How Does One Operationally Define Sadness?
Sadness is a normal emotional state, while depression is an abnormal emotional state. Sadness is generated by a problematic, upsetting, or disappointing experience or situation. In addition, sadness tends to fade away as the problem changes or vanishes. On the other hand, depression affects our everyday lives: the way we think, our emotions, our perceptions, and etc. Along with depression you lose interest, have trouble concentrating, cannot sleep at night, and much more. Consequently, it could be said that sadness is virtually a symptom of depression. With the conceptual definitions out of the way, how might one operationally define sadness? An operational definition of sadness could be demonstrating (Someone might operationally define sadness
as “exhibiting tearfulness or absence of smiles, feeling “alone,” and “empty.”). Moreover, an individual might ask a client to measure the severity of his/her sadness by rating the feeling on a scale of 1 (lack of sadness) through 10 (maximum sadness). A method to measure the degree of one’s sadness could be showing individuals different pictures of situations ranging from happy images to sad images. These pictures could range from gruesome car accidents, cute kittens and puppies, a frail person, people laughing, a baby in a casket, and such more. Furthermore, measure the person’s facial muscles and have the participant write down the level of his/her sadness after each picture is shown.
Mass, Moll, Holldorfer, Wiedmemann, Richter-Appelt, Dahme, and Wolf (2008) explain:
Since it has been shown that activation of facial muscles is strongly correlated with basic emotions (e.g., Ekman, 1993), the investigation of facial expression is a major focus of emotion research. Facial electromyography (EMG), involving measurement of electrical potentials from facial muscles with surface electrodes, is often used. Facial EMG is a powerful method in emotional research since it allows objective measurement of facial muscle reactions which are not necessarily visible or voluntary (p. 293).
There are many benefits of having an operational definition. It allows for reliability, replication, and validity. Operational definitions allow for concepts to be more tangible, countable, and observable.
as “exhibiting tearfulness or absence of smiles, feeling “alone,” and “empty.”). Moreover, an individual might ask a client to measure the severity of his/her sadness by rating the feeling on a scale of 1 (lack of sadness) through 10 (maximum sadness). A method to measure the degree of one’s sadness could be showing individuals different pictures of situations ranging from happy images to sad images. These pictures could range from gruesome car accidents, cute kittens and puppies, a frail person, people laughing, a baby in a casket, and such more. Furthermore, measure the person’s facial muscles and have the participant write down the level of his/her sadness after each picture is shown.
Mass, Moll, Holldorfer, Wiedmemann, Richter-Appelt, Dahme, and Wolf (2008) explain:
Since it has been shown that activation of facial muscles is strongly correlated with basic emotions (e.g., Ekman, 1993), the investigation of facial expression is a major focus of emotion research. Facial electromyography (EMG), involving measurement of electrical potentials from facial muscles with surface electrodes, is often used. Facial EMG is a powerful method in emotional research since it allows objective measurement of facial muscle reactions which are not necessarily visible or voluntary (p. 293).
There are many benefits of having an operational definition. It allows for reliability, replication, and validity. Operational definitions allow for concepts to be more tangible, countable, and observable.