SOC 3900: CH.4 Conceptualization and
Measurement Exam Questions With Correct
Answers 100% Verified.
Concept - Answer✔A mental image that summarizes a set of similar observations, feelings, or
ideas.
Conceptualization: - Answer✔The deliberate process of specifying what we mean by a term.
creating and select social-scientific concepts.
In deductive research, conceptualization helps translate portions of an abstract theory into
testable hypotheses involving specific variables.
In inductive research, conceptualization is an important part of the process used to make sense
of related observations.
Constant - Answer✔A number that has a fixed value in a given situation; a characteristic or
value that does not change.
A term without a variable
The process of collecting useful and important data and variables to measure - Answer✔1.
Examine the theories that are relevant to our research question to identify those concepts that
would be expected to have some bearing on the phenomenon we are investigating.
2. Review the relevant research literature, and assess the utility of variables used in prior
research.
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3. Consider the constraints and opportunities for measurement that are associated with the
specific setting(s) we will study. Distinguish constants from variables in this setting.
4. Look ahead to our analysis of the data. What role will each variable play in our analysis?
Remember: A few well-chosen variables are better than a barrel full of useless ones.
Operationalization - Answer✔the process of turning an abstract concept into a clearly
measured variable.
The process of specifying the operations that will indicate the value of cases on a variable.
- defining research variables
For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test
measures.
operation - Answer✔A procedure for identifying or indicating the value of cases on a variable.
Examples of measurement procedures (concepts/variables/indicators)
1. define concept "conceptualizing"—
2. identify variables to measure
3. measurement procedures; specify the
operations for measuring the variables we've chosen. - Answer✔1. Concept: socioeconomic
status
2. Variables: education / occupational prestige
3. Indicators: income + education + prestige
the researcher decides his concept—socioeconomic status—is multidimensional. and should be
operationalized by three different variables.
Three different operations are used to define socioeconomic status.
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