PSYB04H3 Chapter 5: notes
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Chapter 5 operationalization, the process of turning a concept of interest into a measured or manipulated variable. The conceptual definition, or construct, is the researcher"s definition of the variable in question at a theoretical level. The operational definition of a variable represents a researcher"s specific decision about how to measure or manipulate the conceptual variable. A self-report measure operationalizes a variable by recording people"s answers to questions about themselves in a questionnaire or interview. Diener"s five-item scale and the ladder of life question are both examples of self-report measures about life satisfaction. An observational measure, sometimes called a behavioral measure, operationalizes a variable by recording observable behaviors or physical traces of behaviors. How stress they looked, are they biting their pencil, how many times they smile to find out how happy they are. Observational measures may record physical traces of behavior. physiological measure operationalizes a variable by recording biological data such as brain activity, hormone levels, or heart rate.
