SOC221H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Criterion Validity, Content Validity, External Validity
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*midterm test format - 75 minutes; 50 m/c questions and your choice of 5 out of 8 definitions. Developing conceptual definitions of concepts. (abstract and general: operationalization. Transforming a conceptual definition of a concept into an operational definition of a variable/variables that allow a researcher to observe (measure) the concept empirically. Operational definition consists of indicators (cf. attributes of a concept) of specific and observable phenomena/ their attributes. Many variables in social sciences have multiple indicators. (variable - annual income - measured in intervals; each interval is called "value" of the variable - variables can assume different values. Having more indicators is better because i gives us the fuller definition of concepts such as class position) It specifies operations through which the concept will be observed/measured: observational procedures, survey questions, scales, government data. (specify how you"re going to ask research questions) Example: conceptual hypothesis - the higher the education, the lower level or racism/ethnic prejudice.
