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English
Quarter 4 – Module 2:
Giving Technical and Operational
Definitions
English – Grade 10
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 4– Module 2: Giving Technical and Operational Definitions First
Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Jenny Rose S. Sumagaysay, EdD

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Reviewers: Renelda D. Espinas and Crisilda N. Estravela
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Joeyleza M. Arcilla, EdD, Rosela R. Abiera
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Nilita L. Ragay, Ed.D. Elmar L. Cabrera

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Department of Education –Region VII Schools Division of Negros Oriental

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CONTENT PAGES

WHAT I KNOW ------------------------------------------------ 1

WHAT’S IN ------------------------------------------------ 2

WHAT’S NEW ------------------------------------------------ 2

WHAT IS IT ------------------------------------------------ 3

WHAT’S MORE ------------------------------------------------ 6

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED --------------------------------- 7

WHAT I CAN DO --------------------------------------- 8

ASSESSMENT ------------------------------------------------ 9

GLOSSARY ------------------------------------------- 10

ANSWER KEYS --------------------------------------------- 11

REFERENCE LIST -------------------------------------- 12

Pre-assessment:

Directions: Tell whether the statements below are true or false. Choose the letter
of the correct answer. Write the answer in your answer sheet.

a. True b. False

1. Operational definition is the specific meaning of a word or phrase given in

their specific context.

2. The purpose of defining the term in a research study is to keep them

unambiguous, thereby reducing errors.

3. There are rules to follow in defining terms operationally.

4. There are universally accepted definitions of terms/variables.

5. An operational definition is the same with conceptual definition.

6. You need an operational definition because you can't measure anything

without one, no matter how good your conceptual definition might be.

7. In technical writing, words or terms used are defined operationally.

8. Tell whether this statement is an example of an operational definition.

Intelligence level is defined operationally by its measurement such as the result of

an IQ test.

WHAT’S IN
Let us have a short review on how to make definitions by arranging the
steps in making a definition. You can put the sequence of the steps by
writing numbers 1-4 in the first column.

Sequence Steps in Making a Definition

Classify the term. Specify what classes/category a word

belongs to according to a standard dictionary definition.

Research the word’s origins. Look up your chosen word in

the dictionary or in another etymology dictionary.

Provide traditional details about the term. Explain any

physical characteristics or traditional thoughts used to
describe your term of choice.

Use examples to illustrate the meaning.

Are you ready to learn more? Then, what are you waiting for? Continue reading.
Have fun!

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What could happen when a word or a phrase is not understood in the same way by
everyone on a team?

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 WHAT IS IT

Now you will learn what an operational definition is all about and
how to create it

Let us start with conceptual definition. A conceptual definition tells

you what the concept means, what your constructs are by explaining
how they are related to other constructs. In other words, conceptual
definition is just the literal or core sense of a word. There is nothing read
into the term, no subtext; it's just the straightforward, literal, dictionary
definition of the word.
In technical writing, however, there are words that are used in specific
ways in different disciplines. You call it operational definition.
Let us use tongue as an example. It is probably a word that the reader
immediately understands but understands incorrectly depending on
context. A tongue, if defined conceptually, can be a structure in a mouth,
a strip of land, part of a shoe, a language, part of a belt buckle, part of a
bell, or anything that is shaped like a tongue. This is an example of a
commonly used word that is used in uncommon ways. It is an example of
a problem that may be avoided if the technical writer defines terms that
are likely to be misunderstood or not understood.
In order to perform this function, the technical writer must watch for
words of this type when doing research and must seek to understand the
operational definitions of these words.
What is an operational definition?

▪ Operational definition is the specific meaning of a word or

phrase given to it by the group of people who use the word in
their specific context.
▪ Operational definitions assign meaning to a variable by
specifying the activities or operations necessary to measure,
categorize, or manipulate the variable.
▪ Operational definition is stated in terms of operations or
procedures that must be carried out in observing or measuring
that which is being defined.

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 ▪ Example: “Intelligence relates positively to achievement” implies
that the higher the intelligence level of a person, the better he
achieves. Also, the intelligence level maybe defined operationally
▪ by its measurement i.e. the result of an IQ test, while the
achievement level can be measured by an achievement test
whether standardized or teacher-made.
▪ The sole purpose of defining the terms or variables in a research
study operationally is to keep them unambiguous, thereby
reducing errors.
How to define the terms/variables operationally?

▪ In fact, there is no hard and first rule for operationally defining

a variable. Operational definitions may vary, depending on your
purpose and the way you choose to measure them.
▪ Neither are there any universally accepted definitions of all the
variables. A researcher can logically choose a definition of a
variable that will serve his or her purpose.
▪ Whenever possible, operational definitions used by others in
their work of good standing could be used so that the results
can be compared.

Operational Definition in Research

▪ It is critical to operationally define a variable in order to lend

credibility to the methodology and to ensure the reproducibility
of the results of the study. Another study may identify the same
variable differently, making it difficult to compare the results of
these two studies.
▪ An operational definition serves four purposes:
▪ It establishes the rules and procedures the researcher uses to
measure the variable.
▪ It provides unambiguous and consistent meaning to
terms/variables that otherwise can be interpreted in different
ways.
▪ It makes the collection of data as well as the analysis more
focused and efficient.
▪ It guides what type of data and information we are looking for.

