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An Overview of Research Design:  8. Operationalization
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See Also:  An Overview of Methods
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See Also:  Research Design
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1.  Selecting a Topic:   Finding the topic is the first step in research design
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2.  Formulate the Thesis
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3.  Choose the Types of Analyses
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4.   Research & Write a Literature Review & Refine the Thesis
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5. Formulate Research Objectives ( ROs ) from the Types of Analysis ( TOA )
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6. Conceptualization of the topic
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7.  Choose the methodology / the Research Instrument
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8. Operationalization is the development of specific research procedures (operations) 
     such as survey questions, experimental protocol, interview schedules, observation protocol, etc.,
     that result in empirical observation representing those concepts in real world
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Operationalization is inseparable from actual data collection
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Operationalization is an Iterative process
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There are THREE steps in operationalization:
         a. Formulating Concepts into Variables
         b. Formulating Variables into Measures
         c. Formulate Instruments for the Measures
    Each of these steps is considered below
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Thus, Operationalization is the writing of 
     Survey Questions
     Interview questions
     Observation criteria
     etc., see  Research Instruments
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a. Formulating Concepts into Variables
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     Define Variables that will measure your Concepts
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     The researcher breaks down Concepts into Variables which the researcher believes they can measure
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     Abstract concepts must be broken down into variables that can be measured in the real world
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     The Research must determine the variables that make up abstract concepts
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     What attributes of the real world make up a concept?
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      THREE questions should be considered in Formulating Variables
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            i. What range of variation should be considered?
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            ii. What levels of measurement should be used?
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            iii. Should one indicator or many be used?
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      Example of Formulating Variables
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      Thesis:
            Workers are more alienated in manufacturing work than in craft work
      Concepts
            Workers, Alienation, Manufacturing Work, Craft Work
      Variables
            ( Background  [demographics], Activities, Knowledge, Sentiments [ opinions, values, attitudes, feelings, etc.] ) 
      Worker
            Demographic:  listed as worker by DOL Classification of Occupations
            Activity:  Is paid for labor
      Alienation
         Sentiment:  depressed, likes work, feels isolated
         Activity:  drinks heavily, drugs, abuse, etc.
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In-Class Assignment:  Formulating Concepts into Variables
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b. Formulating Variables into Measures
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     Define measures for the variables
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     Variables must be defined so they can be Measured by a Research Instrument 
     ( survey, observation, interview, content analysis, etc. )
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     Measures are the units of analysis based on the attributes of the variables
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     Example of Variables being defined so they can be Measured
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     Worker
          Aggregate Data Analysis:  DOL classifications
      Alienation
            None, Mild depression, Clinical  ( or other APA range )
             Doesn't drink, weekly, daily, all day
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c.  Formulate Instruments for the Measures
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     Measures must be formulated into the Research Instrument,
     i.e., actual research questions: 
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The Researcher must finalize the type of methods they use
      Survey questions
     Interview questions
     Observation:  Behavior to observe
     Aggregate Data Analysis:  Items to count in raw data
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Keep in mind data loss
    Which method will give the researcher the most info on the topic?
    High levels of data loss can invalidate the method
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Example of Formulating Instruments for the Measures
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c. Measures into Instruments
Worker:
     Which DOL classifications count as workers to be researched?
      Do you earn a wage or salary?
       Where do you work
Alienation
      I feel bad
      never    rarely     sometimes     frequently     all the time
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Example of Topic to Concept to Variables to Measures to Instruments:  Wildland Firefighting
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Example of Topic to Concept to Variables to Measures to Instruments:  Women &  Men
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Validity & Reliability & Relevance
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Validity:  Do the concepts, variables, measures, & instruments determine 
    what they should?
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Reliability:  Do the concepts, variables, measures, & instruments determine what they should for all ( most ) subjects? 
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Relevance:  Do the concepts, variables, measures, & instruments support or fail to support the thesis? 
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After I complete my survey on safety & authority or compassion, can I answer the thesis one way or another? 
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As the researcher carries out the research design process, 
   she/he must be continually check to ensure
   validity & reliability & relevance
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More than one research project has been derailed by Instruments 
    ( survey or interviews ) that do not address the concerns of the thesis
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Research Design:  forward or reverse?
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The process presented here has looked at research from the beginning of choosing the topic
to the end of writing actual research questions
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This has been a deductive process
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But the RD process also works in reverse!
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& in practice, the RD process is rarely a completely one way endeavor
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Induction:  The Long Way Around
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Instruments to Thesis:  Induction
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One may find it easier to begin w/ interesting research questions
      & then work back by designing the measures, variables, concepts, thesis
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Or work back to only part way
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Start w/ a thesis
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Brainstorm on questions
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Then double check to ensure validity, reliability, & relevance
   by ensuring that all concepts, variables & measures are covered
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9.  Formulate the Data Collection Strategy
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10.    Obtain HIC Approval
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11.  Perform a Pilot Study:  the Senior Project is a Pilot Study & so no addition study will be required
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12Collect Data utilizing efficient, effective & ethical methodological practices
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13Prepare the Data for processing & analysis
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14Process & Analyze Data
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15Interpret & make Inferences about Data
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16.  Write the Final Report
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17.  Write Final HIC Report
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Examples of Topic to Concept to Variables to Measures to Instruments:  Wildland Firefighting
Thesis:  This paper examines the relationship btwn the lower-level authority & safety for wildland firefighters by exploring the socio-historical development, & the social causes & effects of safety in the workplace & addressing the SWOTs to current safety initiatives, advocating that safety could be enhanced by allowing lower-level firefighters greater authority in the workplace.

