Sociology 2206A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Theoretical Definition, Brainstorming, Operationalization

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 2206A/B
• Professor: Stephen Lin

Document Summary

Lecture 3 conceptualization, operationalization & measurement: objectivity & creativity. In any theoretical proposition, there exists multiple concepts that researchers use to explain some patterns of the social reality. To translate, the theoretical and conceptual knowledge into empirical world, then measurement/observation becomes necessary. Conceptualizing "social mobility: the ability of individuals or groups to move within a social hierarchy with changes in income, education, occupation, etc. Operationalization: linking abstract concepts to specific measurements. Measurement: assigning numbers or labels to units of analysis in order to represent conceptual properties, difference between quantitative and qualitative measurement (neuman & robson, pg. Two types of measures: direct observables (i. e. shape, length, things we can observe rather simply and directly (i. e. ) what colour hair someone has. More examples: social network, operationalization, how many people you talked with on a daily basis, how many friends you have on facebook.