Description
CRM204(01): INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH
Professor J.B. Sprott
Assignment #1: Conceptualizations and Operationalizations
Value: Worth 15% of final grade
Due: Feb 7th 2022. Submitted via D2L with a time stamp of 8:30am or earlier.
Anything time-stamped after 8:30am will be considered late
Answer all three questions drawing on the concepts and themes from the readings and lectures from
weeks 2 and 3 (24th and 31st of January). You should not need more than about one paragraph answers for
the questions.
(1) John Tory says 50% of those released on bail commit ?crime?. Professor Sprott says that 3% of those
released on bail commit ?crime?. How could both be right? (Explain with examples) [5 points]
(2) A researcher defines ? or conceptualizes ? ?mental health? as ?an officially diagnosed mental disorder
which requires prescription drugs?. Think critically about this conceptualization (or nominal definition) ? do
you think it has high face validity (i.e. is it a fulsome and precise definition of ?mental health?). Explain why
or why not. [5 points]
(3) Imagine I created a new fulsome definition of ?social anxiety? with a variety of dimensions in the
conceptualization that are fully captured in the operationalization. However, since this is a new measure I
just created, I need to check its validity. Explain how I would do a ?concurrent criterion validity? test of this
new measure and explain what I would hope to find if my new measure is ?valid?? [5 points]
Formatting: Please create a Word document formatted for letter sized paper (standard 8? by 11 paper)
using 12-point Times New Roman font. You do not need a title page, but please make sure your name and
Student ID is typed somewhere on the page. You should not need more than a paragraph answer for each
question, thus you should not need more than one page (single spaced) to complete this assignment ?
the maximum is 2 pages. Problems with organization, logic and clarity, as well as errors in grammar,
spelling and syntax will figure significantly in the grading process, so thoroughly review your answers prior
to submitting it. This assignment is based heavily on lectures and lectures cannot be repeated in office
hours ? if you missed class review powerpoint slides, obtain notes from someone who attended the class
and be sure to read the sections on conceptualizations, operationalizations and validity from the text.
Group Work: While you may work in groups, do your own work (do not as a group all submit the same
answers ? identical answers submitted by multiple students constitute academic misconduct).
Late Penalties: Late assignments (e.g. assignments submitted on D2L with a time stamp after 8:30am) are
late and will be penalized 5%. An additional 5% will be deducted each day thereafter.
See over re: ?If you have questions? ?
If you have questions:
? Please note: I will not read or review rough drafts of answers. You should see me if you have specific
questions about the concepts from the lectures and text. If you missed classes review powerpoint slides,
obtain notes from someone who attended the class and be sure to read the sections on
conceptualizations, operationalizations and validity from the text before seeing me as I cannot re-give
lectures during office hours.
? Sign up for a spot during my office hours (Tuesday 12:30-2:30) via D2L.
? If you can?t make my office hours, email me to schedule another time. However, if you hope to see me
before the assignment is due, you MUST contact me by Wednesday Feb 2nd at the latest (I may not reply
until Thursday which leaves Friday as the only day available to meet. Waiting till later in the week may
mean I have no time until after the Monday Feb 7th class.)
? You can email me with questions, but if they are long and complex (e.g. I don?t understand the different
types of validity please explain them) I will ask you to schedule an appointment to talk to me. Complex
concepts cannot be dealt with over email. Likewise, I will not review or read rough drafts of answers over
email. Email questions should be very specific and short ? complicated issues must be addressed verbally
via Zoom.
? Emailed questions over the weekend (Feb 5th and 6th) will NOT be answered until AFTER Monday Feb 7th
class.
? Update on roll-out of course and in-person
learning.
? Lecture: Developing Research Questions
Pt2 (frequent breaks throughout)
Review
? The Research Process
? Components of a Hypothesis
? Defining Variables
? Take up homework
? Reliability and Validity of Measures
? Go over assignment
The Research Process
Paradigm
Theory
(Propositions)
Hypotheses
Conceptualization
Operationalization
Reliability/Validity of Operationalizations
Gather data to test hypotheses
?Components of a hypothesis
? Specific relationship among variables
? independent and dependent variables
? Can be falsifiable
Review
? The Research Process
? Components of a Hypothesis
? Defining Variables
? Take up homework
? Reliability and Validity of Measures
? Go over assignment
Defining Variables
1) Conceptualization (or ?nominal definition?)
