Assignment: Operational Definitions of Variables
You identified your research question and determined how to apply the multivariate approach to it.
Now, you will operationally define your research question and possible variables that could be used for study in your dissertation.
Respond to the following questions, and subquestions, about your (1) independent variables (IVs) and (2) dependent variables (DVs). Use the number and letter format to organize your responses.
1. What are at least two categorical variables, each with four categories, which could be used as IVs for predicting group classifications?
1. IVs:
Which variables could you use as manipulated IVs to test your hypothesis or try to answer your research question? Identify at most two variables.
What exactly would be the conditions within each IV? For example:
Treatment received: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy
Course delivery format: Face-to-face classroom or online production
Team size: Small, medium, or large
Cite references for background information to support your choices.
2. Subject/Preexisting variables:
Which variables could you use to pregroup participants and treat as IVs? Identify at most two variables. Examples are gender, geographic marketing zone, grade level, and self-esteem.
What exactly would be the groups within each variable? For example:
Gender: Male or female
Geographic marketing zone: North, South, East, or West
Grade level: 9, 10, 11, or 12
Self-esteem: Low, moderate, or high
If you are creating the group, such as self-esteem, what are you using as your premeasure or other classifier? How will you define each level?
For example, with self-esteem, you could pretest participants on a self-esteem questionnaire. To define levels, you could divide the scores as follows:
The bottom third, which would be low.
The middle third of the scores, which would be moderate.
The top third of the scores, which could be the high group.
You could also use standardized Z scores and define low, moderate, and high by deviation from the mean.
Cite references for background information to support your choices.
2. What are the continuous level measurement variables in your database? Identify at least four. If necessary, create additional variables that could relate to your research question. These variables can then be used as:
DVs (and covariates) in group comparison analyses
Continuous predictor variables in regression/degree of relationship analyses and group membership analyses
Criterion variables in regression/degree of relationship analyses
Variables in analyses of structure
3. For each continuous variable, explain:
Why are you selecting it? Cite references for background information to support your choices.
How is it measured?
If relevant, what is the known reliability and validity of each measure? Cite evidence to support your answer.
Is the resulting score a single item score or a composite score? How do you interpret the score? Are there norms available for interpreting the score?
What are previously reported relationships (correlations) between and among the measures prior to your data collection?
Cite references to support your answer.