Published on
May 6, 2022
by
Pritha Bhandari.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
Operationalization means turning abstract concepts into measurable observations. Although some concepts, like height or age, are easily measured, others, like spirituality or anxiety, are not.
Through operationalization, you can systematically collect data on processes and phenomena that aren’t directly observable.
Published on
February 24, 2022
by
Pritha Bhandari.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
Face validity is about whether a test appears to measure what it’s supposed to measure. This type of validity is concerned with whether a measure seems relevant and appropriate for what it’s assessing on the surface.
Published on
February 17, 2022
by
Pritha Bhandari.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
Construct validity is about how well a test measures the concept it was designed to evaluate. It’s crucial to establishing the overall validity of a method.
Assessing construct validity is especially important when you’re researching something that can’t be measured or observed directly, such as intelligence, self-confidence, or happiness. You need multiple observable or measurable indicators to measure those constructs or run the risk of introducing research bias into your work.
Published on
February 10, 2022
by
Pritha Bhandari.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
Naturalistic observation is a qualitative research method where you record the behaviors of your research subjects in real world settings. You avoid interfering with or influencing any variables in a naturalistic observation.
You can think of naturalistic observation as “people watching” with a purpose.
Published on
January 20, 2022
by
Pritha Bhandari.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
Deductive reasoning is a logical approach where you progress from general ideas to specific conclusions. It’s often contrasted with inductive reasoning, where you start with specific observations and form general conclusions.
Deductive reasoning is also called deductive logic or top-down reasoning.
Published on
January 12, 2022
by
Pritha Bhandari.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
Inductive reasoning is a method of drawing conclusions by going from the specific to the general. It’s usually contrasted with deductive reasoning, where you go from general information to specific conclusions.
Inductive reasoning is also called inductive logic or bottom-up reasoning.
Note Inductive reasoning is often confused with deductive reasoning. However, in deductive reasoning, you make inferences by going from general premises to specific conclusions.
Published on
January 3, 2022
by
Pritha Bhandari.
Revised on
June 22, 2023.
Triangulation in research means using multiple datasets, methods, theories, and/or investigators to address a research question. It’s a research strategy that can help you enhance the validity and credibility of your findings and mitigate the presence of any research biases in your work.
Published on
December 8, 2021
by
Pritha Bhandari.
Revised on
March 13, 2023.
Observer bias happens when a researcher’s expectations, opinions, or prejudices influence what they perceive or record in a study. It often affects studies where observers are aware of the research aims and hypotheses. Observer bias is also called detection bias.
Observer bias is particularly likely to occur in observational studies. But it can also affect other types of research where measurements are taken or recorded manually.