Activity 7.3
Operationalizing Concepts and Hypotheses

At the end of the chapter we emphasized that as you operationalize concepts, you are also creating operational hypotheses that are logical deductions from the conceptual hypothesis with which you started. This activity is designed to show that once concepts are operationalized they can be used to construct operational hypotheses logically following from the original, conceptual hypothesis.

1. Conceptual hypothesis: Conservatives are more likely to oppose the creation of new government programs than are liberals. Write at least two operational definitions for each of the two concepts in the hypothesis: Political
   1. Ideology and Opinion on New Government Programs.
   2. Using your operational definitions of the concepts, write at least two operational hypotheses.
   3. Explain how your operational hypotheses logically follow from the original hypothesis.
2. Conceptual hypothesis: More democratic nations provide more social services to their citizens than less democratic nations.
   1. Write at least two operational definitions of the two variables in the hypothesis: Extent of Democracy and Social Services Provided.
   2. Using your operational definitions of the concepts, write at least two operational hypotheses.
   3. Explain how your operational hypotheses logically follow from the original hypothesis.
3. Conceptual hypothesis: Nations that are experiencing economic growth are more likely to act aggressively toward their neighbors than those with economies in decline.
   1. Write at least two operational definitions for each of the two concepts in the hypothesis: Economic Change and Aggression Toward Neighbors.
   2. Using your operational definitions of the concepts, write at least two operational hypotheses.
   3. Explain how your operational hypotheses logically follow from the original hypothesis.
4. Conceptual hypothesis: "Countries that experience inclement weather are more likely to be democracies than those that enjoy moderate weather."
   1. Write at least two operational definitions of the two variables in the hypothesis: Type of Weather and Form of Government.
   2. Using your operational definitions of the concepts, write at least two operational hypotheses.
   3. Explain how your operational hypotheses logically follow from the original hypothesis.