Research Tools and Techniques The Research Process: Step 6 (Research Design – Element 5 Part B Measurement and Measures) Lecture 15

Lecture Topics Covered Previously in the Last Lecture From Concepts to Elements: Some Examples Scales and their Four Types Nominal Scale

What we are going to Cover in this Lecture Ordinal, Interval and Ratio Scales Statistics Applied to the Four Scales

THE RESEARCH PROCESS (1). Observation The Broad Problem Area (2). Preliminary Data Gathering Interviews and Library Search (3). Problem Definition (4). Theoretical Framework Variables Identification (5) Generation of Hypothesis (6). Scientific Research Design (7). Data Collection and Analysis (8) Deduction (9). Report Writing (10). Report Presentation (11). Managerial Decision Making

THE ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN 2. Type of Investigation Establishing: Causal Relationship or Co-relational 1. Purpose of Study Exploratory Descriptive Hypothesis Testing Case Study 3. Extent of Researcher Interference Minimal Moderate Excessive 4. Study Setting Contrived Non-Contrived 10. Test Application Feel for Data Goodness of Data Hypotheses Testing 6.Unit of Analysis (Population to be studied) Individuals Dyads Groups Organizations Machines etc. 7. Sampling Design Probability Non-probability Sample Size (n) 8. Time Horizon One-Shot (Cross-Sectional) or Longitudinal 9. Data Collection Method Observation Interview Questionnaire Physical Measurement 5. Measurement & Measures Operational Definition Scaling Categorizing Coding Problem Statement

SCALES A scale is a tool by which individuals are distinguished as to how they differ from one another on the variables of interest. Scale can be a gross one or have a varying degree of sophistication. There are four major types of scales 1. Nominal scale 2. Ordinal scale 3. Interval scale 4. Ratio scale

2. ORDINAL SCALE: Ordinal scale rank order the preferences but the magnitude of differences is not acknowledged

Ordinal Scale Example The distance between the choices is not equal Another Example Q.1 I go to college a). Never b). Seldom c). Sometimes d) Frequently e) Most of the Time f). Regularly

3. INTERVAL SCALE: Interval scale lets us measure the distance between any two points on scale. Thus it allows us to perform certain arithmetical operations on the data collected

4. RATIO SCALE: Ratio scale has an absolute zero point i.e. weighing balance Example Q.1 State your age in years ________ Q.2 How many files you checked today (Mention the number please) _______ Q.3 I earn Rs. ________/month.

Depending on the nature of variable, a questionnaire can have one or all the major scales in it but the tests applied to all of the scales are different.

Summary Ordinal, Interval and Ratio Scales Statistics Applied to the Four Scales