A Technique for the Measurement of Attitudes: Archives of Psychology and Beyond
Have you ever wondered how psychologists accurately gauge people's feelings and beliefs? Understanding attitudes is crucial in numerous fields, from marketing and advertising to social psychology and political science. This post delves into the historical and ongoing methods used to measure attitudes, focusing particularly on seminal work found within the Archives of Psychology, while also exploring modern techniques. We'll uncover the evolution of attitude measurement, discuss its limitations, and explore how researchers today continue to refine these crucial methodologies. Get ready to unlock the secrets behind understanding what people truly think and feel!
The Early Days: Thurstone's Equal-Appearing Intervals and the Archives of Psychology
The Archives of Psychology, a venerable journal dating back to the early 20th century, holds a treasure trove of early research on attitude measurement. One groundbreaking contribution comes from Louis Leon Thurstone's work. His "method of equal-appearing intervals," published in the Archives, represented a significant leap forward. Instead of simply asking for agreement or disagreement, Thurstone's approach involved presenting participants with a series of statements representing varying degrees of attitude towards a specific object or concept. Judges, independent raters, would then assign scale values to these statements, reflecting their perceived intensity. This allowed for a more nuanced and quantitative assessment of attitude strength, moving beyond simple binary measures.
The brilliance of Thurstone's scale lies in its attempt to create equal intervals between the scale points. This means the difference between a score of 3 and 4 represents the same attitude difference as the difference between a score of 7 and 8. While elegant in theory, achieving perfectly equal intervals proved challenging. The subjective nature of the judge's rating introduced a degree of inherent variability, highlighting a key limitation of this early approach.
Likert Scales: A More Practical Approach
While Thurstone's method provided a sophisticated framework, the complexity of its implementation led to the development of more practical alternatives. The Likert scale, named after Rensis Likert, emerged as a popular and widely used method. This scale presents participants with a series of statements, and they indicate their level of agreement or disagreement using a predetermined response scale (e.g., strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree).
Unlike Thurstone's approach, the Likert scale doesn't strive for equal intervals between points. Instead, it relies on the assumption that the responses are at least ordinal—meaning they can be ranked in order of intensity. This simplification makes Likert scales much easier to administer and score, contributing significantly to their widespread adoption across various fields of research. Despite its simplicity, the Likert scale remains a powerful tool for understanding attitudes, even if it lacks the precision of perfectly calibrated intervals.
Semantic Differential Scales: Mapping the Meaning of Attitudes
Another significant advancement in attitude measurement is the semantic differential scale. This technique uses bipolar adjectives to assess the meaning associated with an attitude object. Participants rate their feelings toward the object on a scale between two opposite descriptors, such as "good-bad," "strong-weak," or "active-passive."
The semantic differential scale provides a rich profile of attitude, capturing both evaluative (good-bad) and other dimensions of meaning. This allows researchers to understand not just whether someone holds a positive or negative attitude but also the specific qualities associated with that attitude. By analyzing the patterns of responses across various bipolar scales, researchers can develop a deeper understanding of the underlying structure of attitudes.
Beyond Traditional Methods: Modern Approaches to Attitude Measurement
While Thurstone's, Likert's, and the semantic differential scales remain foundational, the field of attitude measurement has evolved significantly. Modern techniques incorporate advanced statistical methods and leverage technological advancements.
Implicit Association Tests (IATs): These tests measure implicit attitudes, those that individuals may not be consciously aware of. IATs use reaction time to assess the strength of associations between concepts. This method is particularly useful for uncovering biases and prejudices that individuals might not openly admit.
Physiological Measures: Researchers now use physiological measures, such as heart rate, skin conductance, and brainwave activity, to assess emotional responses associated with attitudes. These objective measures can provide insights that complement self-reported data.
Big Data and Social Media Analytics: The availability of vast amounts of data from social media platforms offers new opportunities for analyzing attitudes at a scale never before possible. Sentiment analysis, using natural language processing, can automatically assess the emotional tone of online communications, providing a window into public opinion.
Limitations and Considerations
Despite the sophistication of modern methods, it's crucial to acknowledge the limitations inherent in measuring attitudes. Social desirability bias, where individuals respond in ways they believe are socially acceptable, remains a significant challenge. The wording of questions can also influence responses, highlighting the importance of careful questionnaire design. Researchers must consider these limitations and employ appropriate techniques to minimize bias and maximize the validity and reliability of their findings.
Conclusion
The measurement of attitudes has a rich history, with roots firmly planted in the contributions found within the Archives of Psychology. From Thurstone's pioneering equal-appearing intervals to the more practical Likert scales and the nuanced semantic differential, the journey has been one of refinement and innovation. Today, modern techniques leverage advancements in technology and statistical modeling to provide increasingly sophisticated insights into the complexities of human attitudes. Understanding these methods is essential for researchers across various disciplines, allowing them to accurately gauge opinions, beliefs, and feelings, shaping a more informed and nuanced understanding of human behavior.
