Operational+Definition

=Operational (Functional) Definition (Definitions) (GWU EMSE 216-8000)=

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"An **operational definition**, also called **functional definition**,[ defines something (e.g. a variable, term, or object) in terms of the specific process or set of validation tests used to determine its presence and quantity. That is, **one defines something in terms of the operations that count as measuring it**. The term was coined by Percy Williams Bridgman and is a part of the process of operationalization. One might use definitions that rely on operations in order to avoid the troubles associated with attempting to define things in terms of some intrinsic essence.

"An example of an operational definition might be defining the weight of an object in terms of the numbers that appear when that object is placed on a weighing scale. The weight then, is whatever results from following //the (weight) measurement procedure//, which should be repeatable by anyone. This is in contrast to Operationalization that uses theoretical definitions." ([|Wikipedia 2012])


 * Theoretical definition || Operational definition ||
 * Weight: a measurement of gravitational force acting on an object || a //result// of measurement of an object on a newton spring scale ||

==> Read the article!!! ([|Operational Definition])

"Remember what an operational definition is: it is how you operationalize the term in real life. For example, the operational definition of "courage" might be "did not run away when faced with enemy fire." Note that in reality, not running away when faced with enemy fire may have absolutely nothing at all to do with courage per se -- there are a ton of other reasons why someone might not run away. The point here is that the operational definition gives you something to observe and measure empirically."

"Try this as an exercise:

"Take each word you are having problems with and create the following:

"1) learning objectives written in active form "2) assessment methods to test how well students had achieved the learning objective

"EX:

"word: risk "learning objective: student will analyze the risk associated with a given scenario "subordinate LOs: "a) student will decompose the scenario using appropriate modeling techniques "b) student will identify vulnerabilities in the scenario "c) student will create a threat-vulnerability pairing analysis "d) student will prioritize the impact of threat-vulnerability pairings "e) student will identify estimate the probability of threat-vulnerability pairings "f) student will calculate the individual risks "g) student will calculate the aggregate risk

"This type of exercise can lead you to a more productive operational definition space." (Ryan 2012, email)


 * Sources**
 * Operational definition. (2012, March 22). In //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Retrieved 16:00, June 11, 2012, from []
 * Ryan 2012
 * From: Julie Ryan [mailto:jjchryan@gwu.edu]; Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 11:12 AM

Contributors: Sisson