Example of Operationalizing a Variable: Learning

Example of an Experimental Procedure: Testing a Teaching Method

A researcher hypothesizes that students who get more sleep will have better memory. To test this, the researcher asks one group of students to sleep for 8 hours the night before an exam and a second group to sleep for 6 hours. The next day, the researcher measures 'memory' by counting the number of correct answers on a 20-question multiple-choice test. Which part of this study description represents the operational definition of 'memory'?

A researcher plans to study the impact of listening to music on a person's mood. Which of the following is the best operational definition for the 'mood' variable in this study?

Operational Definition of Depression

Existing Measure

Creating a New Measure

Perceived Stress Scale

Purpose of Operational Definitions

Converging Operations

Self-Report Measure

Behavioral Measure

Physiological Measure

Which of the following best describes an operational definition in psychological research?