What is the key purpose of operationally defining a variable?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The key purpose of operational defining a variable is to provide precise and standardized measurement procedures that can be replicated by other researchers if they wish to repeat the study. Without such operational definitions, it can be difficult to draw clear and reliable conclusions from research data. Operational definitions also help to ensure that measurements are reliable and valid, and that different researchers are measuring the same thing in the same way, which can facilitate data comparisons and meta-analyses. Option A is incorrect because defining a variable does not determine whether it is independent or dependent. Option B is incorrect because correlation can still be examined without operationally defining a variable, although precise measurement of variables is essential for the accurate calculation of correlation coefficients. Option C is incorrect because operational definitions should not be designed to lead to a specific statistical test, but instead should aim for precision and reliability in measuring the variable.

What Is the Key Purpose of Operationally Defining a Variable