Operationalisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A philosophy concerning the use of operations as a basis for meaning in scientific theories
2. A methodological approach that prioritizes observable processes over abstract concepts in various fields
3. The practice of defining concepts solely in terms of measurable actions or operations is emphasized in theoretical discourse

Etymology: In the scientific sense, a concept's meaning depends on the operations used to measure or test it. The root is "opus" and "opera," Latin for "work." Its derivative "operatio" gave English "operation," and the Latin adjective suffix "-alis," which reached English through Old French, produced "operational," meaning relating to operations. English then added "-ism," from Greek "-ismos," a suffix for doctrines and practices. Attaching it to "operational" produced "operationalism," a doctrine built on operations. "Operationalisms" is simply its plural, so the term names several such doctrines, or the varieties of the philosophy.