How to Research Guide
- What is Research
Research Terms
- Subject vs. Keyword
- Crafting Searches
- Primary & Secondary Sources
- Credible Resources
Help is Just a Click Away
Search our FAQ Knowledge base, ask a question, chat, send comments...
Go to LibAnswers
When doing research, you may come across some unfamiliar words. Here is a list of common research terms.
An abstract is a short summary of a document. Abstracts are useful because they allow you to quickly determine if a document fits your topic. | |
The citation provides the bibliographic information for a source. It lets the reader know who is responsible for creating a source you reference in your project, when it was created, and gives the reader all the information needed to retrieve that source for further examination. | |
| This refers to the legal right of the copyright owner to determine how a work may be copied, distributed, displayed, performed, etc. The copyright owner is often the author/creator of the work. To learn more about copyright, check out the and the |
| An organized collection of stored data which is usually searchable by keywords, subject, topic, language, and/or date. The library subscribes to a range of databases that relate directly to courses offered at DU. |
| DOI stands for Digital Object Identifier. A DOI is a string of letters and numbers used to identify an electronic document. While the web address (URL) where a work is located may change, the DOI remains the same. |
| Under certain conditions, a section of a work can be reproduced without asking permission from the copyright owner. These conditions include “ ”. the source! To learn more about fair use, check out the . |
| This means the whole document is available. |
| A publication, produced periodically on a schedule, that provides research articles in a particular field of study. Journal articles report on primary research and offer insight and evaluation of the results. |
| A key word search looks for a particular word or words within a document. The advantage of key word searching is that it is quick. The disadvantage is it often produces results unrelated to your topic, and misses those that use a different term. |
"Open Educational Resources" are freely accessible, openly licensed text, media, and other digital assets that may be useful in your research. These resources may or may not be scholarly sources. | |
| These terms are often used interchangeably. Peer reviewed documents have been examined by a panel of experts. Examples of journals that publish peer reviewed articles include and . Some instructors may require that you use only peer reviewed sources for your papers. |
| Libraries and databases categorize items by subject. By searching by subject, you get results that are closely related and it is more efficient than keyword searching. |
| URL stands Uniform Resource Locator. This is the address of a document on the internet. For example, the URL for TUS Midwest Library homepage is |
| Journals and magazines often number their publications using volume and issue numbers. The volume number includes all issues published within a specific time period (usually a year), and the issues are numbered within the volume. For example, the January 10, 2011 issue of is volume 177, issue 1. |
- << Previous: What is Research
- Next: Subject vs. Keyword >>
- Last Updated: Jun 11, 2024 12:09 PM
- URL: https://lit.libguides.com/how-to-research
The Library, Technological University of the Shannon: Midwest
Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.
5. Research Methods
Chapter 5 Learning Objectives
The chapter contains the following sections that will help you develop your research skills and meet the following learning objectives:
- 5.1 Research Terminology : understand basic terms related to conducting and disseminating various kinds of research.
- 5.2 Finding and Evaluating Research Sources : review various kinds of sources and how to determine their reliability, authority, and relevance as research sources in professional context.
- 5.3 Defining the Scope of Your Project : understand how to use various methods to refine the scope of your project and determine a focused research question for a problem-based project.
- 5.4 Human Research Ethics : understand the requirements and protocols for conducting primary research using human subjects (e.g.: surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.)
- 5.5 Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation : Understand what stakeholders are, how to map the stakeholders related to your project, and the general types of engagement strategies commonly used in public engagement plans.
Most projects you work on—whether you are developing innovative new products, planning or implementing ideas, proposing ideas, or recommending solutions—will require research. Research can save you time by determining what other similar designs/solutions have already been proposed, what has been tried and tested in the past and what the results were, what patents are already in place, and so forth. It also helps you to understand the background of your project and how it fits into a larger context. Finally, research is necessary to help you to develop and validate your ideas by showing how similar projects have had beneficial outcomes. Researching is one of the key steps in any design process.
Technical Writing Essentials - H5P Edition Copyright © 2022 by Suzan Last is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Share This Book
Glossary of Key Research Terms
This glossary provides definitions of many of the terms used in the guides to conducting qualitative and quantitative research. The definitions were developed by members of the research methods seminar (E600) taught by Mike Palmquist in the 1990s and 2000s.
