Methods for Identifying Concepts, Constructs and

Variables for Extension Research

P. Sethuraman Sivakumar
Senior Scientist, ICAR-CTCRI
 Role of Theory in Extension Research

All extension researches use theory – Fully or partly

Adapting or Developing ; full or part of theory
•Adoption studies – Diffusion theory, theory of planned behaviour
•Impact assessment - Impact Assessment Theory/Model
•Technology intervention (FLD)– Theory of Imitation
•Training effectiveness – Human learning theory
 Relationship between Theory and Research

(i) Theoretical framework - To increase or build knowledge effectively for conducting

research
(ii) Literature review – Developing justification for objectives
(iii) Research provides explanatory power to the theory
 How Research Contributes to Theory

(a) Establishing a causal relationship between aspects of reality (e.g Factors influencing ICT
use)
(b) Examination of a specific aspect in a theory (e.g. Audience in SMCR theory – Knowledge
test)
(c) Method of creating product (e.g. Instructional Design Theory for Multimedia)
(d) Constructs development (e.g. Communication effectiveness, empowerment)
(e) Predictive model development (e.g. Forecasting of adoption or impact)
(f) Examination of the impact of an aspect on the nature of the documented problem (e.g.
Yield Analysis)
 What is Theory?

Running burns
excessive calories
in our body

Reality Theory
•A theory is a simplified representation of a limited part of the reality.
(Only RUNNING not THINKING)
•Represents various aspects of the limited part of reality
(Eg. move rapidly on foot; increase metabolism)
 Units of Theory

(i) Domain – Specific area of the reality

(ii) Concepts – Abstraction of observed aspects
(iii) Variables – Empirical form of concept
(iv) Definitions – Theoretical and operational
(v) Premises - Assumptions
(vi) Propositions and hypotheses - conjectural relationships
 A. Domain

•Limited aspect of reality represented by theory

•Surrounded by a boundary
•Boundary drawn by Conceptual Narrowing or Broadening
•Explaining phenomenon- What, When and How
• In terms of Space (geographical locations), time (Before - After) or
assumptions/values about the nature of the phenomenon (rational systems
versus social systems to be viewed as organizations).
Eg. Domain - Impact of Front Line Demonstrations (Time)
 B. Concepts

Concepts
Labels or terms formed in the minds of researcher to represent various aspects of
the reality.
Two components
Abstraction formed by generalisation from particulars of aspects of reality
Labels of the concepts
Abstraction

Label Concept Reality

 Ways of Conceptualizing a Phenomenon (Kaplan, 1964)

Based on
•degree of directness of the relationship between a concept or a term/label
•the actual aspect of the reality associated with the concept or term/label

Abstract and Indirectly Abstract and indirectly

Concrete and directly Concrete and Indirectly Observable through observable by theoretical
observable Observable Configuration of Multiple interpretation
(eg. Rice yield) (e.g. Heart Beat) Observable Entities (e.g. Intelligence)
(eg. Food security)
 Concept Vs Construct

Construct
•Special types of concepts which are deliberately and consciously invented or adopted for
a scientific purpose
•Abstract and indirectly observable through configuration of multiple observable entities
•CATEGORY III Concepts
•Eg. Food security, empowerment
 C. Variables

Concepts
•An empirically observable manifestation of a concept
•Symbol or label which can take different values for different objects depending on the
extent to which the property specified by a concept is present in different objects
 D. Definitions

Theoretical Operational
Concept Label
definition definition

(i) Labels - Formed based on meanings of both theoretical and operational definitions
(ii) Theoretical definition - Specifies the verbal meaning attached to the concept label
(iii) Operational definition - Translates the verbal meaning provided by the theoretical
definition into a prescription for measurement.
•Describes the unit of measurement (e.g. Minutes, counts, weight, height)
•Specifies the level of measurement (e.g. Binary, Nominal, Ordinal)
•Establishes the validity of the measurement
 Three Worlds
A. Real World
Phenomenon – People need food for their survival
Theoretical definition
Ensuring food availability and enhancing people’s ability to afford
food
B. Verbal World
Concept – Food security
Operational definition
Ensuring adequate food grain availability in the village throughout
the year (Min of 2 tonnes per month) and improving purchasing
power of the people (above poverty line income)
C. Measurement World
Variables
Food availability (Min 2 MT / month)
e.g. Adequate (≥ 2 MT/ Month) =1; Inadequate (< 2 MT/ Month) = 0
Access to food (above poverty line income)
e.g. Accessible (> $ One per day) = 1; Not Accessible (<$ One per day)
=0
 E. Premises, Propositions and Hypotheses

Premises
•Assumptions about how the different elements of a phenomenon interact in relation to each other
•Sources - empirical findings coming from past studies, established principles, theoretical views
suggested by people, or just assumptions of the researcher
•e.g. Food availability at the village depends on local production

Propositions
•Statements of prediction or statement specifying conjectural relationships between concepts in a
theory
•Logically derived from premises (Part of Verbal World)
•Eg. Food availability in the village is positively related to local production

Hypotheses
•Conjectural statement about the relationship between variables
•Part of measurement world
•e.g. Food availability scores in the village are positively related to local production scores.
Relationships Among the Units of Theory