Create a table of operational definitions of your variables (and list in the Appendix) that states how you define a variable for purposes of this research.

Variables and Measures:
Create a table of operational definitions of your variables (and list in the Appendix) that states how you define a variable for purposes of this research. For example, “customer satisfaction” with a restaurant can be defined as satisfaction for a particular service encounter, over a period of time, or with specific components of the service encounter (e.g., the meal, wait staff, restroom cleanliness). You could also average responses on each component to form a global measure of satisfaction. The survey question, and data analysis, must then be consistent with this definition. Naturally some variables (e.g., gender) typically do not need further explanation beyond how they will be measured (e.g., DNA test, observation, self-report).