Citation Information
Members of the Research Methods Seminar (E600) taught by Mike Palmquist in the 1990s and 2000s. (1994-2024). Glossary of Key Terms. The WAC Clearinghouse. Colorado State University. Available at https://wac.colostate.edu/repository/writing/guides/.
Copyright Information
Copyright © 1994-2024 Colorado State University and/or this site's authors, developers, and contributors . Some material displayed on this site is used with permission.
Have a language expert improve your writing
Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.
- Knowledge Base
- Dissertation
- What is a Glossary? | Definition, Templates, & Examples
What Is a Glossary? | Definition, Templates, & Examples
Published on May 24, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on July 18, 2023.
A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation , it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader.
Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and it’s intended to enhance their understanding of your work. Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one.
If you do choose to include a glossary, it should go at the beginning of your document, just after the table of contents and (if applicable) list of tables and figures or list of abbreviations . It’s helpful to place your glossary at the beginning, so your readers can familiarize themselves with key terms relevant to your thesis or dissertation topic prior to reading your work. Remember that glossaries are always in alphabetical order.
To help you get started, download our glossary template in the format of your choice below.
Download Word doc Download Google doc
Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text
Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes
- Table of contents
Example of a glossary
Citing sources for your glossary, additional lists to include in your dissertation, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about glossaries.
Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services
Discover proofreading & editing
Glossaries and definitions often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited.
However, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to citing your sources , in order to avoid accidental plagiarism .
If you’d prefer to cite just in case, you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA Style for citations in your glossary. Remember that direct quotes should always be accompanied by a citation.
In addition to the glossary, you can also include a list of tables and figures and a list of abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation if you choose.
Include your lists in the following order:
- List of figures and tables
- List of abbreviations
If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!
Research bias
- Anchoring bias
- Halo effect
- The Baader–Meinhof phenomenon
- The placebo effect
- Nonresponse bias
- Deep learning
- Generative AI
- Machine learning
- Reinforcement learning
- Supervised vs. unsupervised learning
(AI) Tools
- Grammar Checker
- Paraphrasing Tool
- Text Summarizer
- AI Detector
- Plagiarism Checker
- Citation Generator
Don't submit your assignments before you do this
The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students. Free citation check included.
Try for free
A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.
A glossary or “glossary of terms” is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and is intended to enhance their understanding of your work.
Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one to your thesis or dissertation. Your educational institution may also require them, so be sure to check their specific guidelines.
A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, an index is a list of the contents of your work organized by page number.
Definitional terms often fall into the category of common knowledge , meaning that they don’t necessarily have to be cited. This guidance can apply to your thesis or dissertation glossary as well.
However, if you’d prefer to cite your sources , you can follow guidance for citing dictionary entries in MLA or APA style for your glossary.
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
George, T. (2023, July 18). What Is a Glossary? | Definition, Templates, & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/glossary-of-a-dissertation/
Is this article helpful?
Tegan George
Other students also liked, dissertation table of contents in word | instructions & examples, figure and table lists | word instructions, template & examples, list of abbreviations | example, template & best practices, get unlimited documents corrected.
✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts
Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.
To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser .
Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.
- We're Hiring!
- Help Center
Key Research Terminologies
Related Papers
Annual Review of Psychology
Douglas Medin
Mahmud Suyuti
I n this chapter, we continue to build the ideas and concepts that are necessary for you to plan and do quantitative research. To that end, we look at some examples of concepts and the operations that transform them into variables. We examine different kinds of variables and the roles that they play in research, and we conclude with a discussion and examples of research problems. CONCEPTS We have already provided you with a working definition of concepts and constructs , terms that we use interchangeably in this text. Both refer to abstractions that have been given specific definitions. Let's look at some examples of organizational concepts and constructs.
BinVa Chang
mark vince agacite
Robert Hanna
Musa N,B BIRMAH
Harold I. Brown
Rahul Pilani
Nauka i društvo
Darko M Marković
Conceptual framework is the foundation of scientific research, and it is formed from previous knowledge about the researched phenomenon. It is an integral part of theoretical framework, made with the aim to include key terms, presented within the bibliography, and create a suitable platform to develop the research correctly. More often with students preparing their final papers, and not so rarely with established researchers, the problem arises when it comes to conceptualizing research. A common unknown is how to divide conceptual from theoretical framework, and what conceptual framework of scientific research actually is. The aim of this paper is to clarify conceptualization of scientific research, and, by clarifying it, to point out the significance of differentiation between conceptual and theoretical framework, going on to give basic guidelines on how to form one, and therefore ease the understanding of it and application in scientific research.