? Clear, precise definitions
2) Operationalization
? Quantative indicators capturing everything in the
conceptualization
? Clarity in naming variables and providing matching, clear, nominal
definitions (conceptualizations)
? Eg from text (pg 41): ?community health? variable was conceptualized as
?cancer rates?. Could a better match have been made? Shouldn?t that variable
have been identified as ?cancer prevalence? from the beginning so the reader
isn?t misled? (This is an aspect of ?face validity? ? is the concept of ?community
health? well defined? In this case, no it?s a limited definition).
? Definitions matter! May get different findings or different estimates
because a variable is defined (conceptualized) differently
? E.g. from text ?income inequality? (pg 137)
? Random other examples: different estimates of the prevalence of ?harm? from
solitary or ?recidivism? on parole or ?offending? among youths.
? Operationalizations need to quantitatively capture all elements of your
conceptualization (or nominal definition). (This is an aspect of ?content
validity?)
Review
? The Research Process
? Components of a Hypothesis
? Defining Variables
? Take up homework
? Reliability and Validity of Measures
? Go over assignment
Imagine the following hypothesis: ?As the level of unemployment rises in a
nation, so will the level of violence?.
1a) Identify the independent variable:
1b) Identify the dependent variable:
2) Create a nominal definitions (or conceptualizations) for the independent and
dependent variables.
? [Note: try to keep definitions simple right now, even if it makes for a
somewhat weak/less than ideal definition. The focus right now is
demonstrating knowledge of the concepts (nominal definitions and
operationalizations), not creating ?ideal? definitions].
3) Operationalize the nominal definitions you create for the independent and
dependent variables.
Review
? The Research Process
? Components of a Hypothesis
? Defining Variables
? Take up homework
? Reliability and Validity of Measures
? Go over assignment
The Research Process
Paradigm
Theory
(Propositions)
Hypotheses (indep. and dep. variables
Conceptualization of variables
Operationalization of variables
Reliability/Validity of Operationalizations
Gather data to test hypotheses
Thinking only about your variables:
Reliability = do repeated observations produce the
same outcome?
Validity = is your measure tapping into what you
think it is?
Reliability: do repeated measures produce the
same findings?
? Test-re-test
? Inter-rater (text: ?Reliability of Research Workers?)
Validity: does your measure tap into what you
think it does?
? Face validity
? Content validity
? Criterion validity
? Concurrent
? Predictive
? Construct validity
Reliability: do repeated measures produce the
same findings?
? Test-re-test
? Inter-rater (text: ?Reliability of Research Workers?)
Validity: does your measure tap into what you
think it does?
? Face validity
? Content validity
? Criterion validity
? Concurrent
? Predictive
? Construct validity
? Face Validity
Construct /
Conceptualization/
Nominal Def.
Scientific community
/critical thought
? Content Validity
Construct/
Conceptualization/
Nominal Def.
Measure/
operationalization
Reliability: do repeated measures produce the
same findings?
? Test-re-test
? Inter-rater (text: ?Reliability of Research Workers?)
Validity: does your measure tap into what you
think it does?
? Face validity
? Content validity
? Criterion validity
? Concurrent
? Predictive
? Construct validity
Well validated
My new problem
drinking measure
(see last week?s pp-slides)
DUIs; hospital admissions;
charges for public order
offences
Correlate the results ? if my new measure is ?valid? it should relate to
those indicators (i.e. higher scores on ?problem drinking? should relate to
more DIUs, more hospital admissions, more public order offences, etc.)
Reliability: do repeated measures produce the
same findings?
? Test-re-test
? Inter-rater (text: ?Reliability of Research Workers?)
Validity: does your measure tap into what you
think it does?
