Self-esteem is a difficult concept to operationalise. How you might go about developing a set of indicators to determine variance in the level of self-esteem in a group of individuals.
Start with a literature review to identify existing measures. Define the dimensions of self-esteem you want to assess, such as academic or social self-esteem. Create specific indicators, including self-report questionnaires, behavioral observations, and physiological measures. Pilot test these indicators on a small sample to ensure reliability and validity. Collect data from a larger, diverse sample and analyze it using statistical methods like factor analysis. Refine your indicators based on the results and consider conducting longitudinal studies to track changes over time. This process ensures your indicators are theoretically grounded and empirically tested.