What term refers to the quantification of a variable?

The term that refers to the quantification of a variable is measurement. Measurement involves assigning numbers or values to attributes of a variable in a way that can be quantified. This is a fundamental process in psychology and other sciences because it allows researchers to collect data, analyze it statistically, and draw conclusions about their findings.

Operationalisation, while closely related, specifically refers to the process of defining and measuring a concept or variable in practical, measurable terms. This means that when researchers develop measures for abstract concepts, they are operationalizing those concepts, but the act of simply quantifying a variable itself is best described as measurement.

Conceptualisation involves forming a concept or understanding a variable's meaning, and while it precedes measurement, it does not refer to the quantification process. Standardization relates to ensuring that the measurement process is consistent and replicable across different contexts or groups, which is essential for enhancing the reliability of measurements, but it does not directly refer to the act of quantifying a variable itself.