SOC 3900 Final Exam 2025/2026 –Graded A+
Questions with 100% Correct Answers
Concept - A mental image that summarizes a set of similar observations, feelings, or ideas.
Conceptualization: - 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 - 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 - 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.
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 - 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 - 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. - 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.
1. Concept: Poverty
2. Variables: subjective/absolute poverty
3. Indicators (measurement)
--absolute - measured through an objective standard comparing family income/poverty threshold
--subjective poverty is then measured (operationalized) with responses to a survey question: "Would
you say that you are poor?"
The researcher has operationalized her concept in two different ways.
1. Concept: Binge drinking
2. Variables - frequency of heavy drinking
Questions with 100% Correct Answers
Concept - A mental image that summarizes a set of similar observations, feelings, or ideas.
Conceptualization: - 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 - 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 - 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.
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 - 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 - 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. - 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.
1. Concept: Poverty
2. Variables: subjective/absolute poverty
3. Indicators (measurement)
--absolute - measured through an objective standard comparing family income/poverty threshold
--subjective poverty is then measured (operationalized) with responses to a survey question: "Would
you say that you are poor?"
The researcher has operationalized her concept in two different ways.
1. Concept: Binge drinking
2. Variables - frequency of heavy drinking
