Operational Definitions Worksheet Name Iisha karmela alday
MA-WS1-092005-15 Hour
In this assignment, your task is to try to come up with operational definition for emotions, behaviors and
states of being. For each of the following statement, please provide an operational definition for the underlined
words. While you are doing this keep in mind that an operational definition is one that makes it clear how the
researcher should go about measuring the process, activity, or thing.
1. The experimenter wants to determine how recreational drugs affect a person's sense of humor.
Possible Answer: How many times the person laughs
-a Researcher may define sense of humor operationally by measuring how often a person
makes people or a person laugh.
2. The teacher wants to find a way to help make Billy act more friendly toward the other children.
Possible Answer: How many times Billy helps someone else
- a Researcher may define more friendly toward the other children operationally by
measuring how often Billy helps someone else
3. A psychologist wants to know if his new form of psychotherapy will make people less
depressed.
Possible Answer: Score on a depression test
-A Researcher may define depressed. operationally by measuring the Score on a
depression test.
4. I have to find a way to study more efficiently.
Possible Answer: One’s grade on a test divided by how long you studied
-a Researcher may define study more efficiently operationally by measuring One’s grade on a test
divided by how long should be studied
5. Does this drug help people overcome their tiredness? Possible Answer: How long someone
sleeps
-A Researcher may define tiredness operationally by measuring How long a person sleeps
6. Boys show more affection towards their father than toward their mother. Possible Answer:
How many times they smile at their parent
-A Researcher may define affection efficiently operationally by measuring how often they
smile at their parent.
7. People dream more if they have eaten a big meal three hours before going to sleep. Possible
Answer: Recording in a dream journal
-A Researcher may define dream operationally by measuring recording in a dream
journal.
8. College athletes are not as smart as regular students. Possible Answer: Grade point average
-A Researcher may define smart operationally by measuring the grade point average
9. Overall, the sophomore girls are prettier than the freshman girls. Possible Answer: How many
dates they are asked out to
-A Researcher may define prettier operationally by measuring how many dates they are
asked out to
10. People who make over $100,000 a year tend to be snobs.
Possible Answer: How many times they ignore other people
-A Researcher may define snobs operationally by
measuring how many times they ignore other people
11. The school spirit is at an all-time low.
Possible Answer: How loud they yell at a pep assembly
-A Researcher may define school spirit operationally by measuring How loud they yell at
a pep assembly
12. Homosexual men tend to be very effeminate.
Possible Answer: How many times they refer to something stereotypical female
-A Researcher may define effeminate operationally by measuring How many
times they refer to something stereotypical female
13. Overall, blacks are better athletes than whites.
Possible Answer: Are on more winning teams
-A Researcher may define better athletes operationally by measuring the number of
winning
14. The Rolling Stones are the best rock group ever.
Possible Answer: How many number one hits they have
-A Researcher may define best rock group operationally by measuring How often the
number one hits they have
15. Germantown High School is a better school than Homestead High School.
Possible Answer: How many students go on to a four year college
-A Researcher may define better school operationally by measuring How often students go
on to a four year college
