Operational Definitions Worksheet Name
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
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
3. A psychologist wants to know if his new form of psychotherapy will make people less depressed.
Possible Answer: 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
5. Does this drug help people overcome their tiredness?
Possible Answer: How long someone sleeps
6. Boys show more affection towards their father than toward their mother.
Possible Answer: How many times 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
8. College athletes are not as smart as regular students.
Possible Answer: Grade point average
9. Overall, the sophomore girls are prettier than the freshman girls.
Possible Answer: 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
11. The school spirit is at an all-time low.
Possible Answer: 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
13. Overall, blacks are better athletes than whites.
Possible Answer: Are on more winning teams
14. The Rolling Stones are the best rock group ever.
Possible Answer: How many 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