Methodology - Written by John Garger on Monday, January 10, 2011 9:17 - 0 Comments
Latent Constructs in Social Science Research
One of the precepts of conducting empirical research is the ability to capture numerical representations (data) of phenomena and test relationships among them. To do this, researchers need reliable and accurate measures of phenomena that cannot be measured directly. Such measures are latent variables in social science research.
Psychology, social psychology, sociology, and other social sciences study variables that cannot be observed. Unlike a physical attribute such as height, weight, and volume, researchers cannot measure variables such as extraversion, intelligence, and self-image directly. Called latent constructs, a different type of instrument is used to measure these unobservable variables.
Definition of Latent Construct
Latent constructs are theoretical in nature; they cannot be observed directly and, therefore, cannot be measured directly either. To measure a latent construct, researchers capture indicators that represent the underlying construct. The indicators are directly observable and believed by the researcher to accurately represent the variable that cannot be observed. Byrne (1998) says it well:
…the researcher must operationally define the latent variable of interest in terms of behavior believed to represent it. As such, the unobserved variable is linked to one that is observable, thereby making its measurement possible. (p. 4)
Latent Construct Example
Suppose a researcher is interested in measuring subjects’ level of extraversion with a survey. Extraversion is a latent construct because it cannot be measured directly. Therefore, the researcher must develop an instrument that includes items that capture behavior indicative of extraversion.
Extraversion is a trait that represents a person’s need for socializing; an extravert craves and seeks out social situations. Consequently, appropriate items on the survey may include asking subjects to indicate how many social situations they engage in over a selected period or the level to which they would be willing to attend a social function. Note that these observable variables (number of social situations, willingness to attend a function) are indicators of the underlying latent construct (extraversion).
Problems with Latent Constructs
Although indicators provide a way to measure constructs that cannot be measured directly, there is no way of knowing whether the underlying latent construct has been captured reliably or accurately. A number of statistical procedures can help with quantitative data, but they can only hint at whether the magnitude of some numbers is similar to the magnitude of others.
Many researchers develop items for surveys with the intent of measuring a latent construct but do not consider whether the variable is captured reliably and accurately; they give no attention to the convergent and discriminant validity of the instrument. The result is a confounding element in the research that is discovered when the researcher attempts to publish the results of the study.
Before latent variables can be measured appropriately, testing is necessary to suggest that the indictors chosen to estimate the latent construct do just that. Simultaneously developing an instrument and using it in the same research project is a recipe for disaster because now editors and reviewers have two subjects to criticize in your manuscript instead of one.
If possible, stick with measures that are established well in the literature. If you cannot find a measure, perhaps you have discovered a gap in the literature that a validation study might fill. Always look for opportunities where a barrier seems to exist.
Byrne, B. M. (1998). Structural equation modeling with LISREL, PRELIS. and SIMPLIS. Mahhaw, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Writing - Oct 23, 2012 10:55 - 0 Comments
More In Writing
- The Top 3 Misused Commas in Scholarly Writing
- Create a Track Changes Document by Comparing Two Microsoft Word Files
- Passive Sentences in Scholarly Writing
- Choosing the Right Journal for Your Scholarly Manuscript
- 5 Books Every Academician Should Have on the Bookshelf
Dissertations - Jun 19, 2011 5:37 - 0 Comments
More In Dissertations
- The Role of the Dissertation Committee
- The Role of the Dissertation Chair
- 5 Personality Traits to Avoid When Choosing a Dissertation Chair
Methodology - Jan 10, 2011 9:17 - 0 Comments
More In Methodology
- A Definition of Single Source Bias in Social Science Research
- 4 Levels of Measurement in Social Science Research