FAQs
- What is the difference between explicit and implicit attitudes? Explicit attitudes are consciously held beliefs and feelings, readily accessible to self-report. Implicit attitudes are unconscious associations, often revealed through indirect measures like the IAT.
- Why are multiple methods often used in attitude research? Employing multiple methods, like combining self-report with physiological measures, strengthens the validity and reliability of findings, helping to overcome limitations associated with any single method.
- How can social desirability bias be minimized? Researchers can use techniques like guaranteeing anonymity, using indirect measures, and carefully wording questions to reduce the influence of social desirability bias.
- What are some ethical considerations in attitude research? Informed consent, ensuring participant privacy, and minimizing potential harm are all crucial ethical considerations in attitude research, especially when using sensitive topics or implicit measures.
- How can the findings from attitude research be applied in real-world settings? Attitude research informs marketing campaigns, public health initiatives, social policy decisions, and political strategies, helping to tailor interventions to better resonate with target audiences.
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: A Technique for the Measurement of Attitudes Rensis Likert, 1932 |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Encyclopedia of Survey Research Methods Paul J. Lavrakas, 2008-09-12 In conjunction with top survey researchers around the world and with Nielsen Media Research serving as the corporate sponsor, the Encyclopedia of Survey Research Methods presents state-of-the-art information and methodological examples from the field of survey research. Although there are other how-to guides and references texts on survey research, none is as comprehensive as this Encyclopedia, and none presents the material in such a focused and approachable manner. With more than 600 entries, this resource uses a Total Survey Error perspective that considers all aspects of possible survey error from a cost-benefit standpoint. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research Alex C. Michalos, 2014-02-12 The aim of this encyclopedia is to provide a comprehensive reference work on scientific and other scholarly research on the quality of life, including health-related quality of life research or also called patient-reported outcomes research. Since the 1960s two overlapping but fairly distinct research communities and traditions have developed concerning ideas about the quality of life, individually and collectively, one with a fairly narrow focus on health-related issues and one with a quite broad focus. In many ways, the central issues of these fields have roots extending to the observations and speculations of ancient philosophers, creating a continuous exploration by diverse explorers in diverse historic and cultural circumstances over several centuries of the qualities of human existence. What we have not had so far is a single, multidimensional reference work connecting the most salient and important contributions to the relevant fields. Entries are organized alphabetically and cover basic concepts, relatively well established facts, lawlike and causal relations, theories, methods, standardized tests, biographic entries on significant figures, organizational profiles, indicators and indexes of qualities of individuals and of communities of diverse sizes, including rural areas, towns, cities, counties, provinces, states, regions, countries and groups of countries. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: An Introduction to Psychological Tests and Scales Kate Miriam Loewenthal, 2001 Contains detailed guidelines for locating and constructing psychological measures, including descriptions of popular psychological measures, instructions for composing a measure, entering data and computer reliability and validity. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Techniques of Attitude Scale Construction. -- Allen L. Edwards, 2021-09-09 This book is concerned with techniques for the construction of attitude scales. Once a set of attitude statements has been collected, there are two general methods that have been used in the development of attitude scales. One of these methods involves the use of a judging group. The judging group is not asked to respond to the statements in terms of their own agreement or disagreement with them, but rather to judge the degree of favorableness or unfavorableness expressed by each statement. These judgments are then used as a basis for determining scale values of the statements upon a psychological continuum. Once the scale values of the statements are known, subjects can then be asked to express their agreement or disagreement with the individual statements. Attitude scores for these subjects can then be obtained based upon the prior knowledge of the scale values of the statements. The judgment methods for constructing attitude scales differ only in the manner in which the judgments and scale values of the statements are obtained. They include the method of paired comparisons, the method of equal-appearing intervals, and the method of successive intervals. These methods are described in Chapters 2 through 5. A second method of developing attitude scales is based upon direct responses of agreement or disagreement with attitude statements. Since the response methods do not require prior knowledge of the scale values of the statements in any exact sense, a judging group is not necessary. It is sufficient for the response methods if one can assume that the response agree to a statement indicates a more favorable attitude than the response disagree, or vice versa. The response methods for constructing attitude scales include the method of summated ratings and scalogram analysis. These methods are presented in Chapters 6 and 7. Another method for constructing an attitude scale that makes use of both judgments and responses is described in Chapter 8. This method is termed the scale-discrimination technique. It is an early effort upon the part of Kilpatrick and myself at a synthesis of a scaling and a response method for developing an attitude scale. H-technique, as described in Chapter 9, is also a response method. It has as its objective the improvement of a cumulative scale--a kind of scale about which more will be said in the text. In this chapter I have also described another effort at a synthesis of scaling and response methods which, for want of a better name, I have called W-technique. This, in brief, represents the content of this book--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Basic Statistics B L Agarwal, 2006 Basic Statistics Covers A Wide Range Of Statistical Theory Taught In Almost All Faculties. Theory Followed By Relevant Formulae Is Fully Explicated Through Solved Numerical Problems. Mathematical Derivations And Proofs Of The Formulae Are Largely Absent. The Book Presupposes No Advance Knowledge Of Mathematics.Basic Statistics Fully Covers The Syllabi Of Statistics Courses Running In Various Universities In The Faculties Of Commerce, Arts, Master Of Business Management, Agriculture, Home Science, Pharmacy, And For Students Appearing In C.A. (P.E.