Political scientists who are interested in survey research often must deal with
ID: 3499351 • Letter: P
Question
Political scientists who are interested in survey research often must deal with tough validity. A survey question may not be valid, because it does not tap the intended characteristic. Sometimes, too, a survey question may gauge an unintended characterist Below are three hypothetical survey questions. For each one: (i) Describe why the not a valid measure of the intended characteristic. (ii) Rewrite the survey question to its validity establish uhe co 5. Liberalism may have addition separate dimension, and attit separate, as well. For a good and Stuart A. Lilie, Beyond I (Washington, DC. Cato Ins 6. Robert A. Dahl, Polyarchy: on Press, 1971). 7. For example, see Michael C Dimensions of Democracy: n. ty a vote in the Example. Intended characteristic: Whether or not an individual voted in the 2012 Survey question:"Thinking about the 2012 election, some people did their patriotic du voted in the election. Others were too unpatriotic to vote. How about you-did you 2012 election?" 632-647. 8. Among social scientists, cro dimensionality of social sta income, education, and (le Nie's classic, Participation i is question is not valid because it also measures individuals' feelings of patriot ism. Not wanting to appear unpatriotic, citizens who did not vote may respond that they did vote. (ii) Improved rewrite: "Thinking about the 2012 election, some people voted in the election. and Row, 1972). Sociologis by asking individuals whic separate dimension based whole. See research using MacArthur Research Netv 9. W. S. Robinson, "Ecologic Review 15, no. 3 (June 195 Application of Linear Pro American Journal of Politi 10. Emile Durkheim, Suicide s w Catholic populations. Ho Theory of Suicide-With no. 3 (June 1996): 500-50 al def operational definition do ceptual term is defin procedure for measuring than operational definiti 12. The research on politica Samuel A. Stouffer, Com whereas other people did not vote. How about you-did you vote in the 2012 election?" A. Intended characteristic: Respondents' position on the trade-off between protecting the environment and creating jobs. Survey question: "Which of the following comes closest t your opinion about the trade-off between protecting the environment and creating job We should regulate business to protect the environment and create jobs: OR 'We should not regulate business because it will not work and will cost jobs. B. Intended characteristic: Attitudes toward Social Security reform. Survey question: "Some found that population politicians, mostly Republicans, have proposed that the Social Security system be replaced by a system that allows people to invest in the stock market. Other politicians, mostly Democrats, oppose the Republican plan. Would you support or oppose replacing the urity system with a system that allows people to invest in the stock market? Intended characteristic: Attitudes toward dealing with crime. Survey question: "Some people think that the way to solve crime is to have harsher punishment for criminals. Others think that the way to solve crime is to improve our educational system. What do you think-should we have harsher punishment for criminals or should we improv educational system?" 11. The term operati con conceptualization offereExplanation / Answer
Question 6A is not valid because it is gauging an unintended characteristic of business regulation, instead of the intended characteristic of respondent's position on the trade off between protecting the environment and creating jobs. The question can be rewritten as ''Do you think there should be trade off between protecting the environment and creating jobs or there should not be trade off between protecting the environment and creating jobs?".
Question 6B is not valid because it is gauging an unintended characteristic of replacement of social security system, so that people can invest in stock market, instead of the intended characteristic of respondent's attitude towards social security system. The question can be rewritten as "Some politicians, mostly Republicans have negative attitude towards social security system. Other politicians, mostly Democrats have positive attitude towards social security system. What kind of attitude do you have- Do you have a negative or a positive attitude towards social security system?".
Question 6C is not valid because it is gauging an unintended characteristic of the right way to solve crimes, instead of the intended characteristic of respondent's attitude towards dealing with crime. The question can be rewritten as " Some people think there should be harsher punishment for criminals. Others think that there should be improvement in our education system. What do you think-should there be harsher punishment for criminals or improvement in our education sysytem?".