Editing Operationalization (section)

===Operationalization===
The practical 'operational definition' is generally understood as relating to the [[theoretical definition]]s that describe reality through the use of [[theory]].

The importance of careful operationalization can perhaps be more clearly seen in the development of [[Introduction to general relativity|general relativity]]. Einstein discovered that there were two operational definitions of "[[mass]]" being used by scientists: ''inertial'', defined by applying a force and observing the acceleration, from [[Newton's second law of motion]]; and ''gravitational'', defined by putting the object on a scale or balance. Previously, no one had paid any attention to the different operations used because they always produced the same results,<ref name=TwoNewSciences>[[Galileo]] (1638) ''[[Two New Sciences]]'', particularly the [[Law of falling bodies]]</ref> but the key insight of Einstein was to posit the [[Equivalence principle|principle of equivalence]] that the two operations would always produce the same result because they were equivalent at a deep level, and work out the implications of that assumption, which is the general theory of relativity. Thus, a breakthrough in science was achieved by disregarding different operational definitions of scientific measurements and realizing that they both described a single theoretical concept. Einstein's disagreement with the operationalist approach was criticized by Bridgman<ref>P.W. Bridgman, ''Einstein's Theories and the Operational Point of View'', in: P.A. Schilpp, ed., ''Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist'', Open Court, La Salle, Ill., Cambridge University Press, 1982, Vol. 2, p. 335–354.</ref> as follows: "Einstein did not carry over into his general relativity theory the lessons and insights he himself has taught us in his special theory." (p.&nbsp;335).