-I), I.C.W.A. (Inter.), Etc. This Book Provides Exhaustive Matter In A Simple, Lucid And Exact Manner For Inquisitive Minds.Fourth Edition Of Basic Statistics Is Fully Revised And Enlarged. The Addition Of Two Chapters Entitled Research Processes And Experimental Research Designs Has Made The Book Complete In Its Own Sense. Variety Of Large Number Of Theory And Numerical Questions At The End Of Each Chapter Is A Boon To Achieve One S Own Goal. A Reader Will Find The Book Very Useful And Better Than His Expectations. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Attitude Structure and Function Anthony R. Pratkanis, Steven J. Breckler, Anthony G. Greenwald, 2014-03-18 Utilizing new wave research including new psychological theories, new statistical techniques, and a stronger methodology, this collection unites a diversity of recent research perspectives on attitudes and the psychological functions of an attitude. The objective of the editors was to bring together the bits and pieces of validated data into one systematic and adequate set of general principles leading to the view of attitudes as predictions. As the volume reformulates old concepts, explores new angles, and seeks a relationship among various sub-areas, it also shows improvements in the sophistication of research designs and methodologies, the specifications of variables, and the precision in defining concepts. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Measurement Made Accessible D. Lynn Kelley, 1999-07-13 I found the book very interesting, and will consider it as a supplement for my graduate statistics course, Managerial Statistical Analysis. This book covers a number of topics that graduate students need, but which we currently do not cover in our present format, such as questionnaire design, validity and reliability. --Stanley A. Taylor, School of Business Administration, California State University, Sacramento The author uses plenty of examples and the text is well written and easy to understand. The exercises at the end of each chapter were reasonable and useful. --David J. Solomon, Michigan State University This book covers the most important topics involved in statistical research. It is informative, and topics are presented in a way that is easy to understand. --J.L. Madrigal, Department of Statistics, Brigham Young University Aimed at students who do not plan to be academic researchers but rather who will use measurement and comparison methods in their work, this book teaches readers methods for sampling, data gathering, developing questionnaires, reliability and validity, and quantitative and qualitative measurement methods through the use of frequent examples and exercises. In addition, the book covers the use of quality improvement tools and techniques in measurement. Readers who do measurement activity in their workplace will find that this book provides them with all the research, statistical, and qualitative tools that they′ll need. Given the trend toward improving quality and customer satisfaction, measurement has become an increasingly necessary skill for business managers to possess in order to assess change and improvement. This book provides upper-division undergraduate students in business and management with these general measurement principles. Through the use of frequent business examples and exercises, the contributors cover such topics as sampling methods for data gathering, developing questionnaires, measuring instruments, quantitative and qualitative measurement methods, items analysis, reliability and validity, measurement for quality, and computer uses in data analysis. Professors who have been frustrated with the lack of measurement materials for their business and management students will find this text answers their needs. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: AFHRL-TR. Air Force Human Resources Laboratory, 1968 |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Mindfulness Amanda Ie, Christelle T. Ngnoumen, Ellen J. Langer, 2014-04-14 The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Mindfulness brings together the latest multi-disciplinary research on mindfulness from a group of international scholars: Examines the origins and key theories of the two dominant Western approaches to mindfulness Compares, contrasts, and integrates insights from the social psychological and Eastern-derived perspectives Discusses the implications for mindfulness across a range of fields, including consciousness and cognition, education, creativity, leadership and organizational behavior, law, medical practice and therapy, well-being, and sports 2 Volumes |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Sentencing as a Human Process John Hogarth, 1971-12-15 Sentencing is not a neutral or mechanical act; it is a human process, highly charged affectively and motivationally. Sentencing decisions take place in a social environment of laws, facts, ideas, and people. This study of sentencing behaviour is primarily concerned with the mental processes involved in decision-making. It is based on intensive interviews and on measures of the information-processing ability of seventy-one full-time judges in Ontario. The work covers such topics as: problems of sentencing (particularly existing disparities); social and economic background of judges and their varying penal philosophies; the nature and measurement of judicial attitudes toward crime; punishment and related issues; prediction of sentencing behaviour based on attitude scales (which the author has constructed) and also on 'fact patterns perceived by judges'; and the impact of social and legal constraints on the sentencing process. The study concludes that there exists a very high correlation between a judges definition of situation and the sentence which he imposes and that while sentences meted out for a particular law violation under similar circumstances may differ among judges, judges are 'highly consistent within themselves.' Using these conclusions the author constructs a model of judicial behaviour and shows how this model can be used to predict and to explain sentencing and breaks new ground in the use of the social and behavioural sciences as sources of data to explain the sentencing process. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Manual of Curatorship John M. A. Thompson, 2015-07-17 Based on original contributions by specialists, this manual covers both the theory and the practice required in the management of museums. It is intended for all museum and art gallery profession staff, and includes sections on new technology, marketing, volunteers and museum libraries. