ABSTRACT
This chapter is an introduction to the language and concepts of measurement in social science: l Variables are phenomena whose changes can be measured. l Variables can be explanatory concepts. In psychology such concepts may not be directly
observable but can be treated as hypothetical constructs, as in other sciences. l Under the conventional research paradigm (the ‘scientific model’), variables to be measured
need precise operational definitions (the steps taken to measure the phenomenon) so that researchers can communicate effectively about their findings.
