POL SCI 3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Recode, Theoretical Definition, Operational Definition
17 Oct 2016
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Concept (idea) v. variable/ measure/ indicator (idea realized in data) Operational definition (1) names the variable(s) (2) identifies the data used for the measure (3) indicates the scoring used to depict a case s category or placement along a continuum. Interval: variation in degree along a continuum, position of cases on continuum. Ratio: variation in degree along a continuum, position of cases relative to each other and relative to 0, only with ratio measures can we interpret the data by making ratio comparisons. Practical recode: uses different numbering scheme but changes nothing substantively: any monotonic transformation (order preserving transformation) leaves the results and their interpretation unchanged. A balanced scale is desired with agree/ disagree items. Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree. If responses was always (cid:498)agree(cid:499), because of acquiescence bias or acquiescence response set problem some people have a tendency to agree to anything.
