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All measurement systems present the potential for error -If researchers are to represent concepts truthfuly, they must make sure that the measures used are accurate enough to yield useful conclusions -Making use of measures requires that the researcher somewhat understands flaws in a particular measurement tool used therefore can sometimes account for error statistically CONCEPTS A researcher has to know what to measure before knowing how to measure something. The research questions should emphasize the relevant concepts involved in the decisions facing the firm. -A concept can be thought of as a generalized idea that represents something of identifiable and distinct meanings. oConcrete concepts have unambiguous meaning. They present few problems in either measurement or meaning demographic concepts (age, sex, # of kids) oAbstract concepts are more difficult to define and/or measure. Loyalty, personality, performance, etc OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS Concepts are measured through a process called operationalization -Operationalization is the process of identifying scale devices that correspond to properties of a concept involved in a research process oScales: a device providing a range of values that correspond to different characteristics or amounts of a characteristic exhibited in observing a concept In other words, scales provide correspondence rules: which indicate the way that a certain value on a scale corresponds to some true value of a concept Example of correspondence rules: Values of 1-7 for how much customer trusts sales rep; 7=trustworthy 1=least so 1-7 represent various degrees of trust [Variables] -variables capture different values of a concept -scales capture a concept’s variance and as such the scale provides the researcher’s variables Putting it all together Hypothesis: Salesperson experience is positively related to salesperson job performance The hypothesis implies a relationship b/w 2 variables: experience & job performance Xxxx [Constructs] A construct is a term used for latent concepts measured using multiple variables. By latent, we mean the concept is not directly observable, instead we infer a value by using multiple indicators such as indv scale items This glossary is intended to assist you in understanding commonly used terms and concepts when reading, interpreting, and evaluating scholarly research in the social sciences. Also included are general words and phrases defined within the context of how they apply to research in the social and behavioral sciences.
Elliot, Mark, Fairweather, Ian, Olsen, Wendy Kay, and Pampaka, Maria. A Dictionary of Social Research Methods. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2016; Free Social Science Dictionary. Socialsciencedictionary.com [2008]. Glossary. Institutional Review Board. Colorado College; Glossary of Key Terms. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Glossary A-Z. Education.com; Glossary of Research Terms. Research Mindedness Virtual Learning Resource. Centre for Human Servive Technology. University of Southampton; Miller, Robert L. and Brewer, John D. The A-Z of Social Research: A Dictionary of Key Social Science Research Concepts London: SAGE, 2003; Jupp, Victor. The SAGE Dictionary of Social and Cultural Research Methods. London: Sage, 2006. What is the process of describing some property of a phenomenon usually by assigning numbers in a reliable and valid way?Measurement is the process of describing some property of a phenomenon of interest, usually by assigning numbers in a reliable and valid way. The numbers convey information about the property being measured.
Which type of measure reflects the intensity of a concept by assigning scores?A continuous scale measures intensity of a concept. Value can be assigned using an infinite number of values anywhere along a scale.
Which type of measure assigns a value to an observation based on mathematical?an index assigns a value based on how much of the concept being measured is associated with an observation. Indexes are formed by putting several variables together systematically.
Which of the following provides correspondence rules that indicate a certain value corresponds to some true value of a concept?Correspondence rules indicate the way a certain value on a scale corresponds to some true value of a concept. In quantum mechanics, the principle of replacing physical quantities with operators is governed by correspondence rules.
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