Ch. 5 Conceptualization, Operationalization and Measurement
What does it mean when research findings are considered reliable?
They are consistent and replicable.
What is a typology?
A classification system composed of general types; each type is often classified based on two or more variables.
What is representativeness?
The extent that findings of a research are generalizable to a larger population.
What is nomothetic research?
Study that attempts to establish basic rules or laws of a general phenomenom
What is the purpose of operationalization?
To describe the procedures by which the variables that represent concepts will be measured in a study.
What is an index
A type of composite measure that summarizes and rank-orders several specific observations that represent some more-general dimension.
Is random sampling a type of probability sampling?
Yes
Provide two examples of ratio variables
Height, Age, Weight, Kelvin scale, Income, Years of Education, Number of Children.
What is a scale?
A type of composite measure composed of several items that have a logical or empirical structure among them.
What is simple random sampling?
A sampling method in which units are designated numbers that are then selected at random.
What is dimension of concept
An aspect of a concept.
"An way in which a concept exists in a field of relationships."
How is a scale different from an index?
In scales, both the patterns and strengths of relationships between different indicators are more meaningful.
What is purposive (judgement) sampling?
When a researcher relies on their own judgement to select participants for a sample
Define content validity?
The degree to which a measure represents the range of meanings that define a concept in its entirety
What is external validation?
When a measurement is validated via comparing it to another somewhat relevant measure.
What is cluster sampling?
A sampling method in which groups or clusters with in a sample are identified; and that's then followed by random sampling of those clusters.