Operationalization

Operationalization is a way to take a big idea or concept and break it into smaller, more measurable parts (called variables) that can be studied and analyzed. For example, if you wanted to study how people's physical appearance affects how much money people make, you could use the concept of 'physical appearance' as an operationalized variable by measuring and tracking things like height, body size, facial features, skin tone, hair color and style, and clothing style. By collecting data on these variables, you can begin to understand how people's physical appearances influence their earning potential.