? Face validity
? Content validity
? Criterion validity
? Concurrent
? Predictive
? Construct validity
? Face validity ? on the surface, does definition look
reasonable?
? Content validity ? items (quantifications) capture
the entire meaning of construct/nominal definition.
? Criterion validity ? agrees with an external source
? Concurrent ? agrees with existing (well validated) measure
? Predictive ? agrees with future behavior/indicator
? Construct validity ? individual items relate as
expected
Practice Questions
1) Imagine I created a new fulsome definition of ?depression? with a variety of dimensions in the
conceptualization that are fully captured in the operationalization. Since it?s a new measure we
need to check its validity and reliability.
a) Explain how I would do a ?concurrent criterion validity? test of this new measure and explain
what I would hope to find if my new measure is ?valid?
b) Explain how I would do a ?predictive criterion validity? test of this new measure and explain
what I would hope to find if my new measure is ?valid?
c) What might I expect to see if there is high ?construct validity??
d) Using the test-retest method, what would I hope to find if my new measure of depression is
?reliable??
2) A researcher defines ? or conceptualizes ? ?depression? as ?having ever been hospitalized for
suicidal thoughts?. Think critically about this conceptualization (or nominal definition) ? is it a
fulsome and precise definition of ?depression?? (Face validity)
a) Imagine this researcher then operationalizes that definition of ?depression? through asking
people ?Have you ever thought about suicide? 1=Yes / 2 = No?. Are they any ?content
validity? problems with that operationalization?
3) Imagine one researcher says she estimates that 70% of people have experienced ?anxiety?
during 2021 while another researcher says she estimates 30% of people have experienced
?anxiety? during 2021. How could both could be right? (Explain with examples)
CRM204: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL
JUSTICE RESEARCH AND STATISTICS
Professor Sprott
Winter 2022
Office hours
? Tuesdays 12:30-2:30 (by appointment via doodle
? see course outline for procedure)
? Or another time (also by appointment)
Email
[email protected]
1) Overview of course and course outline; structure
of the course; assessments and expectations;
contingency planning
~ Break ~
2) Brief introduction to ?research methods? to get
a feel for the focus of the course.
? As the university announced, the first two weeks of the course (January 17th
and 24st) will be virtual. The lectures will occur via zoom, during the
regularly scheduled time. If you are early for class you will be placed in a
waiting room and allowed in at the start of class.
? The first in-person class will occur Monday January 31st and the remainder
of the course is planned for in-person, though there may have to be
adjustments made back to a virtual learning environment which will effect
course delivery and content. At this time, the university has stated that
once in-person classes resume, virtual access will end (see answers to FAQs
here: https://www.ryerson.ca/arts/students/Winter-2022-FAQs/)
? All necessary adjustments will be clearly explained on D2L and through
whatever method of teaching (in-person or on-line) is occurring. Please
check D2L frequently and attend classes (in-person or on-line) to keep up to
date with any necessary changes. The University has issued a minimum
technology requirement for remote learning. Please familiarize yourself
with D2L and Zoom (resources for students).
? Tuesdays from 12:30-2:30pm.
? Sign up for a 15 minute session via Doodle link (in course outline and
posted on D2L)
? You are only allowed to sign up for one 15-minute slot per week. It is
first come first served. Once a spot is taken, you will have to sign up for
a different one.
? You MUST make an appointment by 5pm Monday before your desired
appointment date (e.g., so if you want an appointment on Tuesday,
January 25th, you need to sign up by 5pm on Monday, January 24th at
the latest) via Doodle in order to attend office hours. I will check the
Doodle poll on Monday at 5pm. Any appointments made after 5pm by
the Monday before your desired appointment date will not be
honoured.
? A zoom link for office hours is in the course outline and posted on D2L.
If you arrive to the zoom meeting before your appointment, you will be
placed in a waiting room so that the meetings will be one on one with
one student at a time.
