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Research Methods Overview

This document provides information about key concepts in social research methods: - Conceptualisation is defining concepts, and operationalisation is translating concepts into measurable variables. A variable is a characteristic that can vary, measured by indicators. - Reliability means research results are consistent and replicable, only changing to reflect actual changes in the phenomenon. Validity means research measures what it aims to measure. - There are four levels of measurement: nominal (categories), ordinal (ranking), interval (equally spaced numbers with no zero), and ratio (counting with a natural zero). Sample exam questions test understanding of these concepts.

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662 views6 pages

Research Methods Overview

This document provides information about key concepts in social research methods: - Conceptualisation is defining concepts, and operationalisation is translating concepts into measurable variables. A variable is a characteristic that can vary, measured by indicators. - Reliability means research results are consistent and replicable, only changing to reflect actual changes in the phenomenon. Validity means research measures what it aims to measure. - There are four levels of measurement: nominal (categories), ordinal (ranking), interval (equally spaced numbers with no zero), and ratio (counting with a natural zero). Sample exam questions test understanding of these concepts.

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sarahnichinneide
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SO202

Week 3
Sarah Kennedy
[email protected]
Office Hour:
Tues @ 10 in B.4.
sarahkennedytutorials.blogspot.com
Conceptualisation and
Operationalisation
Conceptualisation:
The process of specifying what we mean by a term
e.g. religiosity.
Operationsalisation:
The translation of concepts into measurable
variables.
Variable:
A characteristic or property that can vary e.g.
frequency of prayer.
Indicator:
Question used to measure variable e.g. how often
have you prayed in the past two weeks?


Reliability

Reliability
Research is reliable when the
results are consistent (can be
replicated) the results
change only to reflect actual
changes in the phenomenon.







Validity
Validity
Research is valid
when it measures
what it set out to
measure.

Levels of Measurement
Nominal:
Categories
Vary in quality (type), but not amount e.g. subject choice.
Ordinal:
Ranking
Greater than/less than, better than/worse than
Interval:
The numbers represent fixed units.
The difference between values are equally spaced.
You can calculate averages.
No natural zero.
Ratio:
Counting.
The numbers represent fixed units.
There is a natural and absolute zero.

Sample Exam Questions
Reliability refers to which of the following?
A measurement captures what it intends to
measure.
A measurement includes all dimensions of a
concept.
A measurement is free of error.
A measure yields consistent scores.
Which of the following is an example of a variable
measured at the nominal level?
Location of birth.
Number of respondents first cousins.
Levels of education in years completed.
Time in seconds in which a subject completes a
given task.

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