SOAN 2120 Chapter 6: SOAN 2120 Chapter 6
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Both rank order of units of analysis in terms of specific variables [religiosity, alienation, socioeconomic status, prejudice] Selecting items for a composite index [created to measure a variable] A composite measure should represent only one dimension of a concept. In general your attempting to measure may have many nuances. The nature of the items you include determine how specifically or generally the variable is measured. You can select several items the responses to which divide ppl about equally in terms of the variable. Or select items differing in variance [this is necessary for scaling] When a respondent s answer to a question helps predict how they will answer other questions. Be wary of items not related to each other empirically. If two items have a very strong relationship only 1 needs to be shown in the index. Decide whether to give items in the index equal weight or different weights.