Operationalized
Operationalized refers to the process of defining a concept so it can be measured or manipulated in a study. It involves translating abstract ideas into concrete, observable, and measurable phenomena. The term is widely used across disciplines, especially in the social and behavioral sciences, but also in health, economics, and engineering.
Operationalization is part of research design. It typically begins with identifying a theoretical construct, selecting observable
Examples illustrate the range of operationalization. In psychology, intelligence might be operationalized as performance on a
Benefits and caveats accompany operationalization. It improves measurement precision and comparability but can also constrain a
Etymology and usage notes. The noun form is operationalization; the verb form is operationalize or operationalized.