Research Design and Measurement

I. The Elements of Research Design

A. The Research Question

B. Conceptualization

C. Operationalization

D. Units of Analysis and Sampling

E. Measurement

F. Data Analysis

II. Elements of a Research Proposal

III. Conceptualization

A. Definition and Description

B. The Process

C. In-Class Assignment: Conceptualizing Ideology

IV. Operationalization

A. Definition and Description

B. Levels of Measurement: NOIR

C. Survey Questions

D. In-Class Assignment: Operationalizing Ideology

V. Reliability and Validity

A. Definition and Description

B. Trade-Off Associated with Quantitative and Qualitative Research

VI. Indexes and Scales

A. Definition and Description

B. Advantages to Using an Index

1. Reliability

2. Validity

3. Statistical Analysis

C. Index Construction

D. In-Class Assignment: Ideology Index