OPERATIONALIZATION

• Operationalization Process


  1. Linking Conceptualization with Operationalization

  2. Developing the Operational Framework

  3. Research Variables and Indicators

  4. Data Collection
• Operationalization


  The process of defining a fuzzy concept and making it clearly distinguishable or measurable
• Proper operationalization is crucial in improving the robustness of research design and obtaining relevant results
• Bad operationalization can introduce the researcher's preconceptions or biases into the data or generate responses that do not adequately respond to the research question or test the theory in question
• Linking Conceptualization with Operationalization

  1. Conceptual framework is obtained from the theoretical framework

  2. Operationalization process takes off from conceptual framework

  3. Operational framework is prepared

  4. Research design is developed

  5. Variables and indicators are identified and defined

  6. Data gathering methods and instruments are determined

  7. Sampling plan is developed
• Operational Framework


  Shows what will be performed in the research, usually presented with a diagram
• Elements commonly presented in the operational framework

  • Variables of the study
  • Areas covered in the study
  • Phases or major stages to be undertaken
• Independent variable


  The cause, its value is independent of the other variables
• Dependent variable


  The effect, its value depends on changes in the independent variable
• Intervening variable


  A hypothetical variable used to explain causal links between other variables
• Moderator variable


  Affects the strength of the relation between the predictor and criterion variable
• Controlling variable


  Variables or contributing factors that are fixed or eliminated to clearly identify the relationship between an independent and dependent variable
• Operational Definition of Terms


  Complements the operational framework by defining the meaning of the variables, areas, phases or processes presented
• Operational definition must have empirical referents - one must be able to count, measure, or gather the information through the senses
• Nominal definition describes the meaning of the concept by using other concepts, but does not allow the process of observation
• Research Design


  A scheme prepared to identify the different conditions necessary for the measurement, collection, and analysis of data
• Research design is different from research method, which refers to the data-gathering techniques
• Research design should ensure that the evidence obtained will enable the researcher to answer the research question unambiguously
• Reductionism


  An overly strict limitation on the kinds of concepts and variables to explain a broad range of human behavior
• Ecological fallacy


  Drawing conclusions about individuals based solely on the observation of groups
• Individualistic fallacy


  Deriving conclusions from general patterns of attitudes and actions of people whom the researcher has previous knowledge or familiarity
• Conditions to be considered in preparing the research design

  • Purpose of the research
  • Unit of analysis
  • Point of focus
  • Time dimension
• Descriptive research


  Concerned with delineating the way things are - the current state of condition or existing manner of doing things
• Explanatory research


  Deals with the use of variables to find out the relationships between these variables which could explain why certain things happen
• Exploratory research


  Examines a relatively new and unstudied subject matter
• Units of analysis


  • Individuals
  • Groups
  • Organizations
  • Social artifacts
• Exploratory research


  The researcher examines a relatively new and unstudied subject matter
• Purposes of exploratory studies

  • To satisfy the researcher's curiosity and desire for better understanding
  • To test the feasibility of undertaking a more careful study
  • To develop the methods to be employed in a more careful study
• Unit of analysis


  The source of data or the units of observations
• Units of analysis


  • Individuals
  • Groups
  • Organizations
  • Social artifacts
• Individuals as unit of analysis


  • They may be characterized in terms of their membership in a social grouping
  • The write-up of analysis is not on the individual level since any given individual's attitudes or behaviors are generally of no interest to many researchers. Rather, the researcher is interested in the attitudes and behaviors of an aggregate of individuals
• Organizations as unit of analysis


  • They include business organizations, professional organizations, churches, socio civic organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations
• Social artifacts as unit of analysis


  • They are products of social beings or their behavior, such as social objects (factory buildings, company cars, records of accounts, paintings) and social interactions (conferences, product launchings, weddings, religious ceremonies, business meetings, congressional hearings, labor strikes)
• Point of focus


  The characteristics, orientations, and actions of the unit of analysis
• Characteristics


  The state of being of the unit of analysis, such as sex, gender, age, marital status, position, work habits for individuals, size, structure, location, and aggregated description of members for groups and organizations, physical attributes like size, weight, and color for objects, place or location and timing of occurrence and the people involved for social interactions
• Orientations


  Attitudes, beliefs, personality traits, prejudices, predispositions, philosophies, purposes, policies, regulations, processes, and procedures
• Actions


  Accounts of events or processes undertaken by the unit of analysis, such as voting, bond buying, investing, holding strikes, engaging in credit transactions, prosecution, product advertising
• Time dimension


  The timing of the research, which is vital in determining causal relationships and making generalizations
• Types of time dimension

  • Cross-sectional study (conducted in a unit of study at a given time)
  • Longitudinal study (designed to permit observations of a unit of study over an extended period of time)
• Types of longitudinal studies

  • Trend study (looks into the dynamics of a particular attribute of the population over time)
  • Cohort study (a group having common characteristics or experience or have received a particular treatment within a defined period is tracked over an extended period of time)
  • Panel study (measures the same sample of respondents at different points in time)