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Setting the Scene
Appropriate Research Methods
'Science' in the Social Sciences
Design Decisions in Research
Theory Development
Social and Behavioral Theories
Describing How
Sample Surveys
Social Survey Data Collection
Administrative Data Systems
Observational Studies
Explaining Why
Qualitative Methods
Conversation Analysis
Software and Qualitative Analysis
What Works
Clinical Trials
Cluster Unit Randomized Trials
Emerging Issues
Ethical Challenges
Multilevel Modeling
Objective Measurement of Subjective Phenomena
Measuring Socioeconomic Status
Evaluating the Quality of Health Care
Patient-Reported Outcomes
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Setting the Scene
Appropriate Research Methods
'Science' in the Social Sciences
Design Decisions in Research
Theory Development
Social and Behavioral Theories
Describing How
Sample Surveys
Social Survey Data Collection
Administrative Data Systems
Observational Studies
Explaining Why
Qualitative Methods
Conversation Analysis
Software and Qualitative Analysis
What Works
Clinical Trials
Cluster Unit Randomized Trials
Emerging Issues
Ethical Challenges
Multilevel Modeling
Objective Measurement of Subjective Phenomena
Measuring Socioeconomic Status
Evaluating the Quality of Health Care
Patient-Reported Outcomes
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This Chapter
Contents
Objective Measurement of Subjective Phenomena
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. The Construct, or Characteristic, to Measure
4. Nature of the Construct
5. Items, Levels of Measurement, and Methods
6. Problems in Measuring Constructs
7. Reliability
8. Validity
9. Summary
10. References
11. Author Biography
This Chapter
Contents
Appropriate Research Methods
'Science' in the Social Sciences
Design Decisions in Research
Theory Development
Social and Behavioral Theories
Sample Surveys
Social Survey Data Collection
Administrative Data Systems
Observational Studies
Qualitative Methods
Conversation Analysis
Software and Qualitative Analysis
Clinical Trials
Cluster Unit Randomized Trials
Ethical Challenges
Multilevel Modeling
Objective Measurement of Subjective Phenomena
Measuring Socioeconomic Status
Evaluating the Quality of Health Care
Patient-Reported Outcomes
Tables
Figures
Exercises
Examples
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Objective Measurement of Subjective Phenomena
4. Nature of the Construct
Dimension 4: Temporal constancy (or consistency or stability) versus fluctuation (or instability)
The dimension of temporal constancy can be used to distinguish trait construct, which are stable over time, from state constructs, which fluctuate notably over time (
Gaudry, Vagg, & Spielberger, 1975
;
Hampson & Goldberg, 2006
).
Example 11
Trait construct examples:
Trait anxiety
– This is indexed by asking a person how s/he has felt, in general, over an extended period of time, such as the last month or last six months.
Big 5 dimensions of personality
– These are thought to be relatively stable descriptions of an individual. They include:
Extraversion
Agreeableness
Conscientiousness
Neuroticism
Openness to Experience
Example 12
State construct examples:
State anxiety
– State anxiety is assessed by asking a person to report feelings of fear, uneasiness, or shortness of breath “right now” or “today.”
Bipolar disorder
– Bipolar disorder is characterized between swings between more or less manic behaviors over time.
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Gaudry, E., Vagg, P., & Spielberger, C. D. (1975). Validation of the state-trait distinction in anxiety research. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 10, 331-341.
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