operationalization
|op-er-a-tion-al-i-za-tion|
🇺🇸
/əˌpɑːrəˌreɪʃənəˈlaɪzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌɒpərəˌreɪʃənəlɪˈzeɪʃən/
make measurable; make operational
Etymology
'operationalization' originates from English, formed from the adjective 'operational' + the verb-forming suffix '-ize' and the nominal suffix '-ation'; the adjective 'operational' comes from 'operation'.
'operationalization' developed from 'operationalize' (verb), which was formed in modern English from 'operational' (adjective) + '-ize'; 'operational' came from 'operation', from Old French/Latin roots such as Latin 'operatio'.
Initially related to putting something into operation or making it functional ('to make operational'), the term acquired a specialized sense in 20th-century social science meaning 'to define a concept in measurable terms'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process of defining an abstract concept so that it can be measured or tested in concrete, observable terms (commonly used in research and social science).
The operationalization of "intelligence" in the study involved using standardized IQ test scores.
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Noun 2
the act or process of making a plan, system, or device ready for operation; putting something into practical use.
The operationalization of the new system required staff training and several weeks of testing.
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Last updated: 2026/01/09 00:56