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.
RELATED PAPERS
Sirisaman Buddhika Dasanayake
David David
Surendra Bajracharya
The Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods
Symeou, L. & Lamprianou, J.
Loizos Symeou , Iasonas Lamprianou
Saeed Anwar
Faiswal Kasirye
DR FREDRICK ONASANYA
Abimbola Awotedu
zubair arians
Abey Dubale
Aliya Ahmed
Caligees Mohamed
Dr. Daniel Udo-Akang
Categories and concepts. Theorical view and inductive data analysis. Academic Press, London
daniele dubois
Ryder/Millikan and Her Critics
Louise Antony
Krome Taylor
Rob Goldstone
The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics
Hossein Farhady
Merethe Skårås
Vlad Kuznetsov
George Argyrous , Glyze Abella
Sibonisiwe Mashizha
khadidja Hammoudi
- We're Hiring!
- Help Center
- Find new research papers in:
- Health Sciences
- Earth Sciences
- Cognitive Science
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Academia ©2024
Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.
5. RESEARCH METHODS
Most projects you work on—whether you are developing innovative new products, planning or implementing ideas, proposing ideas, or recommending solutions—will require research. Research can save you time by determining what other similar designs/solutions have already been proposed, what has been tried and tested in the past and what the results were, what patents are already in place, and so forth. It also helps you to understand the background of your project and how it fits into a larger context. Finally, research is necessary to help you to develop and validate your ideas by showing how similar projects have had beneficial outcomes. Researching is one of the key steps in any design process.
Chapter 5 Learning Objectives
The chapter contains the following sections that will help you develop your research skills and meet the following learning objectives:
5.1 Research Terminology : understand basic terms related to conducting and disseminating various kinds of research.
5.2 Finding and Evaluating Research Sources : review various kinds of sources and how to determine their reliability, authority, and relevance as research sources in professional context.
5.3 Defining the Scope of Your Project : understand how to use various methods to refine the scope of your project and determine a focused research question for a problem-based project.
5.4 Human Research Ethics : understand the requirements and protocols for conducting primary research using human subjects ( e.g. : surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.)
5.5 Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation : Understand what stakeholders are, how to map the stakeholders related to your project, and the general types of engagement strategies commonly used in public engagement plans.
Technical Writing Essentials Copyright © 2019 by Suzan Last is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Share This Book
- USC Libraries
- Research Guides
Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper
Glossary of research terms.
- Purpose of Guide
- Design Flaws to Avoid
- Independent and Dependent Variables
- Reading Research Effectively
- Narrowing a Topic Idea
- Broadening a Topic Idea
- Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
- Academic Writing Style
- Applying Critical Thinking
- Choosing a Title
- Making an Outline
- Paragraph Development
- Research Process Video Series
- Executive Summary
- The C.A.R.S. Model
- Background Information
- The Research Problem/Question
- Theoretical Framework
- Citation Tracking
- Content Alert Services
- Evaluating Sources
- Primary Sources
- Secondary Sources
- Tiertiary Sources
- Scholarly vs. Popular Publications
- Qualitative Methods
- Quantitative Methods
- Insiderness
- Using Non-Textual Elements
- Limitations of the Study
- Common Grammar Mistakes
- Writing Concisely
- Avoiding Plagiarism
- Footnotes or Endnotes?
- Further Readings
- Generative AI and Writing
- USC Libraries Tutorials and Other Guides
- Bibliography
This glossary is intended to assist you in understanding commonly used terms and concepts when reading, interpreting, and evaluating scholarly research. Also included are common words and phrases defined within the context of how they apply to research in the social and behavioral sciences.
- Acculturation -- refers to the process of adapting to another culture, particularly in reference to blending in with the majority population [e.g., an immigrant adopting American customs]. However, acculturation also implies that both cultures add something to one another, but still remain distinct groups unto themselves.
- Accuracy -- a term used in survey research to refer to the match between the target population and the sample.
- Affective Measures -- procedures or devices used to obtain quantified descriptions of an individual's feelings, emotional states, or dispositions.
