Do the items (questions) you're asking fit together in the most productive way, or do they overlap redundantly? Do the response patterns (answers) hint at ways you can improve your measuring instrument? There's a big difference between scaling and scoring a test, and since most readers are familiar with the typical multiple choice tests found in education, that's where we'll start. it's not uncommon for social sciences to draw upon the field of Education Statistics.
A scale is a cluster of items (questions) that taps into a unitary dimension or single domain of behavior, attitudes, or feelings. They are sometimes called composites, subtests, schedules, or inventories. Aptitude, attitude, interest, performance, and personality tests are all measuring instruments based on scales. A scale is always unidimensional, which means it has construct and content validity. A scale is always at the ordinal or interval level, but it's conventional for researchers to treat them as interval or higher. Scales are predictive of outcomes (like behavior, attitudes, or feelings) because they measure underlying traits (like introversion, patience, or verbal ability).
The Gallup data helps us understand the voter perspectives as regards the integrity of the voting system and processes. However, it should be noted that the information is based upon a small sampling of the nation as a whole, and that the area where the poll would be conducted would have an impact on the data yield. For instance, voters on the east coast might have different political leanings based on their geographical concerns, careers, environmental, social and other life factors that voters feel should be impacted or addressed by the government. The poll as given in this example tells us that the information should be regarded with caution.
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which left the city of New Orleans devastated in way that it has yet to recover, is the a perfect case for a study of health related issues arising out of that devastation. Public facilities like sewer and water were compromised...
This allows the researcher and the research to be completely and comprehensively concerned with doing the "right" thing, regardless of what the observations and evidence gathered in the course of the research shows. This applies to honesty in recording and presenting information as well as to the collection methods for obtaining this information. Without a strong ethical through-line in social research, the entire purpose of this research ends up being
Social research involves measuring, describing, explaining and predicting social and economic phenomena. Its objectives include exploring social and economic structures, attitudes, values and behaviors and the factors, which motivate and constrain individuals and groups in society. There are, however, a number of ethical and political concerns that social researchers must be aware of while conducting such research. This paper focuses on and describes some of these valid ethical and political
A disadvantage to interview research methods, on the other hand, include the potential for bias based on the respondents' desire to please the researcher, who will necessarily be directly involved in the research process. 7) In the One-Group Pretest-Posttest experimental design, a single group of subjects is given a test that measures a certain variable or variables, then is exposed to the experimental condition, and then is tested again to measure
A significant increase in volunteerism is observed within the communities which implement social studies in high schools. The main elements which contribute to this outcome are those of community service programs integrated within the educational act and socialization. "The implications of our study are that mandatory community service programs can boost later volunteer efforts but that socialization into appropriate citizenship attitudes is of equal, if not greater, importance" (Janoski,
Electoral Rules and Socio-Economic Changes on Elections and Winners Thereof One should never be deceived to think or imagine that electoral rules are mere formalities. These rules have a major influence on the choices that voters make during an election in a democratic set up. Electoral rules can be defined as a set of rules that determine who votes, who vies and how votes are cast for representation at the
Mail Survey Social Research Studies: Mail Survey Social Science Research: Mail Survey Various researches are carried out at community level to assist in creating awareness, curbing a social issue or even to educating the public on concerning matters. In conducting these research works, it is considered imperative to recognize basic research terminologies and related concepts, especially while dealing with social science researches. This contextual aspect of research is a cornerstone to the established
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