operationalist

9.9

Used to describe scientific ideas defined by how people measure or test them

adjective
/ˌɒpəˈreɪʃənəlɪst/

Formal

: operacionalista

The operationalist approach requires that scientific terms be defined by measurable operations.

Examples

The operationalist approach emphasizes measurable outcomes in research.
Many philosophers debate the value of operationalist definitions in psychology.
His theories reflect an operationalist perspective on scientific concepts.
Many scientists adopt an operationalist perspective to ensure clarity.
His theories reflect an operationalist perspective on scientific concepts.
Many philosophers debate the value of operationalist definitions in psychology.
The operationalist approach requires that scientific terms be defined by measurable operations.

Surface Forms

operationalist positive

Morphology

operationalist = operational (transparent) = operation + al + ist

The word is formed by the adjective 'operational' plus the productive agent/ideological suffix '-ist', so the relation is straightforward.

Etymology

Operationalist comes from operation, like in operator, meaning 'work' or 'action', and the ending -ist meaning 'a person who supports a view'. So an operationalist is someone who says ideas should be defined by the actions or steps we use to measure them.