- Aggregate -- a total created from smaller units. For instance, the population of a county is an aggregate of the populations of the cities, rural areas, etc. that comprise the county. As a verb, it refers to total data from smaller units into a large unit.
- Anonymity -- a research condition in which no one, including the researcher, knows the identities of research participants.
- Baseline -- a control measurement carried out before an experimental treatment.
- Behaviorism -- school of psychological thought concerned with the observable, tangible, objective facts of behavior, rather than with subjective phenomena such as thoughts, emotions, or impulses. Contemporary behaviorism also emphasizes the study of mental states such as feelings and fantasies to the extent that they can be directly observed and measured.
- Beliefs -- ideas, doctrines, tenets, etc. that are accepted as true on grounds which are not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof.
- Benchmarking -- systematically measuring and comparing the operations and outcomes of organizations, systems, processes, etc., against agreed upon "best-in-class" frames of reference.
- Bias -- a loss of balance and accuracy in the use of research methods. It can appear in research via the sampling frame, random sampling, or non-response. It can also occur at other stages in research, such as while interviewing, in the design of questions, or in the way data are analyzed and presented. Bias means that the research findings will not be representative of, or generalizable to, a wider population.
- Case Study -- the collection and presentation of detailed information about a particular participant or small group, frequently including data derived from the subjects themselves.
- Causal Hypothesis -- a statement hypothesizing that the independent variable affects the dependent variable in some way.
- Causal Relationship -- the relationship established that shows that an independent variable, and nothing else, causes a change in a dependent variable. It also establishes how much of a change is shown in the dependent variable.
- Causality -- the relation between cause and effect.
- Central Tendency -- any way of describing or characterizing typical, average, or common values in some distribution.
- Chi-square Analysis -- a common non-parametric statistical test which compares an expected proportion or ratio to an actual proportion or ratio.
- Claim -- a statement, similar to a hypothesis, which is made in response to the research question and that is affirmed with evidence based on research.
- Classification -- ordering of related phenomena into categories, groups, or systems according to characteristics or attributes.
- Cluster Analysis -- a method of statistical analysis where data that share a common trait are grouped together. The data is collected in a way that allows the data collector to group data according to certain characteristics.
- Cohort Analysis -- group by group analytic treatment of individuals having a statistical factor in common to each group. Group members share a particular characteristic [e.g., born in a given year] or a common experience [e.g., entering a college at a given time].
- Confidentiality -- a research condition in which no one except the researcher(s) knows the identities of the participants in a study. It refers to the treatment of information that a participant has disclosed to the researcher in a relationship of trust and with the expectation that it will not be revealed to others in ways that violate the original consent agreement, unless permission is granted by the participant.
- Confirmability Objectivity -- the findings of the study could be confirmed by another person conducting the same study.
- Construct -- refers to any of the following: something that exists theoretically but is not directly observable; a concept developed [constructed] for describing relations among phenomena or for other research purposes; or, a theoretical definition in which concepts are defined in terms of other concepts. For example, intelligence cannot be directly observed or measured; it is a construct.
- Construct Validity -- seeks an agreement between a theoretical concept and a specific measuring device, such as observation.
- Constructivism -- the idea that reality is socially constructed. It is the view that reality cannot be understood outside of the way humans interact and that the idea that knowledge is constructed, not discovered. Constructivists believe that learning is more active and self-directed than either behaviorism or cognitive theory would postulate.
- Content Analysis -- the systematic, objective, and quantitative description of the manifest or latent content of print or nonprint communications.
- Context Sensitivity -- awareness by a qualitative researcher of factors such as values and beliefs that influence cultural behaviors.
- Control Group -- the group in an experimental design that receives either no treatment or a different treatment from the experimental group. This group can thus be compared to the experimental group.
- Controlled Experiment -- an experimental design with two or more randomly selected groups [an experimental group and control group] in which the researcher controls or introduces the independent variable and measures the dependent variable at least two times [pre- and post-test measurements].
- Correlation -- a common statistical analysis, usually abbreviated as r, that measures the degree of relationship between pairs of interval variables in a sample. The range of correlation is from -1.00 to zero to +1.00. Also, a non-cause and effect relationship between two variables.
- Covariate -- a product of the correlation of two related variables times their standard deviations. Used in true experiments to measure the difference of treatment between them.
