PSY 2174 Measurement Lecture

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and terms related to psychological measurement from the PSY 2174 lecture notes.

Measurement

The process by which we describe and ascribe meaning to key facts, concepts, or phenomena being investigated.

Psychometrics

A subfield of psychology concerned with the theories and techniques of psychological measurement.

Observational terms

Direct observables that can be seen and easily verified by the researcher, such as physical conditions and counts.

Indirect observables

Observable factors reported by participants, like age, income, and birthplace.

Constructs

Complex and abstract psychological traits that cannot be directly observed, such as masculinity and happiness.

Conceptualization

The first step in measurement, involving clear definitions of concepts and brainstorming related observations.

Reification

The assumption that abstract concepts exist in some concrete, tangible way.

Operationalization

The act of translating a construct into its measurable manifestation.

Indicators

Clues or measures that represent how a concept, such as religiosity, can be observed or measured.

Converging operations

Using multiple operational definitions of the same construct within a study or across studies.

Self-report measures

Assessment techniques where individuals provide subjective responses about themselves.

Behavioral measures

Assessment techniques that observe or record behavioral responses.

Physiological measures

Measures that assess biological responses and conditions.