Week 1, January 17th: Introduction to research methods
? Chapter 1
Week 2, January 24th: Developing research questions ? Pt1
? Chapter 2
Week 3, January 31th: Developing research questions ? Pt2
? Chapter 5 (but skip ?Levels of Measurement? and ?Implications of Levels of
Measurement? (pgs. 117-121))
? Note: Assignment #1 posted on D2L
Week 4, February 7th: Sampling and Research Ethics
? Chapter 4 ?Purposes of Research? and ?Units of Analysis? (pgs. 79-85); Chapter 6;
and Chapter 3
? NOTE: Assignment #1 Due
Week 5, February 14th: Data collection methods ? Part I: Survey research and
behavioural observations
? Chapter 8
————- February 21st reading week (no class or office hours) ——–
Week 6, February 28th: Midterm
Week 7, March 7th: Data collection methods ? Part II: Non-reactive research
? Chapter 9
Week 8, March 14th: Experiments
? Chapters 4 (but skip ?Purposes of Research? and ?Units of Analysis? (pgs. 79-85)); and Chapter 7
Week 9, March 21th: Evaluation Research
? Chapter 12
? NOTE: Assignment #2 posted on D2L
Week 10, March 28th: Data analysis ? Part I: Descriptive statistics
? Chapter 5 ?Levels of Measurement? and ?Implications of Levels of Measurement? (pgs. 117-121);
and Chapter 14
? NOTE: Assignment #2 Due
Week 11, April 4th: Data analysis ? Part II: Testing relationships between variables (inferential
statistics)
? Chapter 16 ?Tests of Statistical Significance? (pgs. 428-436)
Week 12, April 11th: Controlling for a 3rd variable / group work
? Assignments: There are two assignments that will be given out during the
course. Both assignments will consist of a variety of short-answer
questions related to the course materials. More details will be provided in
class. Assignment #1 is worth 15% of your final grade and will be posted
on D2L on Jan 31st and due one week later, on Feb 7th. Assignment #2 is
worth 25% of your final grade and will be posted on D2L on Mar21st and
due one week later, on Mar28th. Both assignments will be submitted thru
D2L and are due at the start of class (8:10am) ? anything date-stamped
after 8:10am is considered late.
? Late work will be penalized 5% each working day (assignments not date
stamped via a D2L submission by 8:10am are late and will have 5%
deducted). Every day after that, another 5% will be deducted.
Assignments will not be accepted if submitted 10 working days after the
due date without explicit permission of the instructor.
? Midterm: There is one in-class midterm, scheduled for February 28th. The
midterm is worth 20% of your final grade and will be predominately
multiple choice. The questions will be designed to capture the main
themes of the course and will be based upon course materials ? readings
and lectures. You must write the test on the date specified.
? Final Exam: There is a final exam to be scheduled during the exam period
(worth 40% of your final grade). It will be a combination of short answer
and multiple choice. Again, these questions will be designed to capture
the main themes of the course and will be based upon course materials ?
readings and lectures. Because many of the research concepts build on
one-another, the final exam is best thought of as cumulative; however,
there will be a much heavier emphasis on everything after the midterm.
Concepts can be tricky. You can grasp the issues and do well in
the course, but you must put effort into it.
? Attend to lectures! This is not a course that you can do well in if you only
read the text. If/when we move to in-person learning, be sure to make
arrangements with friends so you can all share notes in the event
someone gets sick and can?t attend.
? Do the chapter readings before class. The text can be somewhat dry at
times, but reading before class means that you can flag the issues you
don?t understand and get clarifications in class. Also be sure to review the
?help with textbook readings? info posted on D2L.
? Try to do at least some of the questions at the end of each chapter (see
course outline for suggestions about which questions to do). The only way
to know if you really understand the concepts is to engage with them and
try to write out answers. You?ll quickly see if you understand something
once you try answering a specific question.
? Review lecture slides and have them with you during class. Reviewing
slides before class helps give you an idea about what issues will be
covered and what you may need help with.
? When work is assigned in class (or posted on D2L as ?homework?) do it.
That?s a great way to see if you?re understanding things. If you ignore it, or
don?t bother taking it seriously in class, you won?t know if you understand
things until you hand in an assignment and get graded on it.