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Idealization VII: Structuralism, Idealization and Approximation , 2023-03-13 |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: The Oxford Handbook of Polling and Survey Methods Lonna Rae Atkeson, R. Michael Alvarez, 2018-07-25 The methodologies used to study public opinion are now in flux. The primary polling method of the last half-century, the telephone survey, is rapidly becoming obsolete as a data collection method. At the same time, new methods of contacting potential respondents and obtaining their response are appearing, providing a variety of options for scholars and practitioners. Generally speaking, we are moving from a polling world that was largely interviewer driven over the phone and face-to-face to predominantly interviewer driven self-administered poll environments, New methods of data collection, however, must still deal with fundamental questions to polling methodology and total survey error including sampling, selection bias, non-response error, poststratification weighting, and questionnaire design features. The Oxford Handbook on Polling and Survey Methods brings together a unique mixture of academics and practitioners, from various backgrounds, academic disciplines, and experiences. In some sense, this is reflective of the interdisciplinary nature of the polling and survey industry: polls and surveys are widely used in academia, government, and the private sector. Designing, implementing, and analyzing high quality, accurate, and cost-effective polls and surveys requires a combination of skills and methodological perspectives. Despite the well-publicized issues that have cropped up in recent political polling, a great deal is known today about how to collect high quality polling and survey data even in complex and difficult environments. Divided into four main sections, the Handbook draws on the existing research and explores data collection methods. It then addresses data analysis and the methods available for combining polling data with other types of data. The next section covers analytic issues, including the new approaches to studying public opinion (ie social media, the analysis of open-ended questions using text analytic tools, and data imputation). The final section focuses on the presentation of polling results, an area where there is a great deal of innovation. A comprehensive overview of the topic, this volume highlights current polling trends provides ideas for the development of new and better approaches for measuring, modeling, and visualizing public opinion and social behavior. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Thirteen Strategies to Measure College Teaching Ronald A. Berk, 2023-07-03 Student evaluations of college teachers: perhaps the most contentious issue on campus This book offers a more balanced approach Evaluation affects pay, promotion and tenure, so of intense interest to all faculty Major academic marketing and publicity* Combines original research with Berk’s signature wacky humorTo many college professors the words student evaluations trigger mental images of the shower scene from Psycho, with those bloodcurdling screams. They’re thinking: Why not just whack me now, rather than wait to see those ratings again. This book takes off from the premise that student ratings are a necessary, but not sufficient source of evidence for measuring teaching effectiveness. It is a fun-filled--but solidly evidence-based--romp through more than a dozen other methods that include measurement by self, peers, outside experts, alumni, administrators, employers, and even aliens. As the major stakeholders in this process, both faculty AND administrators, plus clinicians who teach in schools of medicine, nursing, and the allied health fields, need to be involved in writing, adapting, evaluating, or buying items to create the various scales to measure teaching performance. This is the first basic introduction in the faculty evaluation literature to take you step-by-step through the process to develop these tools, interpret their scores, and make decisions about teaching improvement, annual contract renewal/dismissal, merit pay, promotion, and tenure. It explains how to create appropriate, high quality items and detect those that can introduce bias and unfairness into the results.Ron Berk also stresses the need for “triangulation”--the use of multiple, complementary methods--to provide the properly balanced, comprehensive and fair assessment of teaching that is the benchmark of employment decision making.This is a must-read to empower faculty, administrators, and clinicians to use appropriate evidence to make decisions accurately, reliably, and fairly. Don’t trample each other in your stampede to snag a copy of this book! |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: International Encyclopedia of Ergonomics and Human Factors, Second Edition - 3 Volume Set Waldemar Karwowski, 2006-03-15 The previous edition of the International Encyclopedia of Ergonomics and Human Factors made history as the first unified source of reliable information drawn from many realms of science and technology and created specifically with ergonomics professionals in mind. It was also a winner of the Best Reference Award 2002 from the Engineering Libraries Division, American Society of Engineering Education, USA, and the Outstanding Academic Title 2002 from Choice Magazine. Not content to rest on his laurels, human factors and ergonomics expert Professor Waldemar Karwowski has overhauled his standard-setting resource, incorporating coverage of tried and true methods, fundamental principles, and major paradigm shifts in philosophy, thought, and design. Demonstrating the truly interdisciplinary nature of this field, these changes make the second edition even more comprehensive, more informative, more, in a word, encyclopedic. Keeping the format popularized by the first edition, the new edition has been completely revised and updated. Divided into 13 sections and organized alphabetically within each section, the entries provide a clear and simple outline of the topics as well as precise and practical information. The book reviews applications, tools, and innovative concepts related to ergonomic research. Technical terms are defined (where possible) within entries as well as in a glossary. Students and professionals will find this format invaluable, whether they have ergonomics, engineering, computing, or psychology backgrounds. Experts and researchers will also find it an excellent source of information on areas beyond the range of their direct interests. