The activity of measurement in the research process is explained and assessed in this article, illustrated with examples of empirical applications in the field of Public Administration and Management. The measurement issues that are addressed are conceptualisation, specification of variables and indicators, and the operationalisation or implementation of those variables. The different operational choices available to the Public Administration and Management researcher as he / she embarks upon the process of measuring variables, and assessment of the quality of an operational variable, are also dealt with.