Draw the distinction between the nominal and operational definitions of a concept being studied. What are their respective roles in research?

What will be an ideal response?

A nominal definition serves as the working definition for the project and captures the major dimensions as agreed upon by the scientific community and reflected in the literature. When there is disagreement or lack of consensus as to the dimensions a particular concept should include, the nominal definition serves to rule out other possible dimensions of the concept. It is not specific as to how a concept is to be observed, though, and different researchers may observe a concept differently based on the nominal definition.

An operational definition specifies a unique method of observation. It indicates what specific variables are to be observed, how they are to be observed, and how these observations are to be interpreted. The operational definition lays out all the operations or steps to be undertaken to measure a concept. It also follows the nominal definition and makes each of the specified dimensions more concrete and observable.