- Credibility -- a researcher's ability to demonstrate that the object of a study is accurately identified and described based on the way in which the study was conducted.
- Critical Theory -- an evaluative approach to social science research, associated with Germany's neo-Marxist “Frankfurt School,” that aims to criticize as well as analyze society, opposing the political orthodoxy of modern communism. Its goal is to promote human emancipatory forces and to expose ideas and systems that impede them.
- Data -- factual information [as measurements or statistics] used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation.
- Data Mining -- the process of analyzing data from different perspectives and summarizing it into useful information, often to discover patterns and/or systematic relationships among variables.
- Data Quality -- this is the degree to which the collected data [results of measurement or observation] meet the standards of quality to be considered valid [trustworthy] and reliable [dependable].
- Deductive -- a form of reasoning in which conclusions are formulated about particulars from general or universal premises.
- Dependability -- being able to account for changes in the design of the study and the changing conditions surrounding what was studied.
- Dependent Variable -- a variable that varies due, at least in part, to the impact of the independent variable. In other words, its value “depends” on the value of the independent variable. For example, in the variables “gender” and “academic major,” academic major is the dependent variable, meaning that your major cannot determine whether you are male or female, but your gender might indirectly lead you to favor one major over another.
- Deviation -- the distance between the mean and a particular data point in a given distribution.
- Discourse Community -- a community of scholars and researchers in a given field who respond to and communicate to each other through published articles in the community's journals and presentations at conventions. All members of the discourse community adhere to certain conventions for the presentation of their theories and research.
- Discrete Variable -- a variable that is measured solely in whole units, such as, gender and number of siblings.
- Distribution -- the range of values of a particular variable.
- Effect Size -- the amount of change in a dependent variable that can be attributed to manipulations of the independent variable. A large effect size exists when the value of the dependent variable is strongly influenced by the independent variable. It is the mean difference on a variable between experimental and control groups divided by the standard deviation on that variable of the pooled groups or of the control group alone.
- Emancipatory Research -- research is conducted on and with people from marginalized groups or communities. It is led by a researcher or research team who is either an indigenous or external insider; is interpreted within intellectual frameworks of that group; and, is conducted largely for the purpose of empowering members of that community and improving services for them. It also engages members of the community as co-constructors or validators of knowledge.
- Empirical Research -- the process of developing systematized knowledge gained from observations that are formulated to support insights and generalizations about the phenomena being researched.
- Epistemology -- concerns knowledge construction; asks what constitutes knowledge and how knowledge is validated.
- Ethnography -- method to study groups and/or cultures over a period of time. The goal of this type of research is to comprehend the particular group/culture through immersion into the culture or group. Research is completed through various methods but, since the researcher is immersed within the group for an extended period of time, more detailed information is usually collected during the research.
- Expectancy Effect -- any unconscious or conscious cues that convey to the participant in a study how the researcher wants them to respond. Expecting someone to behave in a particular way has been shown to promote the expected behavior. Expectancy effects can be minimized by using standardized interactions with subjects, automated data-gathering methods, and double blind protocols.
- External Validity -- the extent to which the results of a study are generalizable or transferable.
- Factor Analysis -- a statistical test that explores relationships among data. The test explores which variables in a data set are most related to each other. In a carefully constructed survey, for example, factor analysis can yield information on patterns of responses, not simply data on a single response. Larger tendencies may then be interpreted, indicating behavior trends rather than simply responses to specific questions.
- Field Studies -- academic or other investigative studies undertaken in a natural setting, rather than in laboratories, classrooms, or other structured environments.
- Focus Groups -- small, roundtable discussion groups charged with examining specific topics or problems, including possible options or solutions. Focus groups usually consist of 4-12 participants, guided by moderators to keep the discussion flowing and to collect and report the results.
- Framework -- the structure and support that may be used as both the launching point and the on-going guidelines for investigating a research problem.
- Generalizability -- the extent to which research findings and conclusions conducted on a specific study to groups or situations can be applied to the population at large.
- Grey Literature -- research produced by organizations outside of commercial and academic publishing that publish materials, such as, working papers, research reports, and briefing papers.
- Grounded Theory -- practice of developing other theories that emerge from observing a group. Theories are grounded in the group's observable experiences, but researchers add their own insight into why those experiences exist.
