Key Concepts in Measurement and Research Methods

These flashcards cover key concepts related to measurement and research methods in social science, aiding in exam preparation.

Measurement

Deliberate observations for the purpose of describing objects and events in terms of the attributes composing a variable.

Units of Analysis

The people or things whose characteristics social researchers describe or explain.

Common Units of Analysis in Social Science

Individuals, groups, and communities.

Concepts

Abstract ideas to which we assign meaning.

Conceptualization

The process whereby imprecise concepts are made more specific.

Constructs

Concepts that cannot be measured directly or indirectly.

Indicators

An observation chosen as a reflection of a concept.

Operationalization

The process of defining concepts with measurable attributes.

Variables

A measurable attribute that describes the unit of analysis.

Levels of Measurement

Nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.

Composite Measure

Variables created by combining two or more items by adding or averaging.

Index vs. Scale

Index accumulates scores assigned to individual indicators; Scale considers the intensity of indicators.

Ethnography

Systematic study of people and culture.

Internal Validity

The extent to which a study accurately reflects the intended causal inferences.

Social Artifacts

Any product of social beings or their behavior, including buildings, poems, books, calls, and emails.

Unobtrusive Research

Methods of studying social behavior without affecting it.

Coding

Transforming raw data into categories based on a conceptual scheme.

Content Analysis

The study of recorded human communication.

Manifest Content

explicit

latent

implicit.

Qualitative Interviews

A process where respondents provide answers to prompts or questions.

Structured

uses set questions;

Semi-Structured

allows for prompts;

Unstructured

has no set questions.

Focus Groups

Collecting data in an interactive group setting.

Field Research

Direct observation of social phenomena in their natural settings.

Complete Participant vs. Participant-Observer vs. Complete Observer

Complete participant interacts naturally; participant-observer identifies as a researcher; complete observer observes without interaction.

Measurement Reliability

Reflects whether the same data would be collected each time in repeated observations.

Testing Reliability

Methods include Test-retest and Split-half methods.

Measurement Validity

Whether a measure accurately reflects the concept it is intended to measure.

Face Validity

Whether the measure appears to represent the concept.

Predictive Validity

The degree to which a measure relates to some external criterion.

Construct Validity

Degree to which a measure relates to other variables as expected.

Content Validity

The degree to which a measure covers the range of meanings included within a concept.

Internal Validity

Confidence that a study's results and conclusions are warranted.

External Validity

Confidence that a study's results and conclusions generalize.

Qualitative Research

Involves analysis of qualitative data, providing a description rather than a numeric amount.

Advantages of Qualitative Research

Depth of understanding and flexibility.

Disadvantages of Qualitative Research

Generality and subjectivity versus objectivity.