From an idea to an observation
Make an abstract idea specific enough to investigate.
The picture in words
- Construct
- The concept a researcher wants to study.
- Operational definition
- A stated way to observe or measure it.
- Observation
- What is recorded during the task.
Reading the illustration
Read from the broad idea to the stated task and then to the observation recorded. Each step makes the research question more specific.
Try a question
How could two tasks both provide information about attention?
Show the explanation
One might record responses to targets, while another measures following a conversation. Each captures selected aspects of the broader construct.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/2-3-analyzing-findingsSelected rendered passages: Sampling/assignment, analysis, reliability/validity passages; operational definitions, replication, blinded scoring passages.