Example situations/contexts where operational definition is

necessary

▪ Suppose a study classifies students according to the grades they

received: A, B, C, etc. But the task is not that easy if you must
determine which students fall in which grade since there is
seldom any universal rule for grades. To do this, you need an
operational definition.
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 ▪ Suppose further that we want to make 4 categories of
knowledge: ‘no knowledge,’ ‘low knowledge,’ ‘medium knowledge’
and ‘high knowledge.’ We decide to define these knowledge levels
as follows:
High knowledge = 15 or more correct answers.
Medium knowledge = 8 to 14 correct answers
Low knowledge = 1 to 7 correct answers
No knowledge = No correct answers.

Why do you need an operational definition when you already have a

perfectly good conceptual definition?

▪ In your conceptual definitions you explain what your constructs

are by showing how they relate to other constructs. This
explanation and all of the constructs it refers to are abstract —
their existence is only as real and concrete as the thoughts you
have while you watch a seagull soar past on a stiff breeze. To
work with your constructs, you must establish a connection
between them and the concrete reality in which you live. This
process is called operationalization. Your operational definitions
describe the variables you will use as indicators and the
procedures you will use to observe or measure them. You need
an operational definition because you can't measure anything
without one, no matter how good your conceptual definition
might be.

Why should you use Operational Definitions?

▪ Operational Definitions put workable meaning into our everyday

terminology.
▪ To communicate effectively and avoid misinterpretations,
members of a team, data collectors, and both internal and
external customers and suppliers or a certain group must use
the same Operational Definitions for the same concepts.

▪ Misunderstandings waste time; but worse, they add variation to

your process. Consequently, it is vitally important to develop
Operational Definitions especially if you are doing research.

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 WHAT'S MORE

Directions: Identify which definitions belong to conceptual or operational

definitions by putting a check mark in its corresponding box.
Definition Conceptual Operational

1. Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and

psychological development that generally occurs
during the period from puberty to legal adulthood
(age of majority). Adolescence is usually
associated with the teenage years, but its
physical, psychological or cultural expressions
may begin earlier and end later.

2. Adolescence refers to teenage years ranging from

13 - 19 years. This may vary in research.

3. A tongue is a structure in a mouth, a strip of land,

part of a shoe, a language, part of a belt buckle,
part of a bell, or anything that is shaped like a
tongue.

4. Academic achievement pertains to the

performance of the learners based on the grade
point average in all subject areas for SY
20202021.

5. Thirst is a distressful feeling of not accessing water

for a period of 18 hours.

6. Guilt is a painful feeling of self-reproach.

7. Thirst is a distressful feeling caused by a desire or

need for water.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

Directions: Review the lesson on GIVING TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL

DEFINITIONS. Then, write your reflection in your notebook by completing the
statements below.
I have learned that ________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
I have realized that _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
I will apply ______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

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 WHAT I CAN DO
Let us practice more!

Directions: Make a short essay highlighting the importance of using operational

definition. You may provide examples and/or experiences that would relate to your
content. Be guided by the rubric below.

Now, you can take a short break, relax your mind, do personal necessities,
then, return to your study table and do this final activity

Now, you can take a short break, relax your mind, do personal necessities, then,
return to your study table and do this final activity.

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ASSESSMENT
 You are almost done! It is time for you to be assessed whether you achieved
our objectives for this module. Are you ready? You may begin…
Directions: Develop an operational definition of emotions, behaviors, and states of
being. For each of the following statements, please provide an operational definition
for the underlined words. While you are doing this, keep in mind that an
operational definition clarifies how the researcher should go about measuring the
process, activity, or thing.

1. The experimenter wants to figure out how recreational drugs affect a

person’s sense of humor.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

2. The teacher wants to find a way to help make Billy act more friendly
toward the other children.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

3. Does this drug help people overcome their tiredness?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Are college athletes not as smart as regular students?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. People dream more if they have eaten a big meal three hours before
going to sleep.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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GLOSSARY
 The following terms used in this module are defined as follows:

conceptual- It is pertaining to concepts or to the forming of concepts

critical- A critical approach to something involves examining and judging it

carefully.

definition- A definition is a statement of the meaning of a term (a word,

phrase, or other set of symbols).

dream- A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations

that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of

sleep.

operational- This term pertains to a particular use or function

smart- This is having or showing a high degree of mental ability

tiredness- It is the state of wishing for sleep or rest; weariness.

unambiguous- This word means expressed in a way that makes it completely

clear what is meant.

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REFERENCE LIST
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). APA. Retrieved April 4, 2021, from
https://dictionary.apa.org/operational-definition

Basic Tools for Process Improvement. (n.d.). Elsmar. Retrieved April 4, 2021,
from https://elsmar.com/pdf_files/Navy-TQL/opdef

How to write operational definition of terms? (n.d.). Editage Insights.

Retrieved April 4, 2021, from https://www.editage.com/insights/how-
to-writeoperational-definition-of-terms

iEduNote.com. (2021, February 2). Operational Definition in Research.

https://www.iedunote.com/operational-definition

Savage, B. (n.d.). Operational definition (What is it? When is it used?). PQ

Systems. Retrieved April 4, 2021, from
https://www.pqsystems.com/qualityadvisor/DataCollectionTools/ope
rational_definition.php

Sockolov, E. (2018, December 4). Operational Definition Psychology –

Definition, Examples, and How to Write One. One Mind Therapy.
https://onemindtherapy.com/research/operational-
definitionpsychology-definition-examples-and-how-to-write-one/

Studypool Homework Help - Operational Definitions Worksheet.edited. (n.d.).

StudyPool. Retrieved April 4, 2021, from
https://www.studypool.com/documents/1188940/
operationaldefinitions-worksheet-edited

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