- Group Behavior -- behaviors of a group as a whole, as well as the behavior of an individual as influenced by his or her membership in a group.
- Hypothesis -- a tentative explanation based on theory to predict a causal relationship between variables.
- Independent Variable -- the conditions of an experiment that are systematically manipulated by the researcher. A variable that is not impacted by the dependent variable, and that itself impacts the dependent variable. In the earlier example of "gender" and "academic major," (see Dependent Variable) gender is the independent variable.
- Individualism -- a theory or policy having primary regard for the liberty, rights, or independent actions of individuals.
- Inductive -- a form of reasoning in which a generalized conclusion is formulated from particular instances.
- Inductive Analysis -- a form of analysis based on inductive reasoning; a researcher using inductive analysis starts with answers, but formulates questions throughout the research process.
- Insiderness -- a concept in qualitative research that refers to the degree to which a researcher has access to and an understanding of persons, places, or things within a group or community based on being a member of that group or community.
- Internal Consistency -- the extent to which all questions or items assess the same characteristic, skill, or quality.
- Internal Validity -- the rigor with which the study was conducted [e.g., the study's design, the care taken to conduct measurements, and decisions concerning what was and was not measured]. It is also the extent to which the designers of a study have taken into account alternative explanations for any causal relationships they explore. In studies that do not explore causal relationships, only the first of these definitions should be considered when assessing internal validity.
- Life History -- a record of an event/events in a respondent's life told [written down, but increasingly audio or video recorded] by the respondent from his/her own perspective in his/her own words. A life history is different from a "research story" in that it covers a longer time span, perhaps a complete life, or a significant period in a life.
- Margin of Error -- the permittable or acceptable deviation from the target or a specific value. The allowance for slight error or miscalculation or changing circumstances in a study.
- Measurement -- process of obtaining a numerical description of the extent to which persons, organizations, or things possess specified characteristics.
- Meta-Analysis -- an analysis combining the results of several studies that address a set of related hypotheses.
- Methodology -- a theory or analysis of how research does and should proceed.
- Methods -- systematic approaches to the conduct of an operation or process. It includes steps of procedure, application of techniques, systems of reasoning or analysis, and the modes of inquiry employed by a discipline.
- Mixed-Methods -- a research approach that uses two or more methods from both the quantitative and qualitative research categories. It is also referred to as blended methods, combined methods, or methodological triangulation.
- Modeling -- the creation of a physical or computer analogy to understand a particular phenomenon. Modeling helps in estimating the relative magnitude of various factors involved in a phenomenon. A successful model can be shown to account for unexpected behavior that has been observed, to predict certain behaviors, which can then be tested experimentally, and to demonstrate that a given theory cannot account for certain phenomenon.
- Models -- representations of objects, principles, processes, or ideas often used for imitation or emulation.
- Naturalistic Observation -- observation of behaviors and events in natural settings without experimental manipulation or other forms of interference.
- Norm -- the norm in statistics is the average or usual performance. For example, students usually complete their high school graduation requirements when they are 18 years old. Even though some students graduate when they are younger or older, the norm is that any given student will graduate when he or she is 18 years old.
- Null Hypothesis -- the proposition, to be tested statistically, that the experimental intervention has "no effect," meaning that the treatment and control groups will not differ as a result of the intervention. Investigators usually hope that the data will demonstrate some effect from the intervention, thus allowing the investigator to reject the null hypothesis.
- Ontology -- a discipline of philosophy that explores the science of what is, the kinds and structures of objects, properties, events, processes, and relations in every area of reality.
- Panel Study -- a longitudinal study in which a group of individuals is interviewed at intervals over a period of time.
- Participant -- individuals whose physiological and/or behavioral characteristics and responses are the object of study in a research project.
- Peer-Review -- the process in which the author of a book, article, or other type of publication submits his or her work to experts in the field for critical evaluation, usually prior to publication. This is standard procedure in publishing scholarly research.
- Phenomenology -- a qualitative research approach concerned with understanding certain group behaviors from that group's point of view.
- Philosophy -- critical examination of the grounds for fundamental beliefs and analysis of the basic concepts, doctrines, or practices that express such beliefs.
- Phonology -- the study of the ways in which speech sounds form systems and patterns in language.
