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Operational Definition

An operational definition defines a variable, term, or object based on a process or set of validation tests used to determine its existence, duration, and quantity. It should provide clear, precise explanations and procedures that can be reliably repeated by others. Operational definitions are important in science to formally define concepts in a way that can be empirically tested or traced to empirical tests. They help ensure consistent and reliable data collection by specifying measurement procedures in detail and controlling for external factors that could influence results. The example provided operationally defines anxiety based on self-reported feelings and symptoms, with higher scores on rating scales or endorsement of more anxiety-related items indicating greater anxiety.

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87 views9 pages

Operational Definition

An operational definition defines a variable, term, or object based on a process or set of validation tests used to determine its existence, duration, and quantity. It should provide clear, precise explanations and procedures that can be reliably repeated by others. Operational definitions are important in science to formally define concepts in a way that can be empirically tested or traced to empirical tests. They help ensure consistent and reliable data collection by specifying measurement procedures in detail and controlling for external factors that could influence results. The example provided operationally defines anxiety based on self-reported feelings and symptoms, with higher scores on rating scales or endorsement of more anxiety-related items indicating greater anxiety.

Uploaded by

chhassan7
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

An operational definition is a result of the


process of operationalization and is used to
define

something

(e.g.

a variable, term,

or object) in terms of a process (or set


of validation tests) needed to determine its
existence, duration, and quantity. Since the
degree of operationalization can vary itself, it
can

result

in

definition. The

a more

or

procedures

less operational
included

in

definitions should be repeatable by anyone or at


least by peers.

A very clear and very precise explanation of the


items being measured or the terms that are used

to ensures comprehensible knowledge of the


terminology and the ability to operate a process,
procedure, or service and/or collect data
consistently and reliably.
USEFULNESS
Despite the controversial philosophical origins
of the concept, particularly its close association
with logical positivism, operational definitions
have undisputed practical applications. This is
especially so in the sciences, where most (if not
all) formal definitions (as distinct from arbitrary
naming) must be operational definitions or
traceable to operational definitions. Operational
definitions are particularly important in the
physical sciences.

When it is Necessary?
Operational Definition is actually process of
operationalization of variable (s). Variables are
often

carrying

different

aspects

among

themselves and in single variable; there are


different

factors

understandings

for

which

need

researchers

and

clear
for

respondents as well.

Why it is necessary?
There is an old saying that you can never be too
rich. When it comes to operational definitions,
you can never be too detailed. The more clearly
you specify the procedures, the more likely that

the procedures will be carried out precisely and


the more likely that researchers who attempt to
replicate your

work will

use the

same

procedures. Even for simple things, it it best to


specify procedures in detail. For example, if you
want to weigh people in a study, you could just
say "weigh them." That procedure seems
obvious on the surface, but how do you
guarantee that the scale is working properly
(standardizing the measure) and what should
you have your participants wear when they are
being weighed. The weight of street clothes can
vary significantly depending on how cold it is or
what you might be carrying in your pockets.
Those variation add error variance. If you are

having your participants take a psychological


measure, you want to specify the conditions
under which the measure should be given. Some
measures, for example, will be answered
differently depending on whether they are filled
out privately or in a group. Some measures are
affected by distractions in the environment. You
can often learn what factors are known to affect
a measure by doing a thorough library search of
how that measure, or similar measures, have
been used in the past.

Example of Operational Definition

Anxiety

Anxiety is a concept that most of us are all too


familiar with. It is an unpleasant feeling that
occurs in certain situations. It can disrupt our
functioning if it is excessive, but it also
motivates behavior. So how do you measure it?
How do you operationally define anxiety? Now
this is a problem that researchers have attacked
for years, and many fine operational definitions
of anxiety are already available for our use. For
the sake of this exercise, however, we will
assume that we have to develop our own
measure without benefit of much of this existing
research.
When we think of anxiety, we think first about
the "feeling" of being anxious. We know what it

is like and we can easily tell when we are


experiencing it. It is less clear whether others
would be able to tell that we are anxious just by
looking at us. If fact, our own experience
suggests that we may be effectively hiding our
anxiety because some people have told us they
were impressed with how calm we were at a
time

when

we

felt

anything

but

calm.

Furthermore, others have told us they were very


anxious in a situation where we had observed
them

and

Nevertheless,

they
the

did

not

feeling

look
of

anxious.

anxiety

is

distinctive even if it is not always public, so it


provides one way of measuring anxiety. Since
feelings are internal events, apparently without

consistent external features, we will have to rely


on self report to find out whether a person is
feeling anxious. We could simply ask people to
rate their level of anxiety on a 100-point scale, a
technique that is commonly used. These are
often referred to as SUDS (subjective units of
distress) ratings. We could instead ask people a
number of questions about their feelings,
questions that tap elements of anxious feelings.
These might include things like "I am worried
about what might happen." or "I can feel my
heart pound." The number of such items
endorsed by the person would likely indicate the
level of anxiety. With mild anxiety a few might
be endorsed, but as the anxiety became more

intense, more and more of the items would be


endorsed because more of the anxiety symptoms
would be intense enough that the person noticed
them.

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