Operational Definitions Exercises
Below are a number of statements with bolded and underlined phrases or words within them. The
bolded and underlined words are the variables for which you will generate operational definitions.
Although operational definitions can be physiological or self-report in nature, you are to create
operational definitions that are behavioral. Make sure you are clear on behavioral operational
definitions before continuing. Remember, if you are writing an operational definition of something
like depression you might say that the individual is depressed if they: 1) sleep more than 8 to 10
hours at a time, 2) refuse to eat for 2 to 3 days per week, 3) spend 5 to 7 days isolated from other
people.
Below each original statement write your operational definition for each variable. Then recreate the
sentence substituting your operational definitions for the conceptual definitions (underlined
terms). Your work will be graded on your ability to create operational definitions that are (1)
quantifiable, (2) behavioral, and (3) objectively measurable – meaning others could measure them
in the same fashion. Remember, quantifiable means measured in some way, behavioral means
observable, objectively measurable means you are using a measure that anyone can use to verify
your results (a ruler to measure height is an objective measure because an inch is the same no
matter who uses the ruler).
1. Eating fast food leads to being unhealthier than not eating fast food.
2. People in a bad mood will be more helpful than those in a good mood.
3. High levels of self-disclosure improve romantic relationships more than low levels of selfdisclosure.
4. People who exercise regularly sleep better at night than those who do not sleep
regularly.
5. People who like professional wrestling have poorer interpersonal skills than those who
do not like professional wrestling.
6. Young women look in mirrors more often than older women.
7. People learn better when they learn in quiet versus nois
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