Topic outline

  • Unit 6: Measurement

    To complete this unit you need to

    1. Watch the video lectures
    2. Read the materials for the written assignment 5 (optional)
    3. Complete the unit 6 discussion forum task
    4. Return written assignment 5 (optional)
    5. View the model answer for written assignment 5 and instructors comment's to written assignment 5 (optional)
    6. Participate in the seminar (mandatory)
    7. Participate in the computer class (optional)
    8. Complete your caption assignments for unit 6 and all earlier units
    9. Submit Reflection and feedback for unit 6

    The unit discusses the concept of measurement, which arises from the efforts to quantify abstract concepts such as innovativeness. After this unit, you should:

    • Know what conceptualization and operationalization are and why they are critically important for measurement.
    • Understand the concepts of reliability and validity of measurement.
    • Understand the two approaches for measurement reliability assessment, the distinct tests and test-retest approaches and what assumptions each of these procedures makes.
    • Understand that coefficient alpha quantifies the reliability of the scale score, that alpha is not always an ideal reliability statistic, and why increasing alpha does not always mean that reliability is increased.
    • Understand the concepts of predictive validity, content validity, and construct validity and how these concepts are related to one another and measurement validity.

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Unit 7: Factor analysis