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Applying the Rasch Model Trevor Bond, 2015-06-05 Cited over 1900 times, this classic text facilitates a deep understanding of the Rasch model. The authors review the crucial properties of the model and demonstrate its use with a variety of examples from education, psychology, and health. A glossary and numerous illustrations aid the reader's understanding. Readers learn how to apply Rasch analysis so they can perform their own analyses and interpret the results. The authors present an accessible overview that does not require a mathematical background. Highlights of the new edition include: -More learning tools to strengthen readers’ understanding including chapter introductions, boldfaced key terms, chapter summaries, activities, and suggested readings. -Divided chapters (4, 6, 7 & 8) into basic and extended understanding sections so readers can select the level most appropriate for their needs and to provide more in-depth investigations of key topics. -A website at www.routledge.com/9780415833424 that features free Rasch software, data sets, an Invariance worksheet, detailed instructions for key analyses, and links to related sources. -Greater emphasis on the role of Rasch measurement as a priori in the construction of scales and its use post hoc to reveal the extent to which interval scale measurement is instantiated in existing data sets. -Emphasizes the importance of interval level measurement data and demonstrates how Rasch measurement is used to examine measurement invariance. -Insights from other Rasch scholars via innovative applications (Ch. 9). -Extended discussion of invariance now reviews DIF, DPF, and anchoring (ch. 5). -Revised Rating Scale Model material now based on the analysis of the CEAQ (ch.6). -Clarifies the relationships between Rasch measurement, True Score Theory, and Item Response Theory by reviewing their commonalities and differences (Ch.13). -Provides more detail on how to conduct a Rasch analysis so readers can use the techniques on their own (Appendix B). Intended as a text for graduate courses in measurement, item response theory, (advanced) research methods or quantitative analysis taught in psychology, education, human development, business, and other social and health sciences, professionals in these areas also appreciate the book‘s accessible introduction. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Assessing Affective Characteristics in the Schools Lorin W. Anderson, Sid F. Bourke, 2013-05-13 The affective realm is a critical, but often forgotten, aspect of schooling. The development of character and the formation of appropriate learning environments rely to a large extent on understanding the affective nature of students. Even when the focus is on cognitive achievement, affect has a role to play. Teachers frequently mention a lack of motivation as a primary reason for students not achieving as well as they should or as well as their teachers would like. Despite the importance of affect, educators rarely make an effort to systematically collect and use information about students' affective characteristics to better understand students and to substantially improve the quality of education they receive. This book's purpose is to provide educators with the knowledge and skills they need to design and select instruments that can be used to gather information about students' affective characteristics. Once valid and reliable information has been gathered, it can be used to aid in understanding and to improve educational quality. The second edition features: an updated list of affective characteristics (i.e., attitudes, values, interests, self-esteem, self-efficacy, locus of control) a dual emphasis on selecting and designing affective assessment instruments an emphasis on multi-scale instruments (i.e., a single instrument with multiple affective scales) the use of a single small data set to illustrate and foster understanding of key concepts and procedures a dual emphasis on data about individual students and groups of students a dual focus on the instrumental value of affective data and the inherent value of affective data (i.e., affect is valuable in and of itself) |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: The SAGE Handbook of Social Research Methods Pertti Alasuutari, Leonard Bickman, Julia Brannen, 2008-02-25 The SAGE Handbook of Social Research Methods is a must for every social-science researcher. It charts the new and evolving terrain of social research methodology, covering qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods in one volume. The Handbook includes chapters on each phase of the research process: research design, methods of data collection, and the processes of analyzing and interpreting data. The volume maintains that there is much more to research than learning skills and techniques; methodology involves the fit between theory, research questions research design and analysis. The book also includes several chapters that describe historical and current directions in social research, debating crucial subjects such as qualitative versus quantitative paradigms, how to judge the credibility of types of research, and the increasingly topical issue of research ethics. The Handbook serves as an invaluable resource for approaching research with an open mind. This volume maps the field of social research methods using an approach that will prove valuable for both students and researchers. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Quality of Life Peter M. Fayers, David Machin, 2013-05-23 Quality of life studies form an essential part of the evaluation of any treatment. Written by two authors who are well respected within this field, Quality of Life: The Assessment, Analysis and Interpretation of Patient-reported Outcomes, Second Edition lays down guidelines on assessing, analysing and interpreting quality of life data. The new edition of this standard book has been completely revised, updated and expanded to reflect many methodological developments emerged since the publication of the first edition. Covers the design of instruments, the practical aspects of implementing assessment, the analyses of the data, and the interpretation of the results Presents all essential information on Quality of Life Research in one comprehensive volume Explains the use of qualitative and quantitative methods, including the application of basic statistical methods Includes copious practical examples Fills a need in a rapidly growing area of interest New edition accommodates significant methodological developments, and includes chapters on computer adaptive testing and item banking, choosing an instrument, systematic reviews and meta analysis This book is of interest for everyone involved in quality of life research, and it is applicable to medical and non-medical, statistical and non-statistical readers. It is of particular relevance for clinical and biomedical researchers within both the pharmaceutical industry and practitioners in the fields of cancer and other chronic diseases. Reviews of the First Edition – Winner of the first prize in the Basis of Medicine Category of the BMA Medical Book Competition 2001: “This book is highly recommended to clinicians who are actively involved in the planning, analysis and publication of QoL research.” CLINICAL ONCOLOGY “This book is highly recommended reading.” QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Predicting and Changing Behavior Martin Fishbein, Icek Ajzen, 2011-02-14 This book describes the reasoned action approach, an integrative framework for the prediction and change of human social behavior. It provides an up-to-date review of relevant research, discusses critical issues related to the reasoned action framework, and provides methodological and conceptual tools for the prediction and explanation of social behavior and for designing behavior change interventions. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Encyclopedia of Measurement and Statistics Neil J. Salkind, 2007 Publisher Description |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Handbook of Research Methods and Applications in Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Second Edition Malin Brännback, Alan Carsrud, Diana Hechavarria, Jill Kickul, 2025-01-09 This Handbook examines the diverse methodologies and philosophies employed in research on entrepreneurship, small enterprises and family businesses. Exploring fundamental questions involved in data collection, this new edition emphasises the increased importance of understanding the nuances of methods and applications in today’s research landscape. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Attitudes and Attitude Change Tobias Vogel, Gerd Bohner, Michaela Wanke, 2014-03-18 Providing the student with a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the basic issues in the psychological study of attitudes, this book includes topics such as attitude formation and change, functions of attitudes and attitude measurement. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Comprehensive Handbook of Psychological Assessment, Volume 4 Jay C. Thomas, 2003-09-18 In one volume, the leading researchers in industrial/organizational assessment interpret the range of issues related to industrial/organizational tests, including test development and psychometrics, clinical applications, ethical and legal concerns, use with diverse populations, computerization, and the latest research. Clinicians and researchers who use these instruments will find this volume invaluable, as it contains the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available on this important aspect of practice. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Instrument Development in the Affective Domain D. Betsy McCoach, Robert K. Gable, John P. Madura, 2013-05-09 Whether the concept being studied is job satisfaction, self-efficacy, or student motivation, values and attitudes--affective characteristics--provide crucial keys to how individuals think, learn, and behave. And not surprisingly, as measurement of these traits gains importance in the academic and corporate worlds, there is an ongoing need for valid, scientifically sound instruments. For those involved in creating self-report measures, the completely updated Third Edition of Instrument Development in the Affective Domain balances the art and science of instrument development and evaluation, covering both its conceptual and technical aspects. The book is written to be accessible with the minimum of statistical background, and reviews affective constructs from a measurement standpoint. Examples are drawn from academic and business settings for insights into design as well as the relevance of affective measures to educational and corporate testing. This systematic analysis of all phases of the design process includes: Measurement, scaling, and item-writing techniques. Validity issues: collecting evidence based on instrument content. Testing the internal structure of an instrument: exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Measurement invariance and other advanced methods for examining internal structure. Strengthening the validity argument: relationships to external variables. Addressing reliability issues. As a graduate course between covers and an invaluable professional tool, the Third Edition of Instrument Design in the Affective Domain will be hailed as a bedrock resource by researchers and students in psychology, education, and the social sciences, as well as human resource professionals in the corporate world. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Public Health Research Methods Greg Guest, Emily E. Namey, 2015 Providing a comprehensive foundation for planning, executing, and monitoring public health research of all types, this book goes beyond traditional epidemiologic research designs to cover technology-based approaches emerging in the new public health landscape. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Experimental Research Methods in Sociolinguistics Katie Drager, 2018-02-22 An accessible, user-friendly guide to the variety of different experimental methods used in sociolinguistics, Experimental Research Methods in Sociolinguistics walks students through the “how-to” of experimental methods used to investigate variation in both speech production and perception. Focusing squarely on practice and application, it takes the reader from defining a research question, to choosing an appropriate framework, to completing a research project. Featuring a companion website with information on experiment-friendly software, sample experiments and suggestions for work to undertake, the book also covers: -Ethical concerns -How to measure production and perception -How to construct and use corpora |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Cognitive Analysis of Social Behavior J.-P. Codol, J.-Ph. Leyens, 2012-12-06 The fifth Summer School organized by the European Associa tion of Experimental Social Psychology was held in Aix-en-Proven ce (France, from July 12 to 31, 1981. Previous schools had taken place in The Hague (The Nederlands) in 1966, Leuven (Belgium) in 1967, Konstanz (Germany) in 1972 and in Oxford (Great-Britain) in 1976. This is an important activity of the European Association and has always met with great success. This time, 130 applica tions were received while only 50 could be accepted, given the format adopted for the Summer School. They represented many different countries and institutions. To fully understand the aims of such a Summer School, es pecially of the present one, it is probably best to consider first its organization. Participants were graduates or young postdoctoral students in experimental social psychology. For three weeks they worked in five teams of ten participants each under the mentorship of a senior researcher. Each of five staff members had suggested a special topic of study in which they were interested, well be fore the start of the session. This enabled the teams to be de termined early enough for the participants to be able to prepare for the sessions. In Aix, in the magnificent surroundings of an old convent, afternoons (and often evenings as well) were spent discussing theoretical issues arising from the suggested topics and in planning research to test specific hypotheses. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Measurement Theory and Applications for the Social Sciences Deborah L. Bandalos, 2017-12-12 Which types of validity evidence should be considered when determining whether a scale is appropriate for a given measurement situation? What about reliability evidence? Using clear explanations illustrated by examples from across the social and behavioral sciences, this engaging text prepares students to make effective decisions about the selection, administration, scoring, interpretation, and development of measurement instruments. Coverage includes the essential measurement topics of scale development, item writing and analysis, and reliability and validity, as well as more advanced topics such as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, item response theory, diagnostic classification models, test bias and fairness, standard setting, and equating. End-of-chapter exercises (with answers) emphasize both computations and conceptual understanding to encourage readers to think critically about the material. The companion website (www.guilford.com/bandalos-materials) provides annotated examples, syntax, and datasets in both SPSS and SAS (for most chapters), so that readers can redo the analyses in each chapter. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Research with People Nigel Holt, Ian Walker, 2009-03-31 Whether analyzing attitudes, measuring opinions or observing habits, researchers who investigate people's behaviour need a wide range of techniques at their disposal. Research with people provides a unique introduction to these methods that is both clear and accessible. Through a series of sample practicals, Holt and Walker guide you step-by-step through the process of designing and carrying out research. The authors, both experienced lecturers and researchers, use these practicals to explain theories of research design and teach you how to choose the right technique for your research topic every time. Research with People is full of handy and reassuring advice that makes it ideal as a class textbook or as a private study guide. People are complex, and as a result conducting good-quality human research can seem daunting. This introductory textbook not only shows you how good planning can make research easy and reliable, but also reminds you how exciting it can be. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Health Behavior Theory for Public Health Ralph J. DiClemente, Laura Francisca Salazar, Richard A. Crosby, 2013 While a solid understanding of human behavior theory is an essential tool for designing and implementing successful health promotion programs, changing health behavior requires multiple skills beyond the ability to simply apply theory. Divided into three sections, the book takes a unique ecological approach to learning about health behavior theory and its application. The reader will first gain a broad understanding of health, public health, health behavior and health promotion planning. This is followed by a straightforward and expansive look at the most commonly applied theories and approaches to public health research and programs. Students will come away with a clear understanding of how theory fits into the larger scope of public health research and practice. Finally, readers will learn about the essential tasks of measurement, evaluation, and translation through an examination a diverse set of application tools. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Handbook of Survey Research Peter V. Marsden, James D. Wright, 2010-04-28 With chapters on: sampling; measurement; questionnaire construction and question writing; survey implementation and management; survey data analysis; special types of surveys; and integrating surveys with other data collection methods, this title includes topics such as measurement models, the role of cognitive psychology, and surveying networks. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: The Sage Handbook of Methods in Social Psychology Carol Sansone, Carolyn C Morf, A. T. Panter, 2004 'The Handbook of Methods in Social Psychology' gives researchers and students an overview of the rich history of methodological innovation in both basic and applied research within social psychology. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Psychometric Methods Larry R. Price, 2016-12-13 Grounded in current knowledge and professional practice, this book provides up-to-date coverage of psychometric theory, methods, and interpretation of results. Essential topics include measurement and statistical concepts, scaling models, test design and development, reliability, validity, factor analysis, item response theory, and generalizability theory. Also addressed are norming and test equating, topics not typically covered in traditional psychometrics texts. Examples drawn from a dataset on intelligence testing are used throughout the book, elucidating the assumptions underlying particular methods and providing SPSS (or alternative) syntax for conducting analyses. The companion website presents datasets for all examples as well as PowerPoint slides of figures and key concepts. Pedagogical features include equation boxes with explanations of statistical notation, and end-of-chapter glossaries. The Appendix offers extensions of the topical chapters with example source code from SAS, SPSS, IRTPRO, BILOG-MG, PARSCALE, TESTFACT, and DIMTEST. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: The Oxford Handbook of Social Cognition Donal E. Carlston, 2013-09-19 This handbook provides a comprehensive review of social cognition, ranging from its history and core research areas to its relationships with other fields. The 43 chapters included are written by eminent researchers in the field of social cognition, and are designed to be understandable and informative to readers with a wide range of backgrounds. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Handbook of Quantitative Methods for Educational Research Timothy Teo, 2014-02-07 As part of their research activities, researchers in all areas of education develop measuring instruments, design and conduct experiments and surveys, and analyze data resulting from these activities. Educational research has a strong tradition of employing state-of-the-art statistical and psychometric (psychological measurement) techniques. Commonly referred to as quantitative methods, these techniques cover a range of statistical tests and tools. Quantitative research is essentially about collecting numerical data to explain a particular phenomenon of interest. Over the years, many methods and models have been developed to address the increasingly complex issues that educational researchers seek to address. This handbook serves to act as a reference for educational researchers and practitioners who desire to acquire knowledge and skills in quantitative methods for data analysis or to obtain deeper insights from published works. Written by experienced researchers and educators, each chapter in this handbook covers a methodological topic with attention paid to the theory, procedures, and the challenges on the use of that particular methodology. It is hoped that readers will come away from each chapter with a greater understanding of the methodology being addressed as well as an understanding of the directions for future developments within that methodological area. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Evaluating Public Communication Jim Macnamara, 2017-09-05 Evaluating Public Communication addresses the widely reported lack of rigorous outcome and impact-oriented evaluation in advertising; public relations; corporate, government, political and organizational communication and specialist fields, such as health communication. This transdisciplinary analysis integrates research literature from each of these fields of practice, as well as interviews, content analysis and ethnography, to identify the latest models and approaches. Chapters feature: • a review of 30 frameworks and models that inform processes for evaluation in communication, including the latest recommendations of industry bodies, evaluation councils and research institutes in several countries; • recommendations for standards based on contemporary social science research and industry initiatives, such as the IPR Task Force on Standards and the Coalition for Public Relations Research Standards; • an assessment of metrics that can inform evaluation, including digital and social media metrics, 10 informal research methods and over 30 formal research methods for evaluating public communication; • evaluation of public communication campaigns and projects in 12 contemporary case studies. Evaluating Public Communication provides clear guidance on theory and practice for students, researchers and professionals in PR, advertising and all fields of communication. |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods Michael Lewis-Beck, Alan E Bryman, Tim Futing Liao, 2004 This defining work will be valuable to readers and researchers in social sciences and humanities at all academic levels. As a teaching resource it will be useful to instructors and students alike and will become a standard reference source. Essential for general and academic collections.--CHOICEAppreciative users of this volume will be students, faculty, and researchers in academic, special, and large public libraries, for whom it is recommended.--LIBRARY JOURNALSAGE Reference is proud to announce The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods, a three-volume resource that is a first of its kind, developed by the leading publisher of social science research methods books and journals. This unique multi-volume reference set offers readers an all-encompassing education in the ways of social science researchers. Written to be accessible to general readers, entries do not require any advanced knowledge or experience to understand the purposes and basic principles of any of the methods. The Encyclopedia features two major types of entries: definitions, consisting of a paragraph or two, provide a quick explanation of a methodological term; and topical treatments or essays discussing the nature, history, application/example and implication of using a certain method. Also included are suggested readings and references for future study. To help provide a more complete explanation than is often achieved within the scope of a single article, key terms and concepts appear in SMALL CAPITAL LETTERSto refer readers to related terms explained elsewhere. In addition to epistemological issues that influence the nature of research questions and assumptions, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Social Science Research Methods tackles topics not normally viewed as part of social science research methodology, from philosophical issues such as poststructuralismto advanced statistical techniques. In covering the full range of qualitative and quantitative data analyses, this key reference offers an integrated approach that allows the reader to choose the most appropriate and robust techniques to apply to each situation. Many entries treat traditional topics in a novel way, stimulating both interest and new perspectives. One example is the entry Econometrics, by Professor DamodarGujarati. Following a process which many educators preach but seldom practice, Gujarati walks the reader twice through the research process from economic theory to data and models to analysis, once in principle and a second time with an example. In using the ordinary process of economic research to achieve an extraordinary impact, he leaves the reader thinking not only about methods and models but also the fundamental purpose of econometrics. Topics Covered Analysis of Variance Association and Correlation Basic Qualitative Research Basic Statistics Causal Modeling (Structural Equations) Discourse/Conversation Analysis Econometrics Epistemology Ethnography Evaluation Event History Analysis Experimental Design Factor Analysis & Related Techniques Feminist Methodology Generalized Linear Models Historical/Comparative Interviewing in Qualitative Research Latent Variable Model Life History/Biography LoglinearModels (Categorical Dependent Variables) Longitudinal Analysis Mathematics and Formal Models Measurement Level Measurement Testing & Classification Multiple Regression Multilevel Analysis Qualitative Data Analysis Sampling in Surveys Sampling in Qualitative Research Scaling Significance Testing Simple Regression Survey Design Time Series Key Features Over 900 entries arranged A to Z Each entry is written by a leading authority in the field, covering both quantitative and qualitative methods Covers all disciplines within the social sciences Contains both concise definitions and in-depth essays Three volumes and more than 1500 pages |
| a technique for the measurement of attitudes archives of psychology: Contemporary Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism Fevzi Okumus, S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh, Shiva Jahani, 2022-04-13 Contemporary Research Methods in Hospitality and Tourism delivers a comprehensive collection of chapters including new insights for traditional paradigms, approaches, and methods, as well as more recent developments in research methodology in the context of tourism and hospitality. |