- Policy -- governing principles that serve as guidelines or rules for decision making and action in a given area.
- Policy Analysis -- systematic study of the nature, rationale, cost, impact, effectiveness, implications, etc., of existing or alternative policies, using the theories and methodologies of relevant social science disciplines.
- Population -- the target group under investigation. The population is the entire set under consideration. Samples are drawn from populations.
- Position Papers -- statements of official or organizational viewpoints, often recommending a particular course of action or response to a situation.
- Positivism -- a doctrine in the philosophy of science, positivism argues that science can only deal with observable entities known directly to experience. The positivist aims to construct general laws, or theories, which express relationships between phenomena. Observation and experiment is used to show whether the phenomena fit the theory.
- Predictive Measurement -- use of tests, inventories, or other measures to determine or estimate future events, conditions, outcomes, or trends.
- Principal Investigator -- the scientist or scholar with primary responsibility for the design and conduct of a research project.
- Probability -- the chance that a phenomenon will occur randomly. As a statistical measure, it is shown as p [the "p" factor].
- Questionnaire -- structured sets of questions on specified subjects that are used to gather information, attitudes, or opinions.
- Random Sampling -- a process used in research to draw a sample of a population strictly by chance, yielding no discernible pattern beyond chance. Random sampling can be accomplished by first numbering the population, then selecting the sample according to a table of random numbers or using a random-number computer generator. The sample is said to be random because there is no regular or discernible pattern or order. Random sample selection is used under the assumption that sufficiently large samples assigned randomly will exhibit a distribution comparable to that of the population from which the sample is drawn. The random assignment of participants increases the probability that differences observed between participant groups are the result of the experimental intervention.
- Reliability -- the degree to which a measure yields consistent results. If the measuring instrument [e.g., survey] is reliable, then administering it to similar groups would yield similar results. Reliability is a prerequisite for validity. An unreliable indicator cannot produce trustworthy results.
- Representative Sample -- sample in which the participants closely match the characteristics of the population, and thus, all segments of the population are represented in the sample. A representative sample allows results to be generalized from the sample to the population.
- Rigor -- degree to which research methods are scrupulously and meticulously carried out in order to recognize important influences occurring in an experimental study.
- Sample -- the population researched in a particular study. Usually, attempts are made to select a "sample population" that is considered representative of groups of people to whom results will be generalized or transferred. In studies that use inferential statistics to analyze results or which are designed to be generalizable, sample size is critical, generally the larger the number in the sample, the higher the likelihood of a representative distribution of the population.
- Sampling Error -- the degree to which the results from the sample deviate from those that would be obtained from the entire population, because of random error in the selection of respondent and the corresponding reduction in reliability.
- Saturation -- a situation in which data analysis begins to reveal repetition and redundancy and when new data tend to confirm existing findings rather than expand upon them.
- Semantics -- the relationship between symbols and meaning in a linguistic system. Also, the cuing system that connects what is written in the text to what is stored in the reader's prior knowledge.
- Social Theories -- theories about the structure, organization, and functioning of human societies.
- Sociolinguistics -- the study of language in society and, more specifically, the study of language varieties, their functions, and their speakers.
- Standard Deviation -- a measure of variation that indicates the typical distance between the scores of a distribution and the mean; it is determined by taking the square root of the average of the squared deviations in a given distribution. It can be used to indicate the proportion of data within certain ranges of scale values when the distribution conforms closely to the normal curve.
- Statistical Analysis -- application of statistical processes and theory to the compilation, presentation, discussion, and interpretation of numerical data.
- Statistical Bias -- characteristics of an experimental or sampling design, or the mathematical treatment of data, that systematically affects the results of a study so as to produce incorrect, unjustified, or inappropriate inferences or conclusions.
- Statistical Significance -- the probability that the difference between the outcomes of the control and experimental group are great enough that it is unlikely due solely to chance. The probability that the null hypothesis can be rejected at a predetermined significance level [0.05 or 0.01].
- Statistical Tests -- researchers use statistical tests to make quantitative decisions about whether a study's data indicate a significant effect from the intervention and allow the researcher to reject the null hypothesis. That is, statistical tests show whether the differences between the outcomes of the control and experimental groups are great enough to be statistically significant. If differences are found to be statistically significant, it means that the probability [likelihood] that these differences occurred solely due to chance is relatively low. Most researchers agree that a significance value of .05 or less [i.e., there is a 95% probability that the differences are real] sufficiently determines significance.
