It is essential to note that nothing significant can be done ins a research study unless all the variables are well understood. Burgess (2018) defined a variable as a factor that can take multiple values that are measurable. A variable can be quantitative or qualitative. A sociologist can utilize scientific techniques to collect, interpret, and evaluate the information so that they draw vital information to help the make conclusions on specific topics (Burgess, 2018). The researchers always use scientific logic as well as objectivity which makes them not to make deductions based on their sociopolitical beliefs. This helps the sociologists to get vital information to use in solving different social issues that they are studying.
Sociologist never rules out any subject instead they strive to put the questions in excellent research study terms (Burgess, 2018). This is the reason why they are very keen to define all their terms. In a criminology study, for instance, "hot outside" could be understood as the living conditions being harsh making difficult for the people to get a job and thus poor earnings. A different researcher might think of it from the environmental perspective such that weather being hot increases the tendency of people getting involves in offensive activities. This makes it necessary for a sociologist to come up with an operational definition that helps then in defining the ideas regarding the required steps needed to measure them objectively (Burgess, 2018). The idea is then converted into an observable variable, which is a measure that has different values. The operational definition given above highlights the noticeable condition of the concept such that when the living conditions are harsh, then people will tend to look for alternative methods of living consisting of getting involved in crime.
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References
Burgess, R. (Ed.). (2018). Critical variables in the social investigation (Vol. 4). Routledge.
