Concept
Operational definition
Overview
An operational definition specifies concrete, replicable procedures designed to represent a construct. In the words of American psychologist S.S. Stevens (1935), "An operation is the performance which we execute in order to make known a concept." For example, an operational definition of "fear" (the construct) often includes measurable physiologic responses that occur in response to a perceived threat. Thus, "fear" might be operationally defined as specified changes in heart rate, electrodermal activity, pupil dilation, and blood pressure.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Related ideas
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- Interdisciplinarity
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Place in the tradition
Part of Consciousness.