Measurement for the Social Sciences

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Format: Hardcover
Pub. Date: 2010-11-30
Publisher(s): Springer Verlag
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Summary

This book proposes a revolutionary new theory of construct measurement ' called C-OAR-SE ' for the social sciences. The acronym is derived from the following key elements: construct definition; object representation; attribute classification; rater entity identification; selection of item type; enumeration and scoring. The new theory is applicable to the design of measures of constructs in:'¢ Management'¢ Marketing'¢ Information Systems'¢ Organizational Behavior'¢ Psychology'¢ SociologyC-OAR-SE is a rationally rather than empirically-based theory and procedure. It can be used for designing measures of the most complex and also the most basic constructs that we use in social science research. C-OAR-SE is a radical alternative to the traditional empirically-based psychometric approach, and a considerable amount of the book's content is devoted to demonstrating why the psychometric approach does not produce valid measures. The book argues that the psychometric approach has resulted in many misleading findings in the social sciences and has led to erroneous acceptance ' or rejection ' of many of our main theories and hypotheses, and that the C-OAR-SE approach to measurement would correct this massive problem.The main purpose of this book is to introduce and explain C-OAR-SE construct measurement theory in a way that will be understood by all social science researchers and that can be applied to designing new, more valid measures. Featuring numerous examples, practical applications, end-of-chapter questions, and appendices, the book will serve as an essential resource for students and professional researcher alike.

Table of Contents

Rationale of C-OAR-SEp. 1
Why C-OAR-SE?p. 1
The C → M → S Structure of Measurementp. 3
New True-Score Model: O = T + Dm + Er, Where Dm Is Distortion Caused by the Measure and Er Is Error Caused by the Raterp. 5
Researcher-Defined (Psychological) Versus Partly Rater-Defined (Perceptual) Constructsp. 6
Ultimate Dependence on Rational Expert Judgment for Defining Constructsp. 8
The Construct Definition Depends on the Role of the Construct in the Theoryp. 9
End-of-Chapter Questionsp. 10
Validity and Reliabilityp. 13
Content Validity (CV) Not "Construct Validity"p. 13
Why MTMM Is Wrongp. 15
Item-Content Validity (CVitem) and How to Establish Itp. 16
Answer-Scale Validity (CVanswer) and How to Establish Itp. 19
The Desirability of Predictive Validity (PV) and the True Population Correlation (Rpop)p. 22
Why Coefficient Alpha Is Wrongp. 24
Stability-of-Scores Reliability (Rstability)p. 25
Precision-of-Scores Reliability (Rprecision)p. 26
End-of-Chapter Questionsp. 28
Object Classification and Measuresp. 29
The Importance of Valid Object Representation in the Measurep. 30
Concrete Object (CONCOB): Iconic Representationp. 32
Abstract Collective Object (COLLOB): Representative Sample of Constituentsp. 33
Abstract Formed Object (FORMOB): Set of Main Meaningsp. 35
End-of-Chapter Questionsp. 38
Attribute Classification and Measuresp. 41
New Fourfold Classification of Attributesp. 41
Concrete Perceptual Attribute (CONCPERC): One Good Self-Rated Itemp. 42
Concrete Psychological Attribute (CONCPSY): One Good Researcher-Rated Itemp. 47
Abstract Achieved Attribute (ABACHD): One Good Item per Defined First-Order Componentp. 48
Abstract Dispositional Attribute (ABDISP): Several Good Items per Defined Second-Order Componentp. 53
The Serious Problem of Mislabeling Abstract Attributesp. 57
Attributes Can Change Status According to their Role in the Theoryp. 59
End-of-Chapter Questionsp. 59
Rater Entity Classificationp. 61
Why the Rater Entity in the Construct Makes It a Different Construct Even If the Object and Attribute Are the Samep. 62
Experts as the Rater Entity (EXPRAT)p. 63
Coders as the Rater Entity (CODRAT)p. 65
Managers as Group Rater Entity (MANRAT)p. 65
Consumers as Group Rater Entity (CONRAT)p. 66
Individuals as Rater Entity (INDRAT)p. 68
End-of-Chapter Questionsp. 70
Selection of Item-Type and Answer Scalep. 73
A Model of Item Variablesp. 74
Attribute Beliefs (or Perceptions)p. 75
Evaluative Beliefs (or Attitudes, Plural)p. 78
Emotions (Type 1 and Type 2)p. 82
Overall Attitude (Singular)p. 86
Motives (Conscious and Subconscious)p. 87
Personality Traits and States (and Types)p. 90
Abilities (General Intelligence, Creative Ability)p. 93
Knowledge Testsp. 98
End-of-Chapter Questionsp. 100
Enumeration and Scoring Rulep. 103
Objects or Raters as the Units of Analysisp. 103
Enumeration of Ratings on Unipolar and Bipolar Attributesp. 105
Sum Scoring Rulep. 106
Average Scoring Rulep. 107
Cutoffs or Profile Scoring Rulep. 107
Multiplicative Scoring Rulep. 112
Alternative Group-Scoring Rulesp. 113
End-of-Chapter Questionsp. 114
Qualitative Research from a C-OAR-SE Perspectivep. 115
Types of Qualitative Researchp. 118
Analytic Qualitative Research (AQR)p. 119
Methodologies of Qualitative Researchp. 121
First-Order and Higher-Order Datap. 125
Modes of Analysis in Qualitative Researchp. 126
Analytic Qualitative Research Compared with Quantitative Researchp. 131
Summaryp. 137
End-of-Chapter Questionsp. 138
DROAVR Application Checklistp. 141
Definition (Within Theory) of the Constructp. 141
Rater Entity Identifiedp. 142
Object Correctly Representedp. 143
Attribute Components Formatively Specifiedp. 143
Validity (Content Validity) Rationally Arguedp. 144
Reliability (Precision) of Scores Reportedp. 146
p. 147
p. 151
p. 153
Referencesp. 155
Indexp. 167
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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