Pols3314 - Hw#1

.pdf

School

Texas Tech University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

3314

Subject

Political Science

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

pdf

Pages

Uploaded by ChancellorHedgehogPerson1094

POLS 3314-003 Homework 1 Concepts and Measurement Select one concept from the list below and work it through the process of developing a conceptual definition, an operational definition, and addressing potential measurement error issues. If you identify that a concept is multidimensional, you must refine it to an appropriate subdimension (i.e., from liberalism to economic liberalism). As you edit the document, keep the formatting neat and your answers distinct. political knowledge democracy unconventional political participation conservatism or liberalism corruption globalization power nationalism political violence Step 1 - Conceptual Is the concept simple, complicated, or multidimensional? If the latter, what are the various dimensions and with which will you proceed? The concept of conservatism or liberalism is simple to most Americans yet it really is multidimensional. They encompass a range of political, social, and economic ideologies that bring the concept of the two to a broader context. How does the concept vary? While the core principles of conservatism and liberalism exist, their application and interpretation can differ drastically across different regions and over time. Political discourse and public opinion also play crucial roles in shaping the contemporary understanding of these concepts. To what levels of analysis could the concept apply? What unit of analysis are you selecting? The unit of analysis depends on the specific research question or area of interest. For instance, is it in the context of the individual Level, Community, and Local Level, National Level, or even the International Level For the homework, I’ll use the individual level and how people may identify with conservative or liberal ideologies based on their personal beliefs and values. Use the template provided in the book to generate a strong conceptual definition. “The concept of conservatism or liberalism is defined as the extent to which individuals exhibit the characteristic of conservative or liberal ideologies based on their personal beliefs and values. .”

POLS 3314-003 Homework 1 Step 2 – Operational Describe the specific instrument (approach, strategy) you would use to measure the concept. I would use surveys or questionnaires designed to gauge political attitudes. Does it measure the intended characteristic? Does it measure only that characteristic? Does it measure any unintended characteristics? Surveys and questionnaires do measure the intended characteristic presents but it's not the best route when measuring those outside this level. What potential sources of systematic error are present as you select a measurement strategy? When assessing the concept of conservatism or liberalism, you must be aware of the potential sources of systematic error: biases. These can impact the validity and reliability of the measurements. What potential sources of random error are present as you select a measurement strategy? Things like - Sampling variability with differences between the sample and the population due to random selection, impacts the representativeness of the study. Response variability also with the variation in individual responses inﬂuenced by factors like mood, cognitive biases, or situational inﬂuences, introducing unpredictability. Inconsistency in measurement instruments also affects the precision and consistency of data collection, and being aware that changes in individuals' beliefs over time, are inﬂuenced by evolving circumstances or societal shifts. To ensure your measure is reliable, what method would you choose to evaluate it? The time-based test-retest method. Individuals' beliefs and standpoints will change throughout time so this way is the better way to analyze the data and statistics. To ensure your measure is valid, what method would you choose to evaluate it? The translation validity with content validity. Because content validity is about substance, it examines whether the test's content adequately represents the entire domain it's supposed to measure. Content validity is more comprehensive than face validity which is why I would choose context validity.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help