Elements of Scientific Research

1) Characterization
Observation
Measurement
Research problem
2) Hypothesis and Theory
Previous research and Prediction
3) Testing hypotheses and Drawing
conclusions
Variable
Concept/Construct
Conceptualization
Operationalization
Variable:
A dimension along which individual attributes
(e.g. people, events, and objects) can vary (i.e.
data can be collected and measured)
Any observation that can take on different
values
Attribute: a specific value on a variable
An independent variable is any variable that is
being manipulated.
A dependent variable is any variable that is
being measured.
Levels of Measurement
Objects Events People
Assigning discrete categories called
Categorical Measurement
Identifying the attributes on numerical scale
called Metric Measurement
Categorical Measurement
a) Nominal:
Homogeneous, Mutually exclusive and
exhaustive, Dichotomous/Binary
b) Ordinal
Rank ordered along some dimension, relative
position
Metric Measurement
a) Interval
Same distance apart, has an arbitrary zero
 b) Ratio
Same as interval except it has an absolute zero
point
Types of Data
Time series data: .at different time.
Cross-section data: at the same point in time.
Pooled data: .combination of time series and
cross-section data.
Panel data: special type of pooled
data.same cross-sectional units.