Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
An operational definition is the specific way a variable is measured in a particular study. It is important to have operational definitions for variables because they help to ensure the validity, reliability, and reproducibility of the research. By specifying how the variables will be measured in terms of the instruments, scales, or both, the reader can understand what the researchers mean when they use a certain term and how they collected their data. Operational definitions also reduce ambiguity and subjectivity in the interpretation of the results. For example, if a researcher wants to study the concept of creativity, they need to operationally define what creativity means and how they will measure it. One possible operational definition of creativity is the number of uses for an object (e.g., a paperclip) that participants can come up with in 3 minutes. This definition is concrete and measurable, and it allows other researchers to replicate the study using the same method. However, operational definitions are not always perfect or universal. Different studies may use different operational definitions for the same concept, depending on their research questions and objectives. For example, another possible operational definition of creativity is the average ratings of the originality of uses of an object that participants come up with in 3 minutes. This definition may capture a different aspect of creativity than the previous one, and it may also introduce some subjectivity in the rating process. Therefore, it is important to be clear and specific about the operational definitions used in a study and to acknowledge their strengths and limitations.