We tend to identify and measure things based on definitions because a definition serves as an agreed-upon operational basis.
A clear definition ensures all parties are referring to the same concept, thereby allowing for objective quantification and yielding tangible physical data. Without a standardized definition, measurement would lack validity or reliability—one person might measure ‘speed’ as distance over time, while another measures it as acceleration.
Therefore, the definition is absolutely crucial: it becomes the blueprint for establishing what is being measured and how the results are interpreted. Differences in final assessment outcomes often boil down to variations in either the initial definition or the addition of specific requirements in the methodology, not merely differences in numbers.
