Business Research Methods William G. Zikmund Chapter 13: Measurement
Operational Definition
Specifies what the researcher must do to
measure the concept under investigation
Media Skepticismconceptual definition
• Media skepticism - the degree to which individuals are skeptical toward the reality presented in the mass media. Media skepticism varies across individuals, from those who are mildly skeptical and accept most of what they see and hear in the media to those who completely discount and disbelieve the facts, values, and portrayal of reality in the media.
Media SkepticismOperational Definition
Please tell me how true each statement is about the media. Is it very true, not very true, or not at all true?
• 1. The program was not very accurate in its portrayal of the problem.
• 2. Most of the story was staged for entertainment purposes.
• 3. The presentation was slanted and unfair.
Scale• Series of items arranged according to value for the purpose of quantification
• A continuous spectrum
Interval Scale Properties
• Uniquely classifies• Preserves order• Equal intervals
– Consumer Price Index (Base 100)– Fahrenheit temperature
Ratio Scale Properties
• Uniquely classifies• Preserves order• Equal intervals
– Natural zero– Weight and distance
Index Measures• ATTRIBUTES A single characteristic or fundamental feature that pertains to an object, person, or issue
• COMPOSITE MEASURE A composite measure of several variables to measure a single concept; a multi-item instrument
Reliability
The degree to which measures are free from
random error and therefore yield
consistent results
Old Rifle New Rifle New Rifle Sun
glare Low ReliabilityHigh ReliabilityReliable but Not Valid (Target A) (Target B) (Target C)
Reliability and Validity on Target
Validity
F A C E O R C O N T E N T
C O N C U R R E N T P R E D IC T IV E
C R IT E R IO N V A L ID IT Y C O N S T R U C T V A L ID IT Y
V a lid ity
Reliability
T E S T R E T E S T
S T A B IL IT Y
E Q U IV A L E N T F O R M S S P L IT T IN G H A L V E S
IN T E R N A L C O N S IS T E N C Y
R E L IA B IL IT Y