Respecified

Respecified is the past participle of respecify, used as an adjective or verb to describe the act of specifying again or altering the original specification of something. The term combines re- (again) with specify, and is used in technical and professional contexts to denote deliberate changes to the scope, parameters, or criteria that were previously defined.

In statistical modeling and econometrics, respecification refers to altering the model's specification after preliminary evaluation. This can involve adding or removing predictor variables, transforming variables, changing the form of the relationship (for example, from linear to nonlinear), or redefining the target variable or outcome. Respecification aims to improve model fit, interpretability, or predictive performance, though it can affect inference and require validation to avoid overfitting.

In research design, data collection, or experimental planning, respecification may involve redefining measurement instruments, inclusion criteria, or sampling frames in response to pilot results or practical constraints.

In software engineering or requirements engineering, respecification denotes revising requirements, interfaces, or constraints after stakeholder feedback or changing priorities.

Examples include a regression model respecified to include an interaction term or a data collection protocol respecified to use a different survey scale. The term conveys a formal, purposeful reevaluation and adjustment of prior specifications in professional practice.