POLI 2P80 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Inductive Reasoning, Deductive Reasoning, Theoretical Definition
4 Oct 2015
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The process of creating measurable concrete variables from abstract concepts. Tends to be more of a concern for quantitative researchers. Qualitative researcher can still measure (themes, concepts etc. ) Identify concept of interest: develop conceptual definition. Ex/ how will we measure something: operationalize to create a variable. Start off with empirical data, observations, or qualitative observations and search out the why (via interviews etc. ) The process of developing clear, rigorous, systematic definitions for abstract ideas/concepts. Need similar things for answer to be good: operationalization. The process of moving from the conceptual definition of a construct to a set of specific activities or measures that allows research to observe it empirically. A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system : operationalizing democracy. Develop a process to determine if various countries meet our definition.
