Which term describes the procedures used to define variables in research?

Operational definitions are critical in research as they provide specific explanations about how variables are measured or identified within a study. When researchers form operational definitions, they clarify how abstract concepts, such as "anxiety" or "motivation," will be quantified or assessed in practical, measurable terms. This is essential for ensuring that everyone interpreting the research can understand precisely what is being studied, making the results more reliable and valid.

For instance, if a researcher is studying the impact of music therapy on anxiety levels, an operational definition might specify how anxiety is measured—perhaps using a standardized questionnaire or physiological measures. By doing this, the researcher delineates the parameters of the study, allowing others to replicate the study under similar conditions or assess the validity of the findings.

Other options like statistical techniques refer to the methods used to analyze data, research methodology encompasses the overall framework guiding the study's design and approaches, and theoretical framework describes the underlying theories supporting the research. Each of these elements plays a unique role in research, but they do not specifically pertain to how variables are defined, which is the focus of operational definitions.