Concepts, Constructs, and Variables

Research Methods — Week 3. Key concepts from the comprehensive notes.

Theory

A systematic explanation of a natural or social phenomenon that links constructs and propositions within specified assumptions and boundary conditions.

Empirical research

Research based on observation and measurement used to examine claims or relationships proposed by theory.

Generalization

A broader conclusion drawn from observed patterns that may be used to refine or extend theory.

Unit of analysis

The person, collective, object, place, event, or other entity that is the target of investigation and the level at which conclusions are drawn.

Concept

A general property or characteristic associated with an object, event, person, or phenomenon.

Construct

An abstract concept selected or developed to explain a phenomenon.

Variable

A measurable representation of a construct that can take different values.

Unidimensional construct

A construct representing a single underlying concept.

Multidimensional construct

A construct composed of multiple related underlying concepts.

Operational definition

A precise statement of how a construct will be observed or measured in a particular study.

Operationalization

The process of turning an abstract construct into a measurable variable or set of variables.

Independent variable

A variable used to explain or predict another variable.

Dependent variable

The outcome variable being explained or predicted.

Mediating variable

A variable that helps explain the process through which one variable affects another.

Moderating variable

A variable that changes the strength or direction of a relationship between other variables.

Control variable

A potentially influential variable that is accounted for so it does not confound the main relationship.