Age (in years). How old are you? _____ years OR How old are you (in years)? 1 = = > 25 Strongly DisagreeDisagreeAgreeStrongly Agree 1234