CRI350H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Theoretical Definition, Continuous Or Discrete Variable, Operational Definition
Document Summary
Key topics in today"s readings not covered in lecture. Differences in the methods & goals of measurement in quantitative & qualitative research. Developing a conceptual definition, developing an operational definition, empirically measuring the phenomenon. W/out a clear conceptual definition to start w/, the later stages may be flawed. Rates & standardization should understand why it"s important to creat rates & how to decide on the base (or denominator) to do so. Does your measurement tool/technique give you consistent results on repeated. You can improve reliability w/ clearly conceptualized & defined constructs, more precise levels of measurement, multiple indicators, & pilot tests. Reliability is necessary, but not sufficient, for validity meaning you cannot be valid w/out being reliable. A continuous variable is a variable that has an infinite number of possible values. In other words, any value is possible for the variable.
