CRIM 220 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5-6: Theoretical Definition, Operationalization, Operational Definition
21 Oct 2016
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Introduction (because measurement is difficult and imprecise, researchers try to describe the measurement process explicitly) Went from going from having a vague idea about what we want to study to being able to recognize it and measure it in the real world. General issues of conceptualization, which set up a foundation for our examination of operationalization and measurement. Conceptions and concepts (clarifying abstract mental images is an essential first step in measurement) Because conceptions are subjective and cannot be communicated directly, we use the words and symbols of language as a way of communicating about our conception and the things we observe that are related to those conceptions. Concept: words or symbols in language that we use to represent mental images. We use concepts to communicate with one another, to share our mental images: crime as a concept is abstract, meaning that in the english language, this label represents mental images of illegal acts.
