1. Chapter 4: Conceptualization & Measurement
Research Methods
Chapter 4: Conceptualization & Measurement

2. Conceptualization & Operationalization
Conceptualization: What do we mean by _______?
Operationalization: The process of developing working definitions (how will we measure it_______?)
Four ways to collect data to operationalize variables
Use available data (e.g. Census, Uniform Crime Reports, GSS)
Construct your own questions
Make your own observations
Use indirect measures

3. 4 Levels of Measurement Qualitative Quantiative Nominal (Categorical)
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio
See page 64

4. Measurement Validity
Face validity: If a variable appears valid “on its face”
E.g. asking someone their favorite color to determine their level of religiosity isn’t a face valid measure of the variable religiosity
Content validity: The measure covers the full range of the variable’s meaning
E.g. use several questions to measure “religiosity”
Criterion validation: When the results from one measure match those obtained from an already validated measure
E.g. a breathalyzer might be used as the criterion validator for self reported measure of drinking
Construct validation: When one can show that a measure is related to a variety of other measures as specified in a theory

5. Reliability
Test-Retest reliability: When the scores from several tests remain roughly the same
You take the same math test six months apart and score about the same
Interitem reliability: If you use several indicators to measure a variable then those indicators should be highly associated with one another
Alternate forms reliability: When researchers compare subjects’ answers to slightly different versions of the questions and the answers are the same or about the same
Interobserver reliability: When all the observers rate the thing measured consistent with one another
E.g. the writing section on the GRE is graded by three people

6. Ways to Improve Reliability & Validity
Use previously conducted scales
Ask more than one question
Use good questions (use pilot study to ferret out bad questions)