Conceptualization

And
Operationalization

Concept :
Mental Constructs, or images, developed to
symbolize ideas, persons, things, or events.
What is a Concept?
A concept is the mental image that summarizes a
set of similar observations, feelings, ideas, etc.
A concepts is the abstract summary of a whole
set of behaviors, attitudes and characteristics
which we see as having something in common.
Imagine the Idea of Tree in your Mind

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a tree is

a tall plant which has a wooden trunk and

branches that grow from its upper part.
Compare the image you drawn with a real tree.
Are they exactly the same , No they are not.
Indeed, in our real world, all trees are different, no
matter in terms of size, height, shape or color.
Nonetheless, they are all called trees.
In other words, the letters t r e e are only a label
or term that used to represent all the trees
existing in the real world. We call this term the
concept of tree. The image you drawn on a
paper is based upon the mental image that you
use to summarize the set of real trees. Thus, the
mental image is your conception of trees.

TYPES OF CONCEPTS
Superordinate categories display a high degree

of generality and provide only very abstract

information,
which
are
sometimes
called
category-wide attributes. They do not provide any
specific configuration of properties.
Basic level categories, which are included under
superordinate level categories, display higher
class inclusion than subordinate level categories,
having more members than superordinate
categories. However, superordinate categories
display a higher degree of generality

Subordinate level categories display low

degree of generality and a low degree of class

inclusion. They have clearly identifiable and
higly detailed as well as specific features.
Subordinate level categories are included
under basic level categories.

VEHICL
E
CAR

PLANE

STATION SPORTS
CAR
CAR

TRAIN

BOAT

TANK

LIMO

JEEP

VAN

OFF
MINI
ROADER BUS

SUPERORDINATE LEVEL
BASIC LEVEL
SUBORDINATE LEVEL

Suggested Steps of Conceptualization:

Examine a number of definitions of a concept:
Look at how other researchers have defined the

concept
Consider 'everyday' definitions of the concept; the
most convenient way is to look at dictionaries
Search for common elements from a number of
definitions and develop a definition based on
these.
Decide on a definition:
Choose an existing definition, OR
Create a new definition by synthesizing the
existing definitions, OR Create a brand new
definition.

Delineate the dimensions of a concept which has

a number of dimensions or aspects:

Examine all aspects, OR
Concentrate on particular aspect(s).
State your concepts clearly in verbal forms, i.e.
giving the nominal definitions for your concepts.
Conceptual clarification is an ongoing process. It
should begin before data is collected and
analyzed, although concepts may be clarified
further during the process of analysis.

Indicators and Dimensions

Indicator An observation that we
choose to consider as a reflection of a
variable we wish to study.
e.g We might agree that visiting a
childrens hospital on a holiday is an
indicator of compassion.
Dimension A specifiable aspect of a
concept.
Alienation:
Powerlessness
Meaninglessness
Normlessness
Isolation

Examples
Concept

Social control

Social status

Definition
The definition of
deviant behavior
and the response to
it

Position in a social
hierarchy.

Dimensions
Law
Customs
Bureaucracy
Psychiatric treatment

Power
Wealth
Prestige

The Multi-Dimensions of
Conceptual Definitions
What is a Table ?
What is a Car ?

What is Religiosity ?

1. Ideological Dimension
2. Experiential Dimension
5. Intellectual Dimension

3. Ritualistic Dimension
4. Consequential Dimension

First, you have to make sure that all the

dimensions of the concept are covered. Then you

have to specify the range of variation of your
indicator. For instance, generally, there are only
two attributes, male or female for the concept
sex.
However, in some researches about sexuality,

researchers may add more categories, say, the

option Androgynous transsexual, to capture
the full meaning of sex in the context of
transsexuality.

What is Operationalization?
Operationalization is the process of

developing measures or indicators of our

concepts and showing how those indicators
will be used to measure the concepts we're
interested in. It is the process of specifying
how concepts will be measured. In the end,
we should be able to give operational
definitions to our concepts.

Ratio

Interv
al

Levels of MeasurementOrdinal
Nominal

The Level of Measurement is the mathematical

precision with which the values of a variable can
be expressed.
The Nominal (name) level of measurement, which
is qualitative, has no mathematical interpretation;
The Quantitative levels of measurementOrdinal,
Interval, and Ratioare progressively more precise
mathematically.
When we know a variables level of measurement, we
can better understand how cases vary on that variable
and so understand more fully what we have
measured.

Nominal Measures
The Nominal level of measurement
identifies variables whose values have no
mathematical interpretation; they
vary in kind or quality but not in amount.

In terms of the variable Dog Breed, you can say

that the German Shepherd is not equal to the
Terrier, but you cannot say that the German
Shepherd is dog breedier or less dog breedy
Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2004
than the Terrier.

Nominal Examples
Sex
Race-ethnicity
Religious identification
Architectural style
Affiliation with political party

Ordinal Measures
At this level, you specify only the order of the cases, in
greater than and less than distinctions. At the pet
shop, for example, you might choose between a small,
medium, or large breed of dogthats ordinal
measurement. We havent specified anything in the
way of inches or weight.

Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2004

Ordinal examples
Ranks ABCD
Class Status Upper Middle Lower
IQ Tests

Interval Measures
At the interval level of measurement,
numbers represent fixed measurement units
but have no absolute zero point.
Sunrise: 8:05 am UV Index: 1,
Minimal Sunset: 5:12 pm
Moonrise: 7:56 pm
Phase: Waning
Gibbous Moonset: 9:53 am
Averages and Records for Jan 20
Monday:
Mainly sunny. High 4F. Winds
NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Monday night:
Clear to partly cloudy skies.
Low -12F. Winds Wat 5 to 10
mph.

-12
F

-16C

-25C

Your text uses the example of temperatures measured

with the Fahrenheit scale. The temperature can
definitely go below zero, as indicated in this weather
forecast for Fargo, ND.
Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2004

Interval Examples
Income as a measure of wealth
Women Reproductive age
Family Size

Ratio Measures
A ratio level of measurement represents fixed measuring
units with an absolute zero point. Zero, in this situation,
means absolutely no amount of whatever the variable
indicates. On a ratio scale, 10 is two points higher than 8
and is also two times greater than 5.
Ratio numbers can be added and subtracted, and
because the numbers begin at an absolute zero point,
they can also be multiplied and divided (so ratios can be
formed between the numbers).

Ratio Measures
The variable is
Number of pets on
the couch

Photo #2

Photo #1

There are 1/3 fewer

pets in photo #2.

Ratio Examples
Temperature
Height
City Size

Differentiation
Ratio: there is an absolute zero point
Interval : there is a standard measure

between rankings
Ordinal : there is rankings between
categories
Nominal : Names the categories

The Types of Comparisons That Can

Be Made With Different Levels of
Measurement

Relevant level of measurement

Examples of Appropriate

NominalOrdinal Interval Ratio

math operations

A is equal to (not equal to) B = ()
comparison statements

A is greater than (less than) B

A is three more than (less than) B
A is twice (half) as large as B (/)

> (<)
+ ()

Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2004