LESSON 10

Technical and Operational Definition

 What is definition?
A term definition is a word or
expression that has a precise
meaning in some uses or is puliar to
a science, art, profession, or subject.

Defining terms is one way of helping

to reslove problems of ambiguity and
there are many types of definitions.

1. Technical Definition
2. Operational Definition
 TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Having special and usually
practical knowledge especially of
a mechanical or scientific
subject.

Technical Definition mostly refers

to the aspect of explaining or
describing any technical terms or
terminologies.
 TECHNICAL DEFINITION

It also pertains to the formal

definition of words, which can be
derived by utilizing the
dictionary or other relevant
reference materials.
 TECHNICAL DEFINITION
EXAMPLES:
1. An elephant is a large mammal with
prehensile trunk, long ivory tusks, and
large ears.
2. Interviewing is a conversational practice
where knowledge is produced through
the interaction between an interviewer
and interviewee.
3. Evidence is an outward sign of proofs to
ascertain the truth of a matter.
 TECHNICAL DEFINITION

SOME GUIDELINES FOR WRITING TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS:

1. Be accurate – use precise terms.

Microwave is a thing used

for cooking.

Microwave is a device that

heats food using
electromagnetic energy.
 TECHNICAL DEFINITION

SOME GUIDELINES FOR WRITING TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS:

1. Be objective – use facts, not opinions.

Twitter is a social media platform

that is better than Facebook.

Twitter is a social media

platform that limits messages
to 140 characters.
 TECHNICAL DEFINITION

HOW DO WE WRITE
TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS?

• Parenthetical Definition
• Sentence Definition
 PARENTHETICAL DEFINITION

• Define a term by adding a synonym ( a term

with the same meaning) in parenthesis.
• It may provide descriptions of use or other
distinguishing characterestics of the term.
Example:
The viscosity (thickness) of the
solution makes it difficult to
pour.
 PARENTHETICAL DEFINITION
EXAMPLES:
• The redundancy (repetitiveness) will be increased as
sentences of roughly the same topic are put
together in a paragraph.
• The leaching field (sieve-like drainage area) requires
crushed stone.
• The trees in the site are mostly deciduous (shedding
foliage at the season’s end.)
• The company’s recent history is a case study (report)
in bad management.
 SENTENCE DEFINITION

• More complex terms or ideas may need a

sentence to define them.
• Sentence definition follow a set pattern:

Term Class Defining Characteristic

 EXAMPLE OF SENTENCE DEFINITION

mercury metal liquid at room

temperature

Mercury is a metal that is liquid at

room temperature.
 TECHNICAL DEFINITION
EXAMPLES OF SENTENCE DEFINITION

Fuel is a substance that is burned to produce energy.

Stress is a force that strains and deforms a body.
Fiber optics is a technology that transmits date via hair thin
fibers.
 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
Operational definition is more on the
application of the word. In other words, it is
used in defining the terms of a process.

It refers to a specific definition of a concept

in a research study.
The researcher is the one who formulates
the meaning of the term which is objectively
anchored on the technical definition.
 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

EXAMPLE:
Intelligence relates positively to achievement.
It implies that the higher the intelligence level of a person, the
better he achieves. Also, the intelligence level may be defined
operationally by its measurement i.e. the result of an IQ test, while
the achievement level can be measured by an achievement test
whether standardized or teacher-made.
 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

THREE TYPES OF OPERATIONAL

DEFINITION

1. Type A operational definition

2. Type B operational definition
3. Type C operational definition
 THREE TYPES OF OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
1. Type A operational definition – can be constructed
in terms of the operation performed to cause the
phenomeon to occur.
EXAMPLES:
• Fear is a state produced by exposing an individual to
an object highest in his or her hierarchy of objects to
be avoided.
• Conflict is a state produced by placing two or more
individuals in a situation where each has the same
goal but only one can obtain it.
 THREE TYPES OF OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
2. Type B operational definition – can be
constructed in terms of how the particular object
or thing operates.
EXAMPLES:
• Monitor is a television receiver used in a studio
to select or verify the picture being broadcast
from a particular camera.
• Keyboard is a set of keys on a piano or similar
musical instrument.
 THREE TYPES OF OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
3. Type C operational definition – can be constructed
in terms of what an object or phenomenon looks like.
EXAMPLES:
• Introversion is the tendency of characteristic of an
individual to prefer to engage in solitary rather than
group activities.
• Team teaching is a utilization of two or more teachers
to develop lesson plans and teach in one or more
subject matter areas to a fixed group of students.
 TECHNICAL DEFINITION VS. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
Terms Technical Definition Operational Definition
Computer It is a device or machine used in It is something used in doing
performing, assessing, homework or browsing the internet.
evaluating, and following
commands set by the user.

Data Information in digital form that The quantities, characters, or symbols

can be transmitted or processed. on which operations are perfomed by
computer, being stored and
transmitted in the form of electrical
signals and recorder on magnetic,
optical, or mechanical recording
media.
 ACTIVITY
Write T if the underlined term is defined
technically and O if it is define operationally.

1. The mass of the body on earth and the moon

are the same.
2. Depression (major depressive disorder) is a
common and serious medical illness that
negatively affects how you feel, the way you
think and how you act.
 ACTIVITY
3. Digital technology is defines as devices or
system that process data.

4. Agriculture was the key development in the rise

of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming
of domesticated species created food surpluses
that enabled people to live in cities.
 ACTIVITY
5. Rail is a pair of parallel steel lines forming
a track for the wheels of a train.

6. Social media means websites and

applications that enable users to create and
share content.
 ACTIVITY
7. Mobile Legends is one of the most played
game by most teenagers as well as the
young at heart.

8. Thirst is an eighteen hours or other value

without access to water.
 ACTIVITY
9. A bug is a condition in a program which causes
the program to behave in a way that deviates
from its specification by producing erroneous
behavior or violating some other constraint.

10. Happiness is the number of times a person

smiles while watching a Disney movie.
 PERFORMANCE CHECK

DEFINING TERMS
Technical and Operational Definitions
INSTRUCTION: Define the following terms technically and
operationally. Observe the proper way of defining words.
1. laboratory
2. reading
3. communication
4. self-esteem
5. love
 PERFORMANCE CHECK

TERMS TECHNICAL DEFINITION OPERATIONAL DEFINITION

1. laboratory
2. reading
3. communication
4. self-esteem
5. love

Note:
Use microsoft word and print the performance task in a short bond
paper.
 PERFORMANCE TASK

BE GUDED BY THE RUBRICS BELOW!

100 90 80 75
TECHINCAL All terms are 1 to 2 terms 3 or more Only 1 term is
AND defined are defined terms are define correcly.
OPERATIONAL correctly. incorrectly. defined
DEFINITION incorrectly.

DEADLINE:
JANUARY 16, 2022
MONDAY