193k views
3 votes
What are operational definitions, and why do psychologists use them? What's the difference between an operational definition and a hypothesis?

User Minsu
by
8.3k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Operational definitions are used in psychology to define concepts in terms of specific measurement procedures. They help ensure research is conducted in a systematic and replicable manner. An operational definition is different from a hypothesis, which is a testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Step-by-step explanation:

In psychology, operational definitions are used to define concepts in terms of the specific steps or procedures used to measure or observe them. They help psychologists conduct research in a systematic and replicable manner. For example, a psychologist may operationalize the concept of aggression by defining it as the number of aggressive acts observed in a laboratory setting.

The difference between an operational definition and a hypothesis is that an operational definition specifies how a variable will be measured or observed, while a hypothesis is a testable prediction about the relationship between variables. In other words, an operational definition tells us how we will measure or observe something, while a hypothesis tells us what we expect to find based on that measurement or observation.

User Andrei Goldmann
by
8.1k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.