Research & Summaries Question
Learning Goal: I’m working on a research & summaries multi-part question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
Operationalization is the process by which researchers conducting quantitative research spell out precisely how a concept will be measured. It involves identifying the specific research procedures we will use to gather data about our concepts.
Hint: It is possible that for some of the concepts, the variable is the same as the concept. See the example I provided for the concept “Favorite Food” below.
See these examples of operationalization of concepts I have provided for you. Your instructions are on the next page.
| Concept | Variable | Indicator |
| 1. Favorite Food | Favorite Food | “What is your favorite food?” |
| 2. Binge Drinking | Frequency of Heavy Drinking | “How often within the past two weeks did you consume five or more drinks containing alcohol in a row?” |
| 3. Self-Compassion | Level of Self-Compassion | For each item below, indicate how often you behave in the stated manner, using the following 1-5 scale: 1 is “almost never” and 5 is “almost always”
1. I’m disapproving and judgmental about my own flaws 2. I try to be loving towards myself when I’m feeling emotional pain 3. When something upsets me, I try to keep my emotions in balance |
| 4. Height | Height | Researcher will measure participants’ height in feet and inches using a measuring tape |
Instructions: Operationalize the following concepts by identifying the variables and indicators used to measure them.
| Concept | Variable | Indicator |
| 1. Marital Status | ||
| 2. Health | ||
| 3. Intelligence | ||
| 4. Body Weight | ||
| 5. Racism |