1. BHV Surveys

2. Operationalization of Concepts
Operationalize means to make measurable
You operationalize concepts by turning them into measurable variables.
Variables are, by definition, measurable.
Surveys are made up of items collecting data on concepts the researcher is studying.
Each item was chosen to operationalize a concept into a particular type of variable.

3. Operationalization in Surveys
Validity
Level of Data (Nominal, Ordinal, Ratio)
Exploratory, descriptive or explanatory goal
Amount of detail (number of options in categorical items)
Exhaustiveness of items
Clarity
Question, item format
Participant competence

4. Kinds of Variables General Type Specific Type Definition Examples
Discrete
Nominal
Numbered for labeling
in a category based on
equality to or difference
from other members
of the category
African American
Asian American
Latino
Euro-American
Continuous
Ordinal
Items are ranked with no
standard interval implied
by their ranking
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
(the distance between first and second place, and second and third place may be very different from one another)
Interval
Items are ranked with a
standard interval, but
without a standardized
zero point.
32 degrees Fahrenheit
64 degrees Fahrenheit
(32 does not imply twice as cold as 64, and the Fahrenheit and Centigrade have different, non-standard zeros.
Ratio
standard interval based
on a standardized zero
point, and a ranking of 4implies exactly twice
that of 2.
Age in years

5. Exploratory, Descriptive or Explanatory Goals
Exploratory and Descriptive Goals
Demographic variables as descriptive tools
Open ended questions, items to elicit the point of view of participants
Survey vs. interview methodologies
Explanatory Goals
Demographic variables as independent variables
Closed- ended questions to collect identical information from all participants

6. General Kinds of Measures
Open Ended
Fill in the Blank
Short Answer
Single Item
Composite Measures
Closed Ended
Multiple Choice
Matrix
Contingency items

7. Ways to Operationalize
Single Item Measures
Yes or no (nominal) c
Mutually exclusive categories (nominal) c
Fill in the blank with a category name (nominal) o
One item with Likert scale (ordinal) c
Fill in the blank with a numerical answer (ratio) o
Composite Measures
Multiple equally weighted items added together, called an index (ratio) c
Multiple differently weighted items added together, called a scale (ratio) c
C = closed-ended, O = open-ended

8. Nominal Data: Gender Gender is a good example of a nominal variable.
Sample item:
1. Gender (Please check the option below that applies to you.)
_____Male _____Female

9. Ordinal Data: Socioeconomic Status
The categories below imply a hierarchy of status moving from a low of poverty level to a high of upper class.
Sample Item:
2. Socioeconomic status. (Please check the option below that applies to you.).
___Poverty level ___Working class
___Middle class ___Upper class

10. Ratio Data: Age
Years represent a series of measurement units that are equally distant from one another, and have a true zero point.
Sample item:
4. Age _____ (Please fill in your age in years.)

11. Multiple Item Continuous Data: The State Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI).
Each item is individually scored by the participants, and then the individual scores are added together to produce a total score.
Sample items:
For each of the ten items below, please circle the number that corresponds to how you feel right now.
Not at all Somewhat Moderately so Very much so
I am furious
6. I feel irritated
7. I feel angry
8. I feel like banging on the table
9. I feel like hitting someone
10. I feel like breaking things
11. I feel like yelling at someone
12. I am mad
13. I am burned up
14. I feel like swearing

12. Amount of Detail in the Data
Four ways to measure age with varying amounts of detail.
_____Age in months (Please fill in the child’s age in months)
_____Age in years (Please fill in your age in years)
17. Age (Please check the category that applies to you.)
_____ _____ _____ 40-49
_____ _____ _____ 70-79
Life Stage (Please check the category that applies to you.)
___Adolescent ___Young Adult ___Adult ___Senior Citizen

13. Single Item Two Option Measure
(Closed Format)
Sample item:
Please check the option that best fits your experience.
19. I have been involved in a physically abusive relationship.
_____ Yes _____ No

