Operationalization

Operationalization defines an abstract concept by specifying observable procedures or measurements used to identify or assess it.

Construct (psychology): A theoretical attribute inferred from patterns in behavior or measurement. Operationalization translates constructs into observable indicators.
Abstract object: An entity defined by ideas or properties rather than physical existence. Operationalization begins with an abstract idea that cannot be observed directly.
Experimental design: The planning of comparisons and procedures used to test hypotheses. Experiments require operational definitions of treatments and outcomes.
Operational definition: A definition that states the specific procedures used to identify or measure a concept. It is the stated result of operationalization, rather than the broader process.
Variable (research): A characteristic that can take different values across observations. Operationalized concepts become variables that research can record or manipulate.
Conceptual definition: An explanation of a concept’s meaning and boundaries. It clarifies what an operational definition is meant to represent.
Survey methodology: The design and analysis of surveys used to collect information from samples. Survey questions turn concepts such as trust or income into recorded responses.
Reification (social sciences): Treating an abstraction or social construction as if it were a concrete, independent thing. Operational measures can be mistaken for the full reality of the concepts they represent.
Measurement: The assignment of values to properties according to defined rules. Operational definitions specify how a property receives measured values.
Observable variable: A variable whose values can be directly recorded from observations or measurements. It provides an empirical counterpart to an abstract concept.

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