Ch 12: Measurement of Variables: Operational Definition

Vocabulary flashcards covering direct observables, indirect observables, constructs, measurement rules, and the operationalization process from Chapter 12.

Direct Observable

A physical phenomenon or feature that can be observed directly because the person reporting is physically there and reporting what they see (e.g., the number of people present at a particular place or event).

Indirect Observable

An indirect representation of a characteristic or object that is based on something real or objective, but where the person recording the observation is not actively observing the thing they are reporting on (e.g., responses to a questionnaire item about the number of people working in an organization).

Construct

A creation based on observation that cannot be observed either directly or indirectly, such as customer satisfaction, job involvement, and price consciousness.

Operationalization

The process of translating abstract and subjective constructs into concrete measures by making decisions on how to translate the construct into a measure.

Measurement

The assignment of numbers or other symbols to characteristics (or attributes) of objects according to a pre-specified set of rules.

Objects (in Measurement)

Entities including persons, strategic business units, companies, countries, kitchen appliances, restaurants, shampoo, and yogurt. Objects themselves cannot be measured; only their characteristics can be measured.

Characteristics of Objects

Measurable attributes or properties belonging to objects, such as arousal seeking tendency, achievement motivation, organizational effectiveness, shopping enjoyment, length, weight, ethnic diversity, service quality, conditioning effects, and taste.

Operationalizing Concepts

The reduction of abstract concepts to render them measurable in a tangible way by examining the behavioural dimensions, facets, or properties denoted by the concept (e.g., measuring thirst by how much water people drink).

Six Steps in Operationalization

1. Provide conceptual definition of construct; 2. Develop a pool of items related/important to the construct; 3. Decide on response format; 4. Collect data from representative samples from the population; 5. Select items for your scale using 'item-analysis'; 6. Test the reliability and validity of the instrument.

Misconceptions of Operationalization (What it is NOT)

Delineating the reasons, antecedents, consequences, or correlates of a construct. Instead, operationalization strictly describes observable characteristics to enable measurement.

Task Conflict

An awareness of differences in viewpoints and opinions pertaining to a group task.