A sociologist is conducting a study on how different family structures impact children's academic performance. She decides to categorize family structures as 'single-parent', 'two-parent', and 'extended family'. Which of the following best describes the sociologist's action in this scenario?

In this scenario, the sociologist is operationalizing the variable of family structure by clearly defining what types of family setups she will study. Operationalizing means taking a broad concept, like family structure, and breaking it down into specific categories that can be measured or analyzed. By classifying families as 'single-parent', 'two-parent', and 'extended family', she makes it easier to compare how these different structures might influence children's academic performance. For example, she could look at the grades of children from each family type to see if there are noticeable differences. This clear categorization helps her gather and analyze data effectively to draw meaningful conclusions.