Final answer:
An operational definition is essential for ensuring that research measures are clear, precise, and consistent across different studies. It defines concepts in measurable, concrete terms, which is crucial in intervention plans and sociological research to allow for reliable and replicable results.
Step-by-step explanation:
An operational definition in research is a clear, precise, and detailed definition of a measure. It allows researchers to understand exactly how and what is being measured in a study. Such a definition is essential for a study's validity and reliability. For example, defining what constitutes 'good driving' can vary significantly. A definition like 'a driver who has never received a traffic violation' is preferred because it is clear and can lead to uniform results. The same principle applies to operationalizing complex concepts like 'learning' in educational research, which might be measured by performance on a standardized test or participants' summary of taught material. When creating an intervention plan, it is essential to adapt existing means and resources. This involves establishing an operational plan for a specific goal, such as the eradication of a problem, with well-defined steps and measurable outcomes to ensure effectiveness and replicability. Sociologists, for example, use operational definitions to create concrete and measurable steps for their research questions, allowing all researchers to collect data systematically and in a way that can be replicated by others, thereby strengthening the study's findings.