Conceptualization
Making clear what we are talking
about
A problem
• In informal conversation, we often have a
different understanding of the words we use
– You and I may not really imagine the same thing
when we talk about dogs and cats
– It’s even more likely when we consider very
abstract ideas like “honor” or “love”
• The same is true of scholars studying various
ideas
Theory
• Theory is dependent upon concepts, so
careful definition of concepts is a critical part
of theory development
• Though we’ll tend to look at concepts one at a
time it is necessary to take all the concepts in
a theory into account simultaneously when
“conceptualizing”
Conceptualization
• Conceptualization is the first step in explication
• Conceptualization refers to the careful analysis of
general ideas known as concepts
– An intellectual process
• Conceptualization takes us from the realm of
vague, ambiguous ‘concepts’ to clearer, more
distinct ‘constructs’
– Constructs are sufficiently concrete that researchers
can develop measures of them
Don’t get confused
• What I am defining as a ‘construct’ is often
called a ‘conceptual definition’ by others
– The terms are often mixed up by different people
• This is a case of the very problem noted above
• Constructs help readers understand what we
mean when using a given term
– Otherwise, the reader may have a very different
perception of what the concept means than we
(as authors) do
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Presence
Violence
Enjoyment
Age
Conceptualizing
• A number of methods can be used to refine
concepts to where we can develop meaningful
tests/measures of them
• Meaning analysis
• Inclusion analysis
• Exclusion analysis
• Theoretical necessity
Meaning analysis
• First, we review scholars’ definitions of the terms
– Evaluate agreements and disagreements
– Review the relative success of different uses
– Evaluate dimensions within scales/measures for
multiple components
• We may review popular use of the terms
– Webster’s definition
– Roget’s thesaurus
– Sticking close to common use of terms makes it easier
to translate our work into something people can
understand
Meaning analysis
• Look for sub-concepts
• Watch for multiple concepts based on the
same term
– That is, a single word may stand for very different
ideas
• There may be scholars using different terms to
describe the same idea we are interested in
– Find these terms and review research carried out
using them
Example: Self-Efficacy
• Self-efficacy has been defined in a variety of ways: as the belief that
one is capable of performing in a certain manner to attain certain
goals,[1] as a person’s belief about their capabilities to produce
designated levels of performance that exercise influence over
events that affect their lives.[2] It is a belief that one has the
capabilities to execute the courses of actions required to manage
prospective situations. It has been described in other ways as the
concept has evolved in the literature and in society: as the sense of
belief that one’s actions have an effect on the environment [3]; as a
person’s judgment of his or her capabilities based on mastery
criteria; a sense of a person’s competence within a specific
framework, focusing on the person’s assessment of their abilities to
perform specific tasks in relation to goals and standards rather than
in comparison with others’ capabilities. Additionally, it builds on
personal past experiences of mastery.[4
–
Wikipedia
• Subconcepts
– Belief in personal ability to perform an act
– Belief that performing the act will have the
desired outcome
Inclusion analysis
• We think of actual events or objects or
behaviors we would want to count as an
example of the concept
• When we apply our conceptual definition to
the real-world example, does the example fall
under the definition?
– If not, rewrite the definition
Example: Videogame addiction
• Playing for 48 hours straight without eating
• Playing every day
• Giving up personal relationships to maintain
online gaming
Exclusion analysis
• Are real-world behaviors, etc. that we feel
should not be considered examples of the
concept excluded under the definition?
– Usually this means checking to see that similar but
distinct examples do not get scored as examples
of the concept under study
– If not, rewrite the definition
Example: Videogame addiction
• Setting aside an hour every day to play
• Becoming so absorbed in the game you lose
track of time
• Buying the newest version of your favorite
games as soon as they come out
Theoretical necessity
• When we look at a concept within the context
of a theory, the meaning of the concept may
change
• What is required of the concept for it to fit
within the theory under study?
– Adjust the conceptual definition to meet the
requirements for the research
Example: TV Violence
• Cultivation theory
– Inclusion of natural disaster
– Intent unnecessary
• Exposure-aggression theories
– Exclusion of natural disaster
– Intent necessary?
Reconceptualization
• Continual review of conceptual definitions
should occur as a result of new research
– Your own results should be taken into account
when preparing for new research
– The conceptualizations other researchers use, and
their results should be taken into account in
future research
• Continuing refinement of concepts is part of scientific
progress
Reconceptualization
• Occasionally, a major theoretical review is
necessary
• Cohen’s review of identification is an example
– Multiple, conflicting conceptual definitions
develop
– Careful analysis is needed to explain how they
developed, why they have differing and often
contradictory features, and when and how the
varying definitions seem to be more or less
effective
Example: Framing
• Vastly varied and often incompatible
definitions
– Mass confusion in framing research and theory
• Reese’s attempt to provide a definition to the
field
– Failed to be widely adopted
– In a number of cases, the definition was cited but
inappropriately applied to research