- Subcultures -- ethnic, regional, economic, or social groups exhibiting characteristic patterns of behavior sufficient to distinguish them from the larger society to which they belong.
- Testing -- the act of gathering and processing information about individuals' ability, skill, understanding, or knowledge under controlled conditions.
- Theory -- a general explanation about a specific behavior or set of events that is based on known principles and serves to organize related events in a meaningful way. A theory is not as specific as a hypothesis.
- Treatment -- the stimulus given to a dependent variable.
- Trend Samples -- method of sampling different groups of people at different points in time from the same population.
- Triangulation -- a multi-method or pluralistic approach, using different methods in order to focus on the research topic from different viewpoints and to produce a multi-faceted set of data. Also used to check the validity of findings from any one method.
- Unit of Analysis -- the basic observable entity or phenomenon being analyzed by a study and for which data are collected in the form of variables.
- Validity -- the degree to which a study accurately reflects or assesses the specific concept that the researcher is attempting to measure. A method can be reliable, consistently measuring the same thing, but not valid.
- Variable -- any characteristic or trait that can vary from one person to another [race, gender, academic major] or for one person over time [age, political beliefs].
- Weighted Scores -- scores in which the components are modified by different multipliers to reflect their relative importance.
- White Paper -- an authoritative report that often states the position or philosophy about a social, political, or other subject, or a general explanation of an architecture, framework, or product technology written by a group of researchers. A white paper seeks to contain unbiased information and analysis regarding a business or policy problem that the researchers may be facing.
Elliot, Mark, Fairweather, Ian, Olsen, Wendy Kay, and Pampaka, Maria. A Dictionary of Social Research Methods. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2016; Free Social Science Dictionary. Socialsciencedictionary.com [2008]. Glossary. Institutional Review Board. Colorado College; Glossary of Key Terms. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Glossary A-Z. Education.com; Glossary of Research Terms. Research Mindedness Virtual Learning Resource. Centre for Human Servive Technology. University of Southampton; Miller, Robert L. and Brewer, John D. The A-Z of Social Research: A Dictionary of Key Social Science Research Concepts London: SAGE, 2003; Jupp, Victor. The SAGE Dictionary of Social and Cultural Research Methods . London: Sage, 2006.
- << Previous: Independent and Dependent Variables
- Next: 1. Choosing a Research Problem >>
- Last Updated: Sep 17, 2024 10:59 AM
- URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide
Training videos | Faqs
Technical Terms, Notations, and Scientific Jargon in Research Papers
In this blog, we will teach you how to use specialized terminology in your research papers with some practical examples. Using scientific jargon and technical vocabulary has two advantages, number one, you are using the language used by your peers in your field, and number two, it makes your text significantly shorter.
1. Scientific Jargon
Make sure you use scientific jargon that is relevant to your field in your text. Scientific jargon refers to technical terms specific to your discipline. Here is an example. In the example below, the same statement has been written in both everyday language and using scientific jargon. “The X-ray of the breast” in the first statement has been replaced by “Mammography” in the second statement. “A needle to extract breast tissue” in the first statement has been replaced by “Biopsy” in the second statement, and “Dangerous cancer” in the first statement has been replaced by “malignant tumor” in the second statement.
✖ Sentence written in everyday language The X-ray of the breast is used to find cancers. Then, a needle is inserted to extract breast tissue to find out if it is a dangerous cancer. ✔ Sentence written using specialized terminologies Mammography is used to detect cancers. Then, a Biopsy is performed to confirm if it is a malignant tumor.
2. Abbreviations and Acronyms
Try to use acronyms and abbreviations for long method names. Abbreviations and acronyms are a great way to make your writing concise and save time. Define the acronyms and abbreviations during their first occurrence then use the short form in the rest of the text. The common practice is to put the acronym and abbreviations in parentheses after the full term.
Look at the example below. We have defined the abbreviation for Digital breast tomosynthesis as “DBT” at the first occurrence and then started using the abbreviated form in the rest of the text.
Author defines ‘DBT’ at the first occurance, and uses the abbreviated form in the rest of the text Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) has been recently introduced to overcome some of the limitations of traditional mammography. DBT has been adopted in