Chapter 10 - Scaling and Index Construction

Question 1

what are levels of measurement?

Answer 1

-all variables may be classified as belonging to a particular level of measurement
-nominal, ratio, ordinal, interval

Question 2

what is the nominal measurement?

Answer 2

-simplest level of measurement
-cases are placed into mutually exclusive categories
-numbers have no numerical value, just labels (names)
-ex: 1=male, 2=female

Question 3

what is the ordinal measurement?

Answer 3

-contains all properties of nominal variable (named)
-may be ranked from low to high; natural order
-distance between ranks
-ex: 1= strongly disagree … 5= strongly agree

Question 4

what is the interval measurement?

Answer 4

-contains all properties of nominal and ordinal variables (named, natural order)
-assumes equal and uniform distances between the values of the variable
-ex: temperature scales, IQ tests

Question 5

what is the ratio measurement?

Answer 5

-contains all properties of nominal, ordinal, and interval variables (named, natural order, equal interval between variable)
-has fixed, meaningful zero point
-ex: age, weight, income

Question 6

what are scaling procedures?

Answer 6

-using more than one question to measure complex concepts (developing sets of questions)

Question 7

why would we want to use composite (multi question measures)?

Answer 7

-developing single question indicators may be hard to do
-good for ordinal level measurement of variables, wider range of variation (ex: Rosenberg self esteem scale)
-indexes and scales are efficient for data analysis, several question give comprehensive and accurate indicator (mean [x-bar] efficient estimator)

Question 8

what is a scale?

Answer 8

the assignment of scores to patterns of attributes
-differs from index by taking advantage of any intensity structure that may exist among those attributes

Question 9

what is an index?

Answer 9

simple accumulation of scores assignment to individual attributes

Question 10

what are general instructions on developing multi-question scales?

Answer 10

-questions used should be relevant; examine inter-item correlations; want high face validity
-questions should be equally weighted
-use variables measured at interval or ratio levels of measurement
-make sure questions are properly coded, including reverse coded items (Rosenberg self esteem scale)

Question 11

what are arbitrary scales?

Answer 11

-developed by researchers
-based on face validity and personal judgement
ex: UCR, seriousness of crime is unmeasured at this point
; values from the variables income, education, and occupation

Question 12

what are crime seriousness scales?

Answer 12

procedures that assign weight or severity rating to various crimes

Question 13

what are the three major types of attitude scales?

Answer 13

-thurstone scales
-likert scales
-guttman scales

Question 14

what are thurstone scales?

Answer 14

-techniques of scale development that use expert judges to select items to be used in measurement
-method of “equal appearing intervals”; judges sort items into a fixed number of categories so the intervals are subjectively equal

Question 15

what are likert scales?

Answer 15

-most common used scale in attitude research
-simple summations of 5 point bipolar responses (Rosenberg only has 4)
-1=strongly disagree…5=strongly agree

Question 16

what are guttman scales?

Answer 16

-based on unidimensionality (scale should measure only one dimension)
-ex: mathematical ability scale; spelling ability scale; bogardus social distance scale, adolescent substance use scale

Question 17

what is the coefficient of reproducibility formula?

Answer 17

reproducibility = 1- number of errors /number of responses

Question 18

what is the bogardus social distance scale about?

Answer 18

respondents indicate the closeness of relationship they were willing to accept with a variety of ethinic groups (1=farthest from them, 7=very close)

Question 19

what is q-sort?

Answer 19

-newer variation of thurstone
-respondents sort statements into predetermined categories, this sorting is scored and summed into an index

Question 20

what is the Sherman scientific methods scale (sms)

Answer 20

five point scale that evaluates the methodological rigor and type of research design studies

Question 21

what is the semantic differential?

Answer 21

-seven or nine-point bipolar scales
-used especially in attitude research
-ex: good [7 spaces] bad
-factor analysis reveals 3 dimensions: evaluation, potency, oriented activity

Question 22

what was murray straus’ measurement of domestic violence?

Answer 22

a conflict tactics scale related to national surveys of domestic violence

Question 23

what are the two basic types of crime seriousness scales?

Answer 23

simple rating scales and magnitude scales

Question 24

what are simple rating scales?

Answer 24

respondents rate crime on an ordinal scale from 1 (not serious at all) to 9 (extremely serious)

Question 25

what is the magnitude scales?

Answer 25

scales that use interval or ratio levels of measurement ex: sellin-wolfgang index (1966): based on question about bodily injury, property theft, and damage

Question 26

what are prediction scales?

Answer 26

attempts to forecast crime commission or success or failure on probation/parole risk, establish sentencing guidelines, to predict dangerousness

Question 27

what is the difference between statistical and clinical predictions?

Answer 27

statistical predictions- based on behavior patterns of an individual compared with others of similar background clinical predictions- based on professional evaluation of individual behavior

Question 28

what is the salient factor score?

Answer 28

used by US parole commission since the early 1970s to objectively **assess the likelihood of a prisoner's recidivism on parole**

Question 29

what is Greenwood's rand seven factor index?

Answer 29

-7 variables selected to form a simple addictive scale (0=low risk, 7=high risk) -trying to individualize sentences based on **predictions that particular offenders are likely to commit serious crimes not incarcerated**

Question 30

what are career criminal programs

Answer 30

-police and prosecutors **attempt to predict patterns of future criminal behavior based on past criminal behavior** -psychological studies attempt to use personality inventories and scales to **uncover distinctive criminal personalities**

Question 31

what is lethality assessment screening scale?

Answer 31

it predicts the likelihood of future violence

Question 32

what are the options in the scale used to rate career criminal programs?

Answer 32

effective, promising, no effects

Question 33

what are the advantages of scales?

Answer 33

-**enables more exact measurement** of phenomena -scales **good for replication studies** and **longitudinal measurement** -**encourages more rigorous thinking** about measurement

Question 34

what are the disadvantages of scales?

Answer 34

-unsure if attitudes/behaviors can be measured (lingering LaPierre study issues) -possibility of measurement error