Activity: Unit of Observation, Unit of Analysis, and Variable Operationalization by James Cook https://padlet.com/James_Cook/UnitsandVariables In this step, take the research study you named above and describe the unit of observation and the unit of analysis for your study (some studies may have more than one unit of analysis; if so, pick just one). Also describe how at least one independent variable and at least one dependent variable are operationalized. Please name the research study you're describing again so that others may follow along. en-us 2015-09-26 19:04:50 UTC 2015-09-26 19:56:05 UTC hello@padlet.com James Cook James_Cook https://padlet.com/James_Cook/UnitsandVariables/wish/72299502

Continuing to provide an example using Ross and Wu 1995 as in the above article...

In "The Links Between Education and Health," Ross and Wu (1995) describe analysis of the Work, Family and Well-Being study of U.S. households. Although Ross and Wu mention households, The unit of observation is the person, and so is the unit of anaysis. The dependent variable of self-reported health is a rating that runs from 1 to 5: "1=very poor, 2=poor, 3=satisfactory, 4=good ,5=very good" (Ross and Wu 1995: 725). The independent variable of smoking is operationalized with three possible values: "0 for nonsmokers, 1 for persons who have ever smoked seven or more cigarettes a week but do not currently smoke, and 2 for persons who currently smoke seven or more cigarettes a week" (Ross and Wu 1995: 726).

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Citation (ASA style):

Ross, Catherine E., and Chia-ling Wu. 1995. "The Links Between Education and Health." American Sociological Review 60(5): 719-745.

This article lies behind a "paywall," but can be accessed by UMA students who visit http://www.uma.edu/academics/libraries/ and search for the title in OneSearch.

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