MEASUREMENT OF VARIABLES: OPERATIONAL FINITION AND SCALE
Measurement of the variables in the theoretical framework is an integral part of research and an important aspect of research design. Unless the variables are measured in some ways, we will not be able to test our hypothesis and find answers to complex research issues. Objects that can be physically measured by some calibrated instruments pose no measurement problem. One can also check the company records to obtain or verify certain types of information. But when we get to the realm of people’s subjective feelings, attitudes, and perceptions, the measurement of these factors or variables becomes difficult. This is one of the aspects of organizational behaviour and management research that adds to the complexity of research study.
There at least two types of variables: one lends itself to objective and precise measurement; the other is nebulous and does not lend itself to accurate measurement because of its subjective nature. However, despite the lack of physical measuring devices to measure the latter type, there are ways of tapping the subjective feelings and perceptions of individuals. One technique is to reduce the abstract notions or concepts to observable behaviour and characteristics. The reduction of abstract concepts to render them measurable in a tangible way is what is called operationalizing the concepts.
operationalzing or operationally defining a concept to render it measurable, is done by looking at the behavioural dimensions, facts ,or properties denoted by the concept. These are them translate into observable and measurable elements so as to develop an index of measurement of the concept. However, just as it is to understand what an operational definition is, equally important is it to remember what it is not. An operational definition does not describe the correlate of the concept. Thus, it is clear that operationally defining a concept does not consist of delineating the reason, antecedents, consequences, or correlates of the concepts. Rather, it describes its observable characteristics in order to be able to measure the concept. It is important to remember this because if we either operationalize the concepts incorrectly or confuse them with other concepts, then we will not have valid measures. This mean that we will not have good data and our research will not be scientific.
SCALES
Now that we have learned how to operationalize concepts, we need to measure them in some manner. To this end ,we will name types of scales that can be applied to measure different variables. As scale is a tool or mechanism by which individuals are distinguished as to how they differ from one another on the variables of interest to our study. The scale or tool could be a gross one ion the sense that it would only broadly categorize individuals on certain variables, or it could be a fine-tuned tool that would differentiate individuals on the variables with varying degrees of sophistication. There are four basic types of scales:
Nominal scale
Ordinal scale
Interval scale
And ratio scale
A nominal scale :is one that allows the researcher to assign subjects to certain categories or groups. For example, with respect to the variable of gender, respondent can be grouped into two categories--male and female.
An ordinal scale not only categorizes the variables in such a way as to denote differences among the various categories, it also rank-orders the categories in some meaningful way.
An interval scale allows us to perform certain arithmetical operations on the data collected from the respondents.
Ratio scale overcomes the disadvantages of the arbitrary origin point of the interval scale, in that it has an absolute (in contrast to an arbitrary) zero point, which is a meaningful measurement point.
From the foregoing, we could see that knowledge of operationalization of a concept and the type of scale to use for purposes of categorizing ,rank-ordering, and tapping variables to varying degrees of sophistication, helps managers to undertake small surveys on their own, without much difficulty.
Endnote
Sekaran, Uma. (2003). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach.
(4th ed.) Hoboken, N. J.: Wiley.
Measurement of the variables in the theoretical framework is an integral part of research and an important aspect of research design. Unless the variables are measured in some ways, we will not be able to test our hypothesis and find answers to complex research issues. Objects that can be physically measured by some calibrated instruments pose no measurement problem. One can also check the company records to obtain or verify certain types of information. But when we get to the realm of people’s subjective feelings, attitudes, and perceptions, the measurement of these factors or variables becomes difficult. This is one of the aspects of organizational behaviour and management research that adds to the complexity of research study.
There at least two types of variables: one lends itself to objective and precise measurement; the other is nebulous and does not lend itself to accurate measurement because of its subjective nature. However, despite the lack of physical measuring devices to measure the latter type, there are ways of tapping the subjective feelings and perceptions of individuals. One technique is to reduce the abstract notions or concepts to observable behaviour and characteristics. The reduction of abstract concepts to render them measurable in a tangible way is what is called operationalizing the concepts.
operationalzing or operationally defining a concept to render it measurable, is done by looking at the behavioural dimensions, facts ,or properties denoted by the concept. These are them translate into observable and measurable elements so as to develop an index of measurement of the concept. However, just as it is to understand what an operational definition is, equally important is it to remember what it is not. An operational definition does not describe the correlate of the concept. Thus, it is clear that operationally defining a concept does not consist of delineating the reason, antecedents, consequences, or correlates of the concepts. Rather, it describes its observable characteristics in order to be able to measure the concept. It is important to remember this because if we either operationalize the concepts incorrectly or confuse them with other concepts, then we will not have valid measures. This mean that we will not have good data and our research will not be scientific.
SCALES
Now that we have learned how to operationalize concepts, we need to measure them in some manner. To this end ,we will name types of scales that can be applied to measure different variables. As scale is a tool or mechanism by which individuals are distinguished as to how they differ from one another on the variables of interest to our study. The scale or tool could be a gross one ion the sense that it would only broadly categorize individuals on certain variables, or it could be a fine-tuned tool that would differentiate individuals on the variables with varying degrees of sophistication. There are four basic types of scales:
Nominal scale
Ordinal scale
Interval scale
And ratio scale
A nominal scale :is one that allows the researcher to assign subjects to certain categories or groups. For example, with respect to the variable of gender, respondent can be grouped into two categories--male and female.
An ordinal scale not only categorizes the variables in such a way as to denote differences among the various categories, it also rank-orders the categories in some meaningful way.
An interval scale allows us to perform certain arithmetical operations on the data collected from the respondents.
Ratio scale overcomes the disadvantages of the arbitrary origin point of the interval scale, in that it has an absolute (in contrast to an arbitrary) zero point, which is a meaningful measurement point.
From the foregoing, we could see that knowledge of operationalization of a concept and the type of scale to use for purposes of categorizing ,rank-ordering, and tapping variables to varying degrees of sophistication, helps managers to undertake small surveys on their own, without much difficulty.
Endnote
Sekaran, Uma. (2003). Research methods for business: A skill-building approach.
(4th ed.) Hoboken, N. J.: Wiley.
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