Sociology / Unit 2 Soc 0151 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Operational Definitions
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The idea
An operational definition states exactly how an abstract concept will be measured in a particular study, turning an idea into a procedure.
In practice
"Religiosity" measured as services attended per month is one operational definition; measured as self-reported belief, it is another.
Where people slip
Two studies of the same concept can disagree because they measured different things.
Your place on the trail
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