1. CHAPTER 5
Operationalize Phase

2. Chapter 5 – Operationalize Phase
Chapter Outline
Introduction
What is Operationalization?
Inputs to Operationalization
Approaches to Operationalization
The Operationalize Phase of Theory Building
Outputs of the Operationalize Phase
Summary of the Steps
Quality Indicators for the Operationalize Phase
Conclusions

3. Introduction

4. What is Operationalization?
The conversion of the theory into observable, measureable and confirmable components or elements.

5. Inputs to Operationalization
A set of linked concepts with relationships specified and described.

6. Approaches to Operationalization
Quantitative – Propositions, Empirical Indicators and Hypotheses.
Qualitative – Falsifiability – or indicators for non-fitting descriptions or qualities.
Mixed Methods – A combination of hypotheses and non-fitting
descriptors.

7. The Operationalize Phase of Theory Building
The major steps of this phase are to
describe the propositions of the theory,
(2) describe the results indicators of the theory, and
(3) develop the research questions of the theory.

8. Outputs of the Operationalize Phase
Confirmable propositions, hypotheses, empirical indicators, knowledge claims, falsifiable principles and / or non-fitting descriptors.

9. Summary of the Steps

10. Quality Indicators of the Operationalize Phase
Three general criteria can be applied to the propositions, results indicators, and research questions generated in the Operationalize phase of theory building.
• Parsimony,
• Quality & track record of measurement instruments
• Specificity of the research questions.

11. Conclusion
• The Challenge of the Operationalize Phase is to convert the theory into investigate-able components. How will you be able to tell if the theory fits or has utility and the degree to which the theory fits or has utility?
• Traditional approaches use hypothesis testing, and other approaches require more work on the part of the theorist to identify descriptions of a well-fitting theory versus a non-fitting theory.