EQUIVALENCE IN CROSS-NATIONAL RESEARCH

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 30, Heft 4, S. 551-568

Abstract

An examination of the problems encountered in cross-nat'l res. Indicators of similar variables are manifested in diff ways for diff pop's, & the influence of intervening variables must be taken into account in the analysis of cross-nat'l data. A procedure for establishing cross-nat'l equivalence of identical concepts is presented & some examples are given. Cross-nat'l measures are seen as composed of a cross-nat'l, identical set of indicators & a set of nation-specific indicators. These 2 combined provide a scale for reliable & valid measurement of the same phenomenon in various countries. According to the proposed procedure, measurement is considered identical to the extent to which the same, interdependent indicators are used to assess the same phenomenon. By allowing the res'er to utilize diff indicators in diff countries, the identity-equivalence procedure permits him to take into account phenomena which otherwise might be considered qualitatively diff & hence not measurable. By referring the equivalent indicators back to the identical indicators, this procedure introduces safeguards of validity-the guarantee that the phenomena examined in various countries constitute specific occurrences of a more general concept. M. Maxfield.