operational definition

 

Operational definition

Of empirical character: a precise definition of something stated in terms of the operations or procedures by which it may be observed, measured, or distinquished from other things. By expressing the concept in such observable, measurable terms it is clear to others what this something is and what observations or measurements will indicate its presence.

 

For example, if asked to define ‘hunger’ many people would respond with something like “the gnawing feeling I get in my stomach that leaves me when I eat” – having reference to our personal experience of the state. An operational definition would involve some measurable period of food deprivation or some physiological index such as blood sugar levels, etc. – observations any researcher can carry out.
 

We must be careful to construct a definition which selects measurements or governs observations so as to be likely to meaningfully capture the nature of or reflect the thing we are seeking to investigate or examine. An erroneous operational definition would put the conclusion(s) of the relative research into question or at least very much restrict any generalizations we might like to make about what is learned.
 
(see also: science, scientific approach, “rules of correspondence”, pseudo-science, systematic evidence, evolution, anecdotal evidence, (conceptual) models, critical thinking, theory (scientific), falsifiability, testability) 

 

 

 
 
Labels: operational definition, definition: ‘operational definition’, specify meaning: ‘operational definition’, precise definition of something stated in terms of operations or procedures, operationally define
The content on this page is provided by a Google Notebook user, and Google assumes no responsibility for this content.