Hi,
I am doing a research with Theory of Planned Behavior. The behavior is attending a course/training on the subject of orientation, navigation and topography in the next year. I completed elicitation process (n = 30). I am presented with a dilemma. I would like to do direct measurement because indirect measurement makes my questionnaire too long, but I would also like to include some of the statements/variables that I got in elicitation process. Is that ok? Or is it really not recommended?
For example: Direct measurement of attitude would be: "Training in the field of orientation, navigation and topography is... (useful; interesting; instructive; etc.)".
Can I also use (for direct measurement) statements as:
"Training in the field of orientation, navigation and topography encourages socialization."
"Every individual must have skills of orientation, navigation and topography."
The same goes for other two constructs, Subjective Norm and Perceived Control. Is it ok if I use both types of statements for direct measurement?
What i have done many times in designing student projects where especially i want to test specific things i would do the exercise myself. By doing so I test whether the questions I ask are appropriate, by me doing the task do the readings or measurements i get make sense, do i achieve the goal of what the project is all about in terms of taking all the data through an analysis process to ensure results make sense. Normally with some research you start with a hypothesis you would like to confirm as either truth or false, do the conclusions you draw from the experiment make sense? From all this I learn how to ask questions, whether the experiment design is appropriate or even whether the questions asked suit the experiment in question.
What i am getting from your research is you are asking cognitive questions of a subject that is highly specialized, perhaps to determine how easily one may perform the tasks. First an understanding of the terminology (orientation, navigation, topography) used is required and the context within which they are to be used. In the context of land and topographic surveying and geomatics from which these terms and science originate, topography pertains to the slope of the ground as determined through elevations tied to a geographic reference xyz frame. Orientation pertains to what direction you are facing, north, south, east, west, up, down etc. Navigation pertains to how you move from point A to B in such a way that given instructions to follow from A you get to B. Second, all this is accompanied by the complexity of equipment used to accurately accomplish the task. What is the experiment design like, it can be as trivial as using GPS to now as complicated as getting a vehicle to move autonomously from point A to point B.
My suggestion is get a first draft of your questions which you associate with your level of experiment then do it and see if all makes sense. I trust this will help structure your research to make it meaningful.
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