PSY 3213C Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Operational Definition, Inter-Rater Reliability, Scatter Plot
Document Summary
Conceptual variable: researcher"s definition of the variable in question at a theoretical level. Operational definition: a researcher"s specific decision about how to measure or manipulate the conceptual variable. Three common types of measures: self-report measure: operationalizes a variable by recording people"s answers to questions about themselves in a questionnaire or interview, observational measure: operationalizes a variable by recording observable behaviors or physical traces of behavior. May require physical traces of behavior: physiological measure: operationalizes a variable by recording biological data such as brain activity, hormone levels, or heart rate. Physiological measure usually require the use of equipment. Reliability: how consistent the results of a measure are. Validity: whether the operationalization is measuring what it is supposed to measure. 3 types of reliability: test-retest reliability: getting consistent scores every time he or she uses the measure. Ex: taking test at different times and see similar/same results: interrater reliability: consistent scores are obtained no matter who measures or observes.
