COM CM 321 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Multivariate Analysis, Continuous Or Discrete Variable, Operational Definition

• School: Boston University
• Department: Mass Communication, Advertising & Public Relations
• Course: COM CM 321
• Professor: Blair Hurley

Document Summary

Concept: expresses an abstract idea formed by generalizing from particular and summarizing related observations. >simplify research process by combining particular characteristics, objects of people into specific categories. >simplify communication among those who have a shred understanding of them. >researchers use concepts to organize their observations into meaningful summaries to transmit this information to others. 1. an abstract ideas that is broken down into dimensions represented by lower level concepts (it is a combination of concepts) 1. cannot be observed directly usually designed for a specific research purpose to that its exact meaning. 2. relates only to the context in which it is found. Variable: empirical counterpart of a construct or concept. >market variables: define or highlight the construct under study. Dependent: the ones that are observed (it is what the researcher wishes to explain. Multivariate analysis; multiple dependent variables are measured in. Discrete variable: includes a finite set of vales that cannot be divided into sub parts.