Final answer:
The use of observable terms in operational definitions is crucial for providing a clear and measurable description of behavior, which is necessary for the consistency, replicability, and validity of research studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of using observable terms when operationally defining a student's behavior in research is to ensure a clear and measurable description of the behavior. This allows researchers and observers to have a shared understanding of what is being measured, leading to consistency in data collection and analysis. It enables the results to be reliably reproduced by other researchers, thereby strengthening the validity of the research findings. Observable terms are used to specify the concrete steps required to measure a variable, thus making the study more systematic and replicable. Avoiding subjective or ambiguous terms helps to minimize observer bias and promotes objective assessment.
For example, if researchers were examining the impact of tutoring on student grades, an operational definition might describe "good" grades specifically in terms of the letter grade, such as B+, and define "tutoring" as "one-on-one assistance by an expert in the field, hired by an educational institution." Using precise definitions helps ensure that different researchers can reliably collect similar data. Therefore, the answer to the student's multiple-choice question would be C) Observable terms are essential for a clear and measurable description of behavior.