The tragedy of operationalism

Operational definitions were a neo-Machian development that connected with the positivism of logical positivism. Logical positivism failed, with the f ailure of operational definitions being just one of multiple and multifario us failures of logical positivism more broadly. Operationalism, however, ha s continued to seduce psychology more than half a century after it was repu diated by philosophers of science, including the very logical positivists w ho had first taken it seriously. It carries with it a presupposed metaphysi cs that is false in virtually all of its particulars, and thereby distorts and obscures genuine issues concerning the nature of theory and of science. It makes it particularly difficult for psychologists, under the thrall of this dogma, to free themselves from these false presuppositions, and to thi nk about, create and critique genuine scientific theory and process. That i s the tragedy of operationalism.