Writing Effective Operational Definitions

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the purpose of an operational definition in behaviour assessment and support.

2. Distinguish between broad, subjective descriptions and observable, measurable definitions.

3. Identify the key features of an effective operational definition.

4. Write operational definitions that describe behaviour clearly and objectively.

5. Recognise the importance of defining what is included and excluded from a behavioural description.

6. Explain how clear definitions support consistency between staff and improve the quality of behavioural data.

   
   

This session focuses on defining behaviour accurately. Selecting appropriate measurement systems and developing a full assessment approach are explored separately.