operationalizing variables, Summaries of Psychology

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LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

Lab 5: Operationalization

DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO RESEARCH

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

Definitions

Operationalization: The process of strictly defining variables into measurable factors to allow them to be measured, empirically and quantitatively. Matyn Shuttleworth (Jan 17, 2008). Operationalization. Retrieved Sep 11, 2019 from Explorable.com https://explorable.com/operationalization LAB 5: OPERATIONALIZATION

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

Fuzzy Concepts

• (^) A fuzzy variable is one that sounds obvious in everyday language, but means different things depending on how it’s measured.
• (^) Often referred to as “conceptual variables,” these cannot be measured directly without clarification
• (^) Replication of research requires fully defined variables!
• (^) For example, “Hope” or “Self-Esteem” LAB 5: OPERATIONALIZATION

Fuzzy concepts are vague

concepts that lack clarity or

are subjective.

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION CLASS ACTIVITY 1: OPERATIONALIZING

DISCUSSION:

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF FUZZY VARIABLES?

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

CHILDREN GROW

FASTER IF THEY EAT

VEGETABLES Narrow^ down the range of children

• (^) Age, sex, nationality, etc. Define ‘growth’
• (^) Height, weight, cognition? Define ‘faster’
• (^) One week? Six years? Etc. Specify ‘diet’
• (^) Which vegetables? How much? What proportion? LAB 5: OPERATIONALIZATION

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION 8 https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=IeVYQRbaQ5o

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

Directional or non-

Directional?

LAB 5: OPERATIONALIZATION Directional hypothesis predicts that two variables are related, and specifies the direction of that relationship.

• (^) E.g., “higher than,” “increase,” etc. Non-directional hypothesis predicts that a relationship or difference exists between variables, but does not specify the direction of that relationship.
• (^) E.g., “different from,” “associated with,” “related to.”

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

Different Types of

Research Designs

LAB 5: OPERATIONALIZATION Experimental Designs: We are manipulating variables directly, (e.g., by assigning people to particular conditions) to see what changes Non-Experimental (e.g., Correlational) Designs: We are measuring variables that can’t be manipulated or assigned, like gender or age, to see how that relates to other variables.

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION CLASS ACTIVITY 1: INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES

ACTIVITY 1:

INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES

Scenario: Participants were invited to taste two different beers and express their preference for one over the other. Participants were told that the beer was laced with vinegar either before or after tasting or were told nothing. Participants who weren’t told that the beer was laced with vinegar or were told after they tasted it preferred it over the regular beer. Those who were told it was laced with vinegar before tasting it preferred the regular beer. Question: In this experiment, identify the independent variable and the dependent variable. Source: Lee, L., Frederick, S., & Ariely, D. (2006). Try it, you’ll like it: The influence of expectation, consumption, and revelation on preferences for beer. Psychological Science, 17 (12), 1054–1058. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01829.x

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION CLASS ACTIVITY 1: OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

ACTIVITY 2:

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Let’s walk through Activity 2 together, and then you will work on Activity 3 on your own (in groups).

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

Variable #1 Variable

Academic Workload Burnout

STEP 1: CHOOSE AND DEFINE YOUR VARIABLES

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

STEP 1: CHOOSE AND DEFINE YOUR VARIABLES

Variable Name Your operational definition of the variable: Variable 1: Academic Workload The total number of school assignments and exams assigned to participants during a single academic semester Variable 2: Burnout Participants’ self-reported level of emotional exhaustion and disengagement related to their academic responsibilities, measured using a questionnaire. CLASS ACTIVITY 2: OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

TIPS FOR WRITING A CORRELATIONAL HYPOTHESIS

Your hypothesis should make a prediction about the nature of differences between at least 2 levels of your independent variables. Non-directional example: The operationally-defined DV will differ based on whether participants experienced Level 1 or Level 2 of the IV. Directional example: The Level 1 group of the IV will yield higher operationally-defined DV measures than the Level 2 group of the IV. CLASS ACTIVITY 2: OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

LAB 5 :^ OPERATIONALIZATION

STEP 2: DEVELOP A CORRELATIONAL HYPOTHESIS

Activity 2 Correlational Hypothesis Table Operationally-Defined Predictor Variable: Operationally-Defined Criterion Variable: Do you wish to make a directional or non- directional prediction? State your correlational hypothesis: CLASS ACTIVITY 2: OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESES