Editing Theoretical definition (section)

{{Short description|Definition of a word based on theories on its nature}}
A '''theoretical definition''' defines a term in an academic discipline, functioning as a proposal to see a phenomenon in a certain way. A theoretical definition is a proposed way of thinking about potentially related events.<ref name="AboutTD">[http://atheism.about.com/od/logicalarguments/a/def_theoretical.htm About.com, Logical Arguments, "Theoretical Definitions"]</ref><ref name="ConciseIntro" /> Theoretical definitions contain ''built-in'' theories; they cannot be simply reduced to describing a set of observations. The definition may contain implicit [[inductive reasoning|inductions]] and [[deductive]] consequences that are part of the theory.<ref>(6 January 2009). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/science-theory-observation Theory and Observation in Science]. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 5 December 2016.</ref> A theoretical definition of a term can change, over time, based on the methods in the field that created it.

Without a [[Falsifiability|falsifiable]] [[operational definition]], conceptual definitions assume both knowledge and acceptance of the theories that it depends on.<ref name="AboutTD" /> A [[hypothetical construct]] may serve as a theoretical definition, as can a [[stipulative definitions|stipulative definition]].