? If lectures aren?t making sense ? or you don?t understand examples or
concepts ? ask me. If you don?t want to ask in lecture, make an
appointment to see me in my office hours. Since concepts build on one
another, you really need to understand each issue. If you don?t get
clarification, you?ll start losing ground in the course quickly.
? Always carefully read the feedback on your assignments. That
information will (hopefully) get you back on the right track if you haven?t
done as well as you?ve hoped.
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
METHODS
Informal ways of knowing
? Causal Reasoning; Probabilistic Reasoning;
Tradition; Authority (anecdotes and testimonials).
Errors associated with informal ways of ?knowing?
Informal ways of knowing vs. the tools of research
methods
? Two examples (underusing pre-trial detention ?
gun violence and solitary confinement)
IMAGINE A NEW WEIGHT-LOSS PILL
? Select
sample of
people who
took weight
loss pill
IMAGINE A NEW WEIGHT-LOSS PILL
? Random
sample of
people who
took weight
loss pill
? Random
sample of
people who
did not take
weight loss
pill
Research methods tools
Anecdotes/Testimonials
Scientists take standardized
Unplanned observations that
measurements which are clearly are vaguely described
explained
Samples clearly explained and
may be representative. Or
multiple samples to replicate
results.
Very small, biased samples
Other relevant factors are
measured and controlled (or
explained).
Strict requirements for
identifying causal connections
Pertinent factors are ignored.
Anecdotes/testimonials assume
causal relationships as a matter
of fact.
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
METHODS
Informal ways of knowing
? Causal Reasoning; Probabilistic Reasoning;
Tradition; Authority (anecdotes and testimonials).
Errors associated with informal ways of ?knowing?
Informal ways of knowing vs. the tools of research
methods
? Two examples (underusing pre-trial detention ?
gun violence and solitary confinement)
INFORMAL WAYS OF KNOWING VS. THE TOOLS OF
RESEARCH METHODS
Example 1: Bail and gun violence
(Pre-trial detention is underused and responsible for level of gun
violence/homicide in city)
Year = 2019
EVIDENCE?
? Chief Saunders (2019): 326 people charged with firearm-related
offences are free on bail in Toronto (?shocking number?)
? Chief Saunders (2019): 876 people out on bail. No data on
breaches of bail conditions
? Chief Saunders (2019): ?in the past six weeks, 12 people who had
been out on bail for firearms-related charges were arrested for
breaching their bail conditions. He added that some of those
arrests involved new gun charges, though he could not say how
many?.
Sources: https://dailyhive.com/toronto/saunders-toronto-police-firearms-update
: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-toronto-policearrested-240-people-laid-525-charges-in-first-six/
EVIDENCE?
? Gun offences = already reverse onus/presumption of
detention
? Importance of ?presumption of innocence?
? No comprehensive data on offending while on bail
? Studies across Toronto, Ontario and Canada suggest problem =
breaching bail conditions, not offending
? No data on bail release by ?firearm offences?, but?
? General trends for Ontario and some insights for Toronto
Rate of Firearm Incidents Coming to Police Attention
30.0
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Regina
Rate per 100,000
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
? Firearm Incidents = Total use of, discharge, pointing.
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
0.0
INFORMAL WAYS OF KNOWING VS. THE
TOOLS OF RESEARCH METHODS
Example 2
?Structured Intervention Units [SIUs] are part of a
historic [2019] transformation of the federal
correctional system that saw the abolition of
administrative segregation? [solitary confinement]
https://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/acts-and-regulations/005006-3002-en.shtml
Example 2
? What?s ?Typical??
? All admissions into SIUs (Structured Intervention Units) from
beginning (30 Nov 2019) up until 31 August 2021. Stays longer than 1
day (N=1,646).
? 66.3% (451 + 641 = 1,092) missed their time out cell in over three
quarters of their days.
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
METHODS
Informal ways of knowing
? Causal Reasoning; Probabilistic Reasoning;
Tradition; Authority (anecdotes and testimonials).
Errors associated with informal ways of ?knowing?
