Unit 7: Surveys II: Operationalization and Measurement

Goals:

Be able to explain reliability and validity.

Be able to explain several ways to improve reliability.

Be able to explain "the tension between reliability and validity."

Be able to explain the levels of measurement of variables.

Be able to identify the level of measurement given an instrument.

Be able to explain the differences between open-ended and close-ended questions.

Know and be able to apply Babbie's basic guidelines for asking questions.

Be familiar with a variety of formats for questions on a questionnaire.

Know how to lay out a questionnaire effectively.

Be able to operationalize a concept in a basic manner for a variety of units of analysis.

Be familiar with the major issues involving question ordering.

Be able to write a survey question that avoids common problems (e.g. being double-barreled).

Return to the schedule or the Research Methods Homepage.