SOCI 2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Dependent And Independent Variables
20 Oct 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Starting the research process: come up with a hypothesis (for quantitative research)or research objective (qualitative objective)after selecting topic. Turning concepts into variables: reduce abstract concepts into measurable variables, the process of operationalization, variables are a type of concept = varies in amount or quality, e. x. Age in years(continuous- more or less of something) vs eye colour (categorical- differences of things)function of variable is to allow for measurement of changes corresponding to the abstract concept: e. x. Characteristics of variables: must be valid (relate to what is being studied, one range of possible states - variable must vary, must have states that are observable and measurable. Basic rules: no simple recipe, needs creativity and inventiveness, no perfect variable for given concept - use several variables or indicators to measure single concept, variable must be measurable and relate to study. Variables and hypotheses in quantitative research: goal of testing hypothesis, test hypotheses about relationship bw two or more variables.
