Lecture 4

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

an argument that states why two concepts are related in a particular way

Theories connect concepts

Question 2

Concepts

Answer 2

• Concepts are used to organize and classify phenomena.
• Concepts require a label and a definition
• Concepts can vary in complexity. E.g., dimensionality (unidimensional vs. multi-dimensional) and level of abstraction (concrete vs. abstract)
• E.g. democracy as multi-dimensional
• E.g. political trust as abstract

Question 3

Operationalization of concepts

Answer 3

In order to measure a concept, we need to define a measurable version of our concept (called the operational definition of the
concept).

Question 4

Variables vs. concepts

Answer 4

• Variables are more specific than concepts
• One concept can be represented by several variables
• E.g. “social status” (concept) could be represented by income,
  occupational status, education (variables)

Question 5

Validity

Answer 5

Does the measure accurately assess the concept as we’ve defined it?

Question 6

3 Types of Validity

Answer 6

1. Face validity – it makes sense!
2. Content validity – does the measure cover all relevant dimensions of the
   concept?
   * E.g. Electoral democracy – how free and fair are elections?
   * Was the outcome of the election disputed by the losing party?
   * Were polling booths accessible throughout the country?
3. Construct validity – how well the measure conforms to theoretical expectations
   * E.g. level of democracy (according to our measurement) correlates positively with
   freedom of the press and negatively with authoritarian practices
   * Higher level of democracy = high level of freedom of the press
   * Higher level of democracy = low levels of authoritarian practices (e.g., banning of political
   parties, use of military force against citizens)

Question 7

Reliability

Answer 7

Replicable and reproducible