Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Fundamentals of Measurement

Scientists and social science researchers are tasked with measuring concepts of all types. Some are quantitative, like blood pressure, while others are qualitative, like support for a policy proposal. Moreover, some measures are at the individual level while others are aggregated. This module will focus on distinguishing between different types of measures, different types of units and the advantages and disadvantages of these differences. By the end of this module, I think you'll better appreciate the amount of judgment and decision making that is required to perform a statistical analysis, an in particular, to create and select measure of the concepts you care about studying.

Building a Measurement Model

Researchers are often tasked with analyzing concepts that are difficult to measure. As an example, think about the issue of immigration. A full consideration of policies related to immigration requires analysts to measure concepts such as border security, competition for jobs and employer needs. While there is broad agreement in most governments about the need for border security, there is disagreement about the extent to which their borders are currently secure. How could you measure border security? You could collect data on the amount of money spent on border security, the number of border patrol agents, the amount of physical barriers in place, the apprehension rate of undocumented immigrants and the deportation rate of undocumented immigrants. Some of these measures are inputs while others are outputs. All of these measures capture some aspect of border security. Which measure would you use? Why is this the most appropriate measure? Could you use a combination of measures? This module will explore these questions by examining the measurement process. We'll discuss conceptualization, operationalization and how to create full measurement models based on operationalized concepts.

Survey Research

V. O. Key, a renowned public opinion scholar, wrote that “to speak with precision of public opinion is not unlike coming to grips with the Holy Ghost.” But although survey research is challenging, it is an essential tool in both government and business. Survey research allows researchers to measure opinion and behavior in a wide range of areas, build an understanding of how abstract concepts are perceived, develop and test theories of opinion formation and formulate policy recommendations. In the public sphere, surveys give public officials insight into the views of their constituents and allow citizens to hold their governing officials accountable. In the private sphere, companies use surveys to measure their customers' experiences and levels of satisfaction with goods and services. This module will cover the three fundamental pillars of survey research: sampling, design and evaluation.

Evaluating Measurement Models

After you have designed a measurement tool, whether it is a survey, test, data collection technique or some other approach, it is essential to evaluate that tool. It is inevitable that a measurement tool will suffer from some degree of measurement error. If the error is well-understood and not overwhelmingly large, there are statistical techniques a researcher can use to address that error in an analysis. This module will introduce the concepts of systematic and random measurement error and explore how this error affects the reliability and validity of a measurement tool.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores quantitative measurement of abstract concepts, commonly used by analysts in social science research

Instructed by Dr. Jennifer Bachner, an expert in research methodology and measurement

Covers essential aspects of measurement, including fundamentals, model building, survey research, and evaluation

Suitable for learners who seek to develop or refine their quantitative measurement skills for research or analysis

Reviews summary

Highly positive feedback on measurement course

Learners say that the Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data course is exceptionally positive, offering informative lectures and engaging readings that walk you through how to design a survey. This course is easy to follow and does not require any statistical background.

Readings come from high quality sources.

"Readings came from a variety of sources, exposing the learner to sites where we can continue to learn more about this topic."

Content is highly informative and easy to follow.

"Informative! "

"This course taught me how to do research methods in my research projects."

"This course provides a simple, easy-to-follow instruction that will keep you going without realizing that you've exceeded your limit in understanding math and statistics."

Useful examples provided throughout.

"What I liked the most, was the examples in the lectures and the complementary readings."

Assumes you have some background in this field

"This was a valuable primer for me on the fundamentals of measuring data."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data with these activities:

Review measurement fundamentals

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Begin by reviewing the basics of measurement to ensure a solid foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Measurement

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Review notes or textbooks on measurement theory
Complete practice problems on different types of measurement scales

Read 'Measurement in the Social Sciences' by Blalock

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Expand your knowledge of measurement theory and its applications in social science research.

View Melania on Amazon

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Read and summarize key chapters on measurement principles and techniques
Identify examples of measurement in real-world social science studies

Explore examples of measurement models

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Familiarize yourself with real-world examples of measurement models to enhance your understanding of their application.

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Locate online resources or tutorials that demonstrate the development of measurement models
Follow step-by-step instructions to create your own measurement model for a specific concept

Three other activities

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Conduct mock surveys

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Gain practical experience in survey design and data collection by conducting mock surveys.

Browse courses on Survey Research

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Develop a research question and identify your target population
Design a survey instrument using best practices
Pilot test the survey with a small sample
Collect data from a larger sample

Develop a measurement evaluation framework

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Solidify your understanding of measurement evaluation by creating a framework to assess the quality of measurement tools.

Browse courses on Reliability

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Research different approaches to measurement evaluation
Identify key criteria for assessing reliability and validity
Develop a measurement evaluation framework that aligns with the course concepts

Design a measurement plan for a research project

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Apply your learning by developing a comprehensive measurement plan for a research project of your choice.

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Define the research question and identify the concepts to be measured
Review existing literature and identify potential measurement approaches
Develop a measurement strategy that aligns with the research objectives
Consider ethical implications and potential biases in measurement
Prepare a written measurement plan outlining the chosen approach and justification

Career center

Learners who complete Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Statistician

Statisticians design, plan and analyze surveys, collect and interpret data, develop mathematical models and write reports summing up results. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data helps build a foundation for this work by teaching you how to create and evaluate quantitative measures, which is an essential skill for collecting accurate and reliable data. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop mathematical models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use data to identify and solve business problems. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for business analysis. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use mathematical and statistical models to solve business problems. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for operations research. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts transform raw data into useful information that can be used to make informed decisions. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for data analysis. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts use statistical and mathematical models to analyze data and make predictions. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for quantitative analysis. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Actuary

Actuaries use mathematical and statistical models to assess risk and uncertainty. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for actuarial work. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policy issues and make recommendations to policymakers. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for policy analysis. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Economist

Economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for economic analysis. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist

Market Researcher

Market Researchers collect and analyze data on consumer behavior and market trends. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for market research. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Education Researcher

Education Researchers study the effectiveness of educational programs and policies. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for education research. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Researcher

Health Economist

Health Economists apply economic principles to the analysis of health care issues. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for health economics research. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Economist

Social Scientist

Social Scientists study human behavior and social institutions. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for social science research. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Scientist

Survey Researcher

Survey Researchers design, conduct, and analyze surveys to collect data on public opinion, consumer behavior, and other topics. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for survey research. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Survey Researcher

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use statistical and mathematical models to analyze data and make predictions. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for data science. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Public Opinion Researcher

Public Opinion Researchers study public opinion on political and social issues. Measurement – Turning Concepts into Data may be useful for this role, as it provides a framework for collecting and interpreting data, which is essential for public opinion research. Additionally, the course's focus on building measurement models can help you develop models that accurately represent the data you collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Opinion Researcher