RM literature
Babbie, Beiting-Lipps & Kindstrom (2015): The Practice of Social Research. Cengage
Learning.
- Chapter 4, pp. 113-121
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 16, pp. 460-470
Plano Clark & Ivankova (2017) How to use Mixed Methods Research?: Understanding the
Basic Mixed Methods Designs, in Mixed Methods Research: A Guide to the Field. SAGE
Publications. → Chapter 5
Babbie et al. (2015): The Practice of Social Research. Chapter 4 113-121
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research design: Getting started → Conceptualization → Choice of research method →
Operationalization → Population and Sampling → Observations → Data Processing →
Analysis → Application.
Elements of a research proposal:
1. Problem or objective
2. Literature review
3. Subjects to study
4. Measurement
5. Data-collection Methods
6. Analysis
7. Schedule
8. Budget
9. Institutional review board
, Babbie et al. (2015): The Practice of Social Research. Chapter 5
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measurement = Careful, deliberate observations of the real world for the purpose of
describing objects and events in terms of the attributes composing a variable.
Constructs = Theoretical creations that are based on observations but that cannot be
observed (in)directly. A concept is, for instance, a construct.
Conceptualization = The mental process whereby fuzzy and imprecise notions are made
more specific and precise.
Concept = Constructs derived by mutual agreement from mental images (conceptions).
Cognitive interviewing = Testing potential questions in an interview setting, probing to learn
how respondents understand or interpret the questions.
Indicator = An observation that we choose to consider as a reflection of a variable we wish
to study (e.g. attending religious services might be considered an indicator of religiosity).
Dimensions = Specifiable aspect of a concept (e.g. belief, ritual, devotional dimension).
Reliability = That quality of measurement methods that suggests that the same data
would’ve been collected each time in repeated observations of the same phenomena → by
(i) test-retest method, (ii) split-half method, (iii) using established measures, (iv) reliability of
research workers.
Validity = Term describing a measure that accurately reflects the concept is intended to
measure.
- Face validity = Quality of an indicator that makes it seem to be reasonable measure
of some variable.
- Content validity = Degree to which a measure covers the range of meanings
included within a concept.
Ethics: Conceptualization and measurement must not be guided by bias or preferences for
particular research outcomes.
Babbie, Beiting-Lipps & Kindstrom (2015): The Practice of Social Research. Cengage
Learning.
- Chapter 4, pp. 113-121
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 16, pp. 460-470
Plano Clark & Ivankova (2017) How to use Mixed Methods Research?: Understanding the
Basic Mixed Methods Designs, in Mixed Methods Research: A Guide to the Field. SAGE
Publications. → Chapter 5
Babbie et al. (2015): The Practice of Social Research. Chapter 4 113-121
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research design: Getting started → Conceptualization → Choice of research method →
Operationalization → Population and Sampling → Observations → Data Processing →
Analysis → Application.
Elements of a research proposal:
1. Problem or objective
2. Literature review
3. Subjects to study
4. Measurement
5. Data-collection Methods
6. Analysis
7. Schedule
8. Budget
9. Institutional review board
, Babbie et al. (2015): The Practice of Social Research. Chapter 5
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measurement = Careful, deliberate observations of the real world for the purpose of
describing objects and events in terms of the attributes composing a variable.
Constructs = Theoretical creations that are based on observations but that cannot be
observed (in)directly. A concept is, for instance, a construct.
Conceptualization = The mental process whereby fuzzy and imprecise notions are made
more specific and precise.
Concept = Constructs derived by mutual agreement from mental images (conceptions).
Cognitive interviewing = Testing potential questions in an interview setting, probing to learn
how respondents understand or interpret the questions.
Indicator = An observation that we choose to consider as a reflection of a variable we wish
to study (e.g. attending religious services might be considered an indicator of religiosity).
Dimensions = Specifiable aspect of a concept (e.g. belief, ritual, devotional dimension).
Reliability = That quality of measurement methods that suggests that the same data
would’ve been collected each time in repeated observations of the same phenomena → by
(i) test-retest method, (ii) split-half method, (iii) using established measures, (iv) reliability of
research workers.
Validity = Term describing a measure that accurately reflects the concept is intended to
measure.
- Face validity = Quality of an indicator that makes it seem to be reasonable measure
of some variable.
- Content validity = Degree to which a measure covers the range of meanings
included within a concept.
Ethics: Conceptualization and measurement must not be guided by bias or preferences for
particular research outcomes.