Informal ways of knowing vs. the tools of research
methods
? Two examples (underusing pre-trial detention ?
gun violence and solitary confinement)
NEXT WEEK?
? Developing Research Questions (this will span
weeks 2 and 3)
? Zoom link/powerpoint slides will be posted on D2L
closer to class date
? Update on roll-out of course and university
announcement about phased-in, in-person
learning thru February.
? Lecture: Developing Research Questions
(frequent breaks throughout)
May be back in-person this week
May be back in-person this week. If so, it will be the week 7 lecture
instead and the Midterm will occur the following week (March 7 th)
Midterm (still only covering weeks 1
thru 5 just as stated on course outline)
? The Research Process
? Components of a Hypothesis
? Independent and dependent variables
? Defining Variables
? Reliability and Validity of Measures [Pt-2
covered in Week 3]
The Research Process
Paradigm
Theory
(Propositions)
Hypotheses (independent/dependent vars)
Conceptualization (?nominal definitions?)
Operationalizations
Reliability/Validity of Operationalizations
Gather data to test hypotheses
The Research Process
Paradigm
Theory
(Propositions)
Hypotheses
Conceptualization
Operationalization
Reliability/Validity of Operationalizations
Gather data to test hypotheses
Example Hypotheses about social inequality and
health:
Example from text (pg 41): ?Societies with greater
national inequality experience poorer community
health?
Another Example: ?When national income inequality
increases within a country, the health of the population
will decline?.
?Components of a hypothesis
? Specific relationship among variables
? independent and dependent variables
? Can be falsifiable
Hypotheses about social inequality and health:
From text (pg 41): ?Societies with greater national
inequality experience poorer community health?
? Can you identify the two variables?
? Can you identify which is the independent and which
is the dependent variable?
Hypothesis: Recent immigrants to Canada
have more positive views of the police than
people born in Canada.
? Identify the independent variable
? Birth country
? Identify the dependent variable
? Views of police
1) Girls have more bail conditions placed on them than boys have.
? Independent variable = gender
? Dependent variable = number of bail conditions
2) Adolescents are more likely to use drugs than adults.
? Independent variable = age
? Dependent variable = drug use
3) People who have had contact with the police have lower ratings of police
legitimacy than people who have not had contact with the police.
? Independent variable = Police contact
? Dependent variable = Police legitimacy
4) People with low self-esteem are more likely to abuse drugs than those with high
self-esteem.
? Independent variable = self-esteem
? Dependent variable = drug abuse
? The Research Process
? Components of a Hypothesis
? Independent and dependent variables
? Defining Variables
? Reliability and Validity of Measures [Pt-2
covered in Week 3]
?Defining Variables
? Conceptualization (or ?nominal definition?)
? Clear, precise definitions
? Operationalization
? Numerical indicators capturing everything in the
conceptualization (or ?nominal definition?)
Hypothesis
? Societies with greater national inequality experience poorer
community health (Text pg 41)
Conceptualization (nominal definitions)
? National Inequality = The larger the proportion of national
wealth that goes to the top 10%, the greater the inequality
? Community Health = Prevalence of any type of cancer
Conceptualizations (?nominal definitions?)
Birth country= Born in Canada or ?recent? immigrant to
Canada. Recent = moved to Canada in last 10 years.
Views of police = how good of a job people think their local
police are doing on the following 6 dimensions: 1) enforcing
the laws; 2) responding to calls promptly; 3) being
approachable and easy to talk to; 4) supplying information
to the public to prevent crime; 5) ensuring the safety of
people; 6) treating people fairly.
Operationalizations
Birth Country
Please indicate where you were born:
0 = Canada
1 = Outside of Canada, moved here in last 10 years (on or after 2011)
2 = Outside of Canada, moved here over 10 years ago (2010 or earlier)
Views of police (6 questions)
1) How good of a job do you think your local police are doing in enforcing the
laws?
1=poor job
2=average job
3=good job
2) How good of a job do you think your local police are doing in responding to
calls promptly?
1=poor job
2=average job
3=good job
3) How good of a job do you think your local police are doing in being approachable and
easy to talk to?
