Araştırma Yöntemleri

Conceptualization, Operationalization

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 Plan

• Concept
• Conceptualization
• Operationalization
• Conceptualization and operationalization
examples

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Concept
• Concept: “A mental image that
summarizes a series of observations,
feelings, and thoughts”
• Exactly what is meant by words in the
language of science should be explained
• Conceptualizing concepts is the basis for
operationalization and measurement

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Thoughts, Concepts
• The term “biased” is a term we use and
agree on to describe people with certain
characteristics in shorthand.
• Drawers in our brains where thoughts are
stored
• Agreeing on the terms associated with
these ideas are called as conceptualization,
and the results as a concept
(compassionate, loving, emotional,
environmentalist, cross-seeding, etc.)
• Dictionaries are official list of terms agreed
upon by the community
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Concepts and Reality

• Concepts display the mind

• Summarizes related observations and
experiences
• Observations and experiences are real
• Concepts are not real

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Conceptualization

• The process of defining what is meant

when a term is used
• In deductive theory, conceptualization
helps to turn certain parts of an
abstract theory into testable
hypotheses with specific variables.
• In inductive theory, conceptualization
is an important part of the process of
making sense of relevant observations.

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Definition of Concepts
• Authentic description (determination of the
essential nature or characteristics of a particular
entity; insufficient for scientific research)
• Nominal definition (description of the meanings
given to a term)
• Operational definition (measurable definition;
socio-economic status = income + education
level)
• Your income in the last 12 months?
• Last school you graduated from?
• Identification Operational description Real-
world measurement

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Indicators, Dimensions
• Are women more affectionate than men?
• Various dimensions of compassion
(emotion, action, type of living being
towards which compassion is directed,
etc.)
• What are the indicators of compassion?
• In conceptualization, both dimensions are
defined and indicators are determined for
each dimension.
• Indicators are interchangeable

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Conceptualization → Operationalization

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operationalization

• Conceptualization and operationalization

are closely related
• Conceptualization is refinement and
definition of abstract concepts
• Operationalization is the development of
specific research procedures that will
result in empirical observations that
represent concepts in the real world.

Kaynak: Babbie, 2007, s. 133

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Operationalization Options

• Range of change (income level)

• Changes between the extremes
• Which dimension of the concept will
be operationalized

Kaynak: Babbie, 2007, s. 133-136

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Conceptualization and Operationalization
Independent variable The dependent variable
Abstract

operational theory level

Abstract hypothetical
causal structure
structure
connection
Conceptualization Conceptualization
Conceptual Conceptual

level
definition definition

Operationalization Operationalization

empirical level
Indication / tested Indication /
measurement empirical hypothesis measurement

Kaynak: Neuman, 2006, s.185

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 Conceptualization and
Operationalization Examples

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Conceptualizing “Teacher Morale”

• Is there a relationship between teacher morale

and the professional work environment?
• Hypothesis: “Professional work environment
raises the level of teacher morale.”
• For this, the meanings of concepts such as
“teacher”, “morale”, “professional working
environment” should be considered.
• What is meant by the term “teacher morale”?

Kaynak: Neuman, 2007, s.268-275

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Who is the teacher?

• School principal, librarian, football team

coach, trainee teacher, part-time
teacher, teachers working outside the
school (apprentice breeders, dog
trainers)
• Full-time staff members who spend time
in classes with students in classrooms
• Those with a teaching diploma
•...

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 What is morale?

• How do people feel about things?

• Confidence, spiritism, positivity,
optimism, sense of togetherness, joy,
state of mind (dictionary meaning)
• How is morale different from "mood"?
(mood is more individual and temporary)
• Does morale mean optimism/pessimism?

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 Teacher Morale
• If morale is a feeling towards something
(student, school administration, salary, job,
etc.) then does teacher morale have more than
one dimension (eg feelings towards students,
teachers)?
• Teacher morale
– High morale: Having a positive opinion of school, not
complaining about overwork, enjoying being with students
– Low morale: Complaining, not participating in school activities
unless necessary, seeking another job

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Tümevarımla Kavramsallaştırma ve İşletimselleştirme

Theorize the relationship The dependent variable

theory level

[precondition] teacher's morale

Professional level
work environment

Refine and conceptualize draft

ideas and concepts
Skill, autonomy, Most teachers
İşletimsel düzey

dignity, direct positive attitude towards

lack of control etc. student, parent etc.

Operationalize by creating
concepts from data and sketch
ideas
Ampirik düzey

Indicators / measurement
(diploma, content Indicators / measurements
non-interference etc.) (overtime etc.)
Observe empirical conditions
and collect data

Kaynak: Neuman, 2006, s.187’den uyarlama

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 Summary

• Concept
• Conceptualization
• Operationalization

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 Thanks…

This lecture presentation prepared by Prof. Dr. Yaşar

TONTA has been edited and used by us with his permission
dated 29.09.2021.

We thank him for the main framework and content of the

presentation.

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