ABSTRACT
The measures we use in any research study reflect the research question being asked and how this links to the existing literature. They also determine the conclusions that can be drawn from the findings. For some disciplines, measurement is more straightforward if the cells, gases, mass, or number can simply be counted. But for most disciplines (and even for these at times) the measurement process is problematic. Chapter 4 described the processes involved in measurement and the development of a measurement tool. This chapter describes how to think critically about measurement with a focus on problems such as not measuring what is supposed to be measured, subjectivity and bias, contamination by measurement, and reification.