What are the concepts?  variables?  measures? instruments?
 
 
 

Concepts:
Safety:  behavior that minimizes risk of injury to self, others, property
Authority:  the ability to get another person to act the way you want
    based on your power in the organization, persuasion, logic

Variables:
  Safety:
    Number of injuries
    Types of injuries
     Number of near hits
     Types of hi risk behavior    ( these two are "non-traditional )
  Authority:
     Number of workers supervised
     Place in the hierarchy
     Set own wk pace
     Determine wk breaks    ( these two are "non-traditional )

Measures
   Safety:
     Numbers of injuries:  ordinal:   number of days missed, 
     Types of injuries:  fatal, permanent disability, temp disability, cost...
     Number of near hits
     Types of hi risk behavior:  comprehensive list of all risky behavior
         Must develop index to rank order:  no seat belts, ax throwing, above a fire
   Authority:
     Number of workers supervised:  ordinal   0 - 100
     Place in hierarchy:  nominal:  but clearly defined:  worker, lo level sup, ...
     Set own wk pace:  yes-no   or   never, sometimes, frequently....
        or description of how & when

Instruments
   Safety:
        How many days are missed per employee?
        How many injuries are reported per employee?
   Authority:
        How many workers do you supervise?
        What is your job title & rank?
        Do you get to take breaks when you want?
        Does your sup reprimand you for taking a break?

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Examples of Topic to Concept to Variables to Measures to Instruments:  Women &  Men
Thesis:  Women are more compassionate than men
What are the concepts?  variables?  measures?  instruments?
What can be see that demonstrates this one way or the other?
( Note we can observe it, ask survey/interview questions, etc. )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Concepts:
a. compassion:  sympathetic emotion elicited 
     by the misfortunes of others; pitying sorrow or mercy
b. women
c. men

Variables:
    ( Background  [demographics], Activities, Knowledge 
      Sentiments (opinions, values, attitudes, feelings, etc. ) 
      Sympathy:  feeling:  takes on pt of view of another
      Pity:  feeling:  recognizes bad situation of another
      Mercy:  feeling:  recognizes need for help, assistance, etc.
             action:  helps, assists

Measurement:
     Determine how often subject is sympathetic
     Determine depth of sympathy
     Determine which situations subject is sympathetic in
     Determine which situations subject is NOT sympathetic in

Instruments:
How often do you cry at movies?
When you cry at the movies, are you 
     the only one.............. last one to cry

Pity
Rate the following events as
1. totally own fault 
2. partially own fault 
3. neutral 
4. partial fault of another
5. totally fault of another

_____  homelessness
_____  flooded home
_____  burned down home
_____  robbed at home
_____  robbed during day
_____  robbed at night
_____  robbed "in the wrong part of town"
_____  laid-off
_____  car wreck--rear ended
_____  car wreck--slide off road
_____  car wreck--side swiped

The End