Final answer:
A categorical way to operationalize caffeine consumption is by identifying whether the participant consumed soda in the 24 hours prior to the study, which divides participants into two distinct categories - consumers and non-consumers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hosea is studying the relationship between caffeine consumption and problem-solving ability. To operationalize caffeine consumption in a categorical way, one could use the method of identifying whether the participant drank a soda in the 24 hours prior to the study. This approach classifies caffeine consumption into two categories: those who have consumed soda (and therefore caffeine) within the specified time frame, and those who have not. It does not measure the exact number of cups of coffee consumed in a day, the frequency of buying energy drinks, or the number of milligrams of caffeine consumed during the study, which are more continuous or quantitative measures of caffeine intake.
Considering the different methods of measuring caffeine consumption, choosing a categorical operationalization is crucial for the research design and subsequent analysis. Categorical data allows for straightforward comparisons between different groups, in this case, those who have ingested caffeine through soda and those who have not prior to engaging in problem-solving tasks.