1=poor job
2=average job
3=good job
4) How good of a job do you think your local police are doing in supplying information to
the public to prevent crime?
1=poor job
2=average job
3=good job
5) How good of a job do you think your local police are doing in ensuring safety the safety
of people?
1=poor job
2=average job
3=good job
6) How good of a job do you think your local police are doing in treating people fairly?
1=poor job
2=average job
3=good job
Birth
Country
Pol_q1
Pol_q2
Pol_q3
Pol_q4
Pol_q5
Pol_q6
Sum of
police
qus
0
2
3
1
3
1
1
11
2
3
2
1
2
1
3
12
0
2
2
2
2
2
2
12
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
16
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
1
3
2
3
3
2
3
16
1
3
3
2
3
3
3
17
Average summed
response
Born here (N=2)
11.5
“Recent” immigrant (N=3)
16.3
Hypothesis: Full time university students are more
likely to be problem drinkers than part-time
university students.
? Can you identify the independent and dependent
variables?
? Can you develop nominal and operational
definitions for the variables?
Independent Variable = University status
Dependent Variable = Problem drinking
For the Independent Variable (University Status)
Nominal Definition (conceptualization)
University Status = Full or part-time university study at the undergraduate or
graduate level. Definition of full vs. part time defined by the
program/university.
Operational Definition
University Status
According to the program in university in which you are enrolled, are you a
full or part-time student (at the undergraduate or graduate level)?
0= Part-time
1 =Full time
Nominal Definition (conceptualization)
Problem drinking is a combination of:
? the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption (weighted
more heavily than other questions)
? difficulties discontinuing
? interference with tasks and memory
? resultant injuries
? feelings of remorse and
? concerns from external sources
The more often and/or the more of these events that happen =
?problem drinking?.
1. How often to do you have a drink containing alcohol?
0. Never
3. Monthly or less
4. Two to four times a month
5. Two to three times per week
6. Four or more times a week
2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking?
3. One or two
4. Three or four
5. Five or six
6. Seven to nine
7. Ten or more
3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion?
0. Never
5. Less than monthly
4. Monthly
5. Two or three times per week
6. Four or more times a week
4. How often during the last year have you found you were not able to stop drinking once you had
started?
0. Never
1. Less than monthly
2. Monthly
3. Two or three times per week
4. Four or more times a week
5. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going
after a heaving drinking session?
0. Never
4. Less than monthly
5. Monthly
6. Two or three times per week
7. Four or more times a week
6. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you
because of drinking?
0. Never
1. Less than monthly
2. Monthly
3. Two or three times per week
4. Four or more times a week
7. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night
before because you had been drinking?
0. Never
1. Less than monthly
2. Monthly
3. Two or three times per week
4. Four or more times a week
8. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking?
0. No
1. Yes, but not in the last year
2. Yes, during the last year
9. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking?
0. Never
1. Less than monthly
2. Monthly
3. Two or three times per week
4. Four or more times a week
10. Has a relative or friend, or a doctor or other health worker, been concerned about your
drinking or suggested you cut down?
0. No
1. Yes, but not in the last year
2. Yes, during the last year
Scores of 10 or higher = problem drinking
? The Research Process
? Components of a Hypothesis
? Independent and dependent variables
? Defining Variables
? Reliability and Validity of Measures [Pt-2
covered in Week 3]
Imagine the following hypothesis: ?As the level of unemployment rises in
a nation, so will the level of violence?.
1a) Identify the independent variable:
1b) Identify the dependent variable:
2) Create a nominal definitions (or conceptualizations) for the
independent and dependent variables.
? [Note: try to keep definitions simple right now, even if it makes for a
somewhat weak/less than ideal definition. The focus right now is
demonstrating knowledge of the concepts (nominal definitions and
operationalizations), not creating ?ideal? definitions].
3) Operationalize the nominal definitions you create for the independent
and dependent variables.
? More updates re: roll out of course?
? Review of hypotheses and defining variables
? Clarifying issues/questions
? Take up home-work
? Reliability and Validity of measures (Pt2)
? Go over assignment
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