Operational definition

Operational definition

Dr Hadijah Jaffri & Assoc Prof Dr Narina A Samah

MHPU1024 Research Methodology In Education

Lesson objectives

• State the variable/construct related to your study

• State the theory/theories related to the variable/construct of your study

• Define the variable/construct of your study

  • Theoretical definition

  • Conceptual definition

Operational Definition

• It is a concise detailed explanation about a variable or a measure or an issue that a researcher wants to study.

• Ask yourself this question

  • “What does it mean when it is used in a research?”

• It contains explanation of theoretical and conceptual definition of a variable / issue

Constructing operational definition requires ....

​Decision on criteria or characteristics of a variable

​Uniformity of data collected

​Consistency of interpretation

​Standardised measure of data

Operational Definition

• Explain about the terms used in a study:

  • theoretical definition

    • It is a definition based on a theory/model or it is definition defined by a well-known author (a researcher) in that particular field of study

    • One term might be defined differently by different researchers or authors and based on different theory/model etc. 

  • contextual definition

    • It is a definition which you will use in your study.  It might be similar with theoretical definition but in this case, you highlight the issue that you want to study

Multiple Select

Which of the following is TRUE about theoretical definition?

• It is derived from existing theories

• It represents how a concept operates within a specific theoretical perspective.

• It explains a concept by situating it within a broader theoretical framework

• provides a detailed description of a concept as it will be understood and used in the study, breaking down its meaning in practical terms.

Example of operational definition: Informal involvement

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Informal involvement refers to involvement by who with whom on what basis or in what context ….. (author, year).  Informal involvement occurs when …. (who interact with whom for what reason in what situation/ environment/ context?)

In this study, informal involvement refers to …… in which who interact with whom in what context etc.

Example of operational definition: Informal involvement

​Theoretical definition

​Conceptual definition

Informal involvement refers to involvement by who with whom on what basis or in what context ….. (author, year).  Informal involvement occurs when …. (who interact with whom for what reason in what situation/ environment/ context?)

In this study, informal involvement refers to …… in which who interact with whom in what context etc.

Multiple Select

Which of the following is TRUE about conceptual framework?

• It is typically more concrete and specific to the study context.

• It clarifies what the researcher means by the concept without delving into specific measurement or empirical procedures.

• It helps researcher to explain what the terms mean within the research, guiding data interpretation and analysis.

• It serves to align the study with a particular body of knowledge, helping situate it within an established theory.