14. Single-Item Multiple Option Measure
(Closed Format)
Sample item:
Please check the option that best reflects your ethnic background.
20. Ethnicity.
___African American ___Asian American
___Latino ___Euro American ___Native American
___Other: Please specify________________________

15. Single-Item Multiple Ordinal ____ Never ____ 1 time ____ 2-5 times
(Closed Format)
Sample item:
Please check the option that best fits your experience.
How many times have you been involved in a
physically abusive romantic relationship?
____ Never ____ 1 time ____ 2-5 times
____6-9 times ____10 or more times

16. Single Item Likert Scale Measure
(Closed Format)
Sample item:
Please circle the option that best fits your experience.
22. I usually eat when I am sad or depressed.
Never True Always True

17. Single Item Fill in the Blank Measure
(Open Format)
Sample items:
What is your age in years? _______
What is your ethnicity? ___________________
Age in years is continuous
Ethnicity is nominal and discrete

18. Multiple Item Scale Score
Sample items from the Sexual Permissiveness Scale (Bauman and Wilson 1976):
Please check the option that best reflects your opinion.
24. Sexual intercourse is acceptable for the male before marriage when he is in love.
_____ Agree _____ Disagree
25. Sexual intercourse is acceptable for the male before marriage when he feels strong affection.
26. Sexual intercourse is acceptable for the male before marriage even if he does not feel strong affection.
27. Sexual intercourse is acceptable for the female before marriage when she is in love.
28. Sexual intercourse is acceptable for the female before marriage when she feels strong affection.
29. Sexual intercourse is acceptable for the female before marriage even if she does not feel strong
affection _____ Agree _____ Disagree

19. Scoring the Sexual Permissiveness Scale
A yes on questions 1 and 4 count 1 point each
A yes on questions 2 and 5 count 2 point each
A yes on questions 3 and 6 count 3 points each
Here having sex before marriage when you are in love is less permissive than having sex before marriage when you really like some one; the most permissive scenario is to have sex before marriage with someone for whom you do not have strong feelings. These items are differently weighted according to the relative permissiveness of the item.

20. Bias in Questions Example:
1. Don’t you think that women should be stay-at-home moms?
___ Yes ___ No
Be careful that the questions in your items do not contain the answer you hope to get.

21. Double Barreled Questions
Example:
Did you pay your state and federal taxes last year?
___ Yes ___ No
There are two questions contained in this item. It is possible that a participant paid federal but not state taxes or vice versa. Be sure that you separate out your questions so that there is only one per item.

22. Contingency Questions
Are your parents currently married to one another? _____ yes _____ no IF NO, GO TO # 4
2. How many years have they been married? _____
Do you think they have a happy marriage? _____ yes _____ no GO TO # 5
4. When did your parent’s marriage end? _____

23. Matrix Items
A matrix format sometimes makes it easier for participants to respond to a set of items that all have the same options. The section of the State-Trait Anger inventory below is arranged in a matrix format.
Not at all Somewhat Moderately so Very much so
5. I am furious
6. I feel irritated
7. I feel angry
8. I feel like banging on the table
9. I feel like hitting someone
10. I feel like breaking things
11. I feel like yelling at someone
12. I am mad
13. I am burned up
14. I feel like swearing

24. Steps in Constructing A Survey
List all variables that you will measure
Determine which of the formats above you will use for each variable.
Determine what level of data you will collect for each variable.
Organize the items for presentation on a survey according to:
format
matrix or other clustering of items
contingency series
influence on each other
visual flow
Pretest the survey on several individuals who will not be participating in the survey for
comprehension
logical consistency
time
Revise according to suggestion that enhance the survey’s effectiveness

25. Study Guide Survey Open-ended Operationalization Closed-ended
Variable Fill in the blank
Validity Multiple choice
Level of Data Contingency items
Research goal Matrix format
Amount of detail Short answer
Exhaustiveness of items Composite/multiple item measures
Clarity Index
Question/item format Scale
Participant competence Biased questions/items
Nominal data Double-barreled questions/items
Ordinal data Pretesting the survey
Ratio data
Discrete data
Continuous data