This document discusses measurement and the measurement process. It defines measurement as quantifying empirical events and objects using a set of mapping rules. The key aspects of measurement are: 1) Identifying concepts and variables to be measured related to the research problem. This includes both tangible and intangible concepts. 2) Developing operational definitions that specify how to measure concepts using observable events. 3) Creating rules of measurement that classify, order, and establish distances between measurements using a scale with an origin point. 4) Applying the measurement rules and scale to translate observations into standardized values. Good measurement is reliable, valid, sensitive, and practical.

1. Measurement of Scale
Dr Raju Indukoori

2. Measurement
It is the process of quantification or assigning
numbers to empirical events and objects /
properties / activities in compliance with set
of rules.
1) Selecting observable empirical events.
2) Developing a set of mapping rules.
3) Applying the mapping rules.
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 2

3. What is measured?
• Variables’ related to the investigative questions or
research problem are measured.
• They are measured as objects or as the properties of the
objects including the concepts of ordinary experience.
• Researcher measures indicators of the objects /
properties but not the objects or properties.
• Example: Gender of the student
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 3

4. Measurement Objectives
1) Represent both qualitative and quantitative
concepts
2) To provided highest quality and lowest error
data for testing Hypothesis and estimation /
prediction / description
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 4

5. Importance of measurement
• Research conclusions are only as good as the data on which
they are based
• Observations must be quantifiable in order to subject them
to statistical analysis
• Dependent variable(s) must be measured in any
quantitative study.
• The more precise, sensitive the method of measurement,
the better.
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 5

6. Measurement Process
1) Concept / Constructs.
2) Operational Definitions
3) Rules of measurement.
4) Applying the rules.
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 6

7. 1) Concept / Constructs.
• It is a generalized idea about class of
objects, attributes, occurrences and
processes.
• Identify concepts relevant to the
problem.
• Some concepts are clear and others are
abstract.
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 7

8. Contd….
Objects or Properties of the objects are
classified as follows
1) Tangible (Clear): People, cars, products,
countries…..
2) Intangible (Abstract): Attitude, satisfaction,
intelligence, behavior….
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 8

9. 2) Operational Definitions
Selecting observable empirical events
• Specify what must be done to measure the
concept.
Example: Job satisfaction
• We cannot ask “Are you satisfied with your job”
• Ask “ What are your expectations” and “What did u get”
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 9

10. 3) Rules of measurement.
Developing a set of mapping rules based
on following characters
1) Classification: with numbers, no order
2) Order : numbers are ordered, >,<,=
3) Distance: Difference between numbers are ordered
4) Origin: Zero point.
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 10

11. 4) Applying the Rules
• Check the suitability of the rule and
respondent or problem
• Right reflection of tangible and intangible
characters.
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 11

12. Scaling Process
1) Devising a mapping rule for observations
with following characters
1) Classification
2) Order
3) Distance
4) Origin
2) Translating the observations
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 12

13. Index Measures
Multi item instruments used to measure a single
concept with several attributes are called index
measures or composite measures.
Example
1) Price indices
2) Employee satisfaction measured in terms of
job, role, benefits, territory, personal life. Etc.
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 13

14. Criteria for Good Measurement
1) Reliability
2) Validity
3) Sensitivity
4) Practicality
Dr S S N Raju Indukoori 14