Operationalization is the process of defining a measurement of a phenomenon.
It's often talked about in reference to measuring intangibles, but it also applies to other measurements. Temperature, for example is operationalized by setting the marks on a thermometer and using them to gauge the temperature of an object. Additionally, measuring the infrared radiation and inferring the temperature by way of the Stefan–Boltzmann law as a infrared thermometer does.
Notably, these aren't measuring the velocities of particles constituting an object and averaging their magnitudes which is the formal definition of temperature.
Likewise, the measurement of sex drive must be defined in order to take such measurements. Often, zero care is taken to the conscious decision to operationalize measuring mental states which is a terrible way to do science - may as well use dowsing rods. Or in other words, how can we be sure the thing we think we're measuring is what we're actually measuring?
It's often talked about in reference to measuring intangibles, but it also applies to other measurements. Temperature, for example is operationalized by setting the marks on a thermometer and using them to gauge the temperature of an object. Additionally, measuring the infrared radiation and inferring the temperature by way of the Stefan–Boltzmann law as a infrared thermometer does.
Notably, these aren't measuring the velocities of particles constituting an object and averaging their magnitudes which is the formal definition of temperature.
Likewise, the measurement of sex drive must be defined in order to take such measurements. Often, zero care is taken to the conscious decision to operationalize measuring mental states which is a terrible way to do science - may as well use dowsing rods. Or in other words, how can we be sure the thing we think we're measuring is what we're actually measuring?