In research, what does it mean to operationalize a variable?

Operationalizing a variable means defining it in a way that makes it measurable and testable in research. When researchers want to study something like "happiness," they need to explain exactly how they will measure it, such as through a survey that uses a scale from 1 to 10. This process helps ensure that everyone understands what is being studied and how it will be assessed. For example, instead of just saying "students' stress levels," a researcher might operationalize it by measuring how many hours students sleep each night and their scores on a specific stress questionnaire. By clearly defining variables, researchers can collect data that is consistent and reliable, making their findings more meaningful.