Stats modeling the world 3rd edition ch 6 answers

Examples include simple constructs such as a personвЂ™s weight, wind speed, and probably even complex constructs like self-esteem (if we conceptualize self-esteem as consisting of a single dimension, which of course, may be a unrealistic assumption). These constructs can be measured using a single measure or test. Unidimensional constructs are those that are expected to have a single underlying dimension. One important decision in conceptualizing constructs is specifying whether they are unidimensional and multidimensional. The process of regarding mental constructs as real is called reification, which is central to defining constructs and identifying measurable variables for measuring them. But in real life, we tend to treat this concept as real. For instance, there may be certain tribes in the world who lack prejudice and who cannot even imagine what this concept entails. While defining constructs such as prejudice or compassion, we must understand that sometimes, these constructs are not real or can exist independently, but are simply imaginary creations in our mind. If deeply religious people believe that some members of their society, such as nonbelievers, gays, and abortion doctors, will burn in hell for their sins, and forcefully try to change the вЂњsinnersвЂќ behaviors to prevent them from going to hell, are they acting in a prejudicial manner or a compassionate manner? Our definition of such constructs is not based on any objective criterion, but rather on a shared (вЂњinter-subjectiveвЂќ) agreement between our mental images (conceptions) of these constructs. For instance, is вЂњcompassionвЂќ the same thing as вЂњempathyвЂќ or вЂњsentimentalityвЂќ? If you have a proposition stating that вЂњcompassion is positively related to empathyвЂќ, you cannot test that proposition unless you can conceptually separate empathy from compassion and then empirically measure these two very similar constructs correctly. The conceptualization process is all the more important because of the imprecision, vagueness, and ambiguity of many social science constructs. The process of understanding what is included and what is excluded in the concept of prejudice is the conceptualization process. If someone says bad things about other racial groups, is that racial prejudice? If women earn less than men for the same job, is that gender prejudice? If churchgoers believe that non -believers will burn in hell, is that religious prejudice? Are there different kinds of prejudice, and if so, what are they? Are there different levels of prejudice, such as high or low? Answering all of these questions is the key to measuring the prejudice construct correctly.

For instance, we often use the word вЂњprejudiceвЂќ and the word conjures a certain image in our mind however, we may struggle if we were asked to define exactly what the term meant. ConceptualizationД¬onceptualization is the mental process by which fuzzy and imprecise constructs (concepts) and their constituent components are defined in concrete and precise terms. In this chapter, we will examine the related processes of conceptualization and operationalization for creating measures of such constructs. While some constructs in social science research, such as a personвЂ™s age, weight, or a firmвЂ™s size, may be easy to measure, other constructs, such as creativity, prejudice, or alienation, may be considerably harder to measure. Measurement refers to careful, deliberate observations of the real world and is the essence of empirical research. Testing theories (i.e., theoretical propositions) require measuring these constructs accurately, correctly, and in a scientific manner, before the strength of their relationships can be tested. Theoretical propositions consist of relationships between abstract constructs.

Stats modeling the world 3rd edition ch 6 answers