Constructs and Operational Definitions
The first step in the research process is to find an unanswered question that will serve as a research
idea. The second step involves forming a hypothesis, a tentative answer to the question. The next steps
in the research process involve using the hypothesis to develop an empirical research study that will
either support or refute. (Step 3) is determining a method for defining and measuring the variables that
are being studied.
Occasionally, a research study involves variables that are well defined, easily observed, and easily
measured. Both of these variables are tangible, concrete attributes that can be observed and measured
directly. On the other hand, some studies involve intangible, abstract attributes such as motivation or
self-esteem.
variables of interest to behavioral scientists, are in fact hypothetical entities created from theory and
speculation. Such variables are called constructs or hypothetical constructs.
theory is a set of statements about the mechanisms underlying a particular behavior. Theories help
organize and unify different observations of the behavior and its relationship with other variables. A
good theory generates predictions about the behavior.
Constructs are hypothetical attributes or mechanisms that help explain and predict behavior in a theory.
They are hypothetical and intangible, they play very important roles in behavioral theories. , constructs
can be influenced by external stimuli and, in turn, can influence external behaviors.
method of defining and measuring a construct is called an operational definition. It is a procedure for
indirectly measuring and defining a variable that cannot be observed or measured directly. Although
Although operational definitions are used to measure and define a variety of constructs, such as beauty,
hunger, and pain, the most familiar example is probably the IQ test, which is intended to measure
intelligence. Notice that “intelligence” is a hypothetical construct; it is an internal attribute that cannot
be observed directly; also can be used to define variables to be manipulated
The primary limitation of an operational definition is that there is not a one-to-one relationship between
the variable that is being measured and the actual measurements produced by the operational
definition.
The primary limitation of an operational definition is that there is not a one-to-one relationship between
the variable that is being measured and the actual measurements produced by the operational
definition. C
Validity and Reliability of Measurement
y related to the scores from a well-established technique for measuring the same variable. To show the
amount of consistency between two different measurements, the two scores obtained for each person
can be presented in a graph called a scatter plot. In a scatter plot, the two scores for each person are
represented as a single point, with the horizontal position of the point determined by one score and the
vertical position determined by the second score.
The relationship is described as positive because the two measurements change together in the same
direction. Therefore, people who score high on the first measurement (toward the right of the graph)
also tend to score high on the second measurement (toward the top of the graph). Similarly, people
scoring low on one measurement also score low on the other. On the other hand, Figure 3.1(b) shows an
example of a consistent negative relationship. This time the two measurements change in opposite
directions so that people who score high on one measurement tend to score low on the other.
A consistent positive relationship like the one produces a correlation near +1.00, a consistent negative
relationship produces a correlation near −1.00, and an inconsistent produces a correlation near zero.
The numerical value of the correlation (independent of the sign) describes the consistency of the
relationship by measuring the degree to which the data points form a straight line. If the points fit
perfectly on a line, the correlation is +1.00 or −1.00. If there is no linear fit whatsoever, the correlation is
0.
the reliability or validity of a measurement procedure is usually established with a consistent positive or
a consistent negative relationship, depending on how the variables are defined and measured. Thus,
correlations are often used to determine validity and reliability.
an inconsistent relationship, or a correlation near zero, would indicate that the new test is not a valid
measure of intelligence.
The first criterion for evaluating a measurement procedure is validity. To establish validity, you must
demonstrate that the measurement procedure is actually measuring what it claims to be measuring
The question of validity is especially important whenever an operational definition is used to measure a
hypothetical construct.
The validity of a measurement procedure is the degree to which the measurement process measures
the variable that it claims to measure. Six of the more commonly used definitions of validity are as
follows:
Face validity concerns the superficial appearance, or face value, of a measurement procedure. It y is
based on subjective judgment and is difficult to quantify.
concurrent validity, the validity of a new measurement is established by demonstrating that the scores
obtained from the new measurement technique are directly related to the scores obtained from
another, better-established procedure for measuring the same variable. establishes consistency
between two different procedures for measuring the same variable, suggesting that the two
measurement procedures are measuring the same thing.
predictive validity it is when theories predict how different values of a construct affect behavior. When
the measurements of a construct accurately predict behavior (according to the theory), the
measurement procedure
If we can demonstrate that measurements of a variable behave in exactly the same way as the variable
itself, then we have established the construct validity of the measurement procedure. e. To help
establish construct validity, you would need to demonstrate that the scores you obtain from the
measurement procedure also increase as the temperature goes up. Note, however, that this single
demonstration is only one small part of construct validity.
