When and How Should I Deal with Measurements?

Abstract

This chapter reviews important considerations associated with measurement, which concerns the processes for assigning numbers to reflect some phenomenon of interest. Measurement is critically important whenever quantitative data are gathered, particularly under the positivist pattern of guiding assumptions. We examine four central measurement considerations: scale, validity, reliability and sensitivity. We explore the possibilities associated with building models using measures of constructs and the role that different kinds of variables play in such models. Finally, we discuss issues you need to think about when validating your own measure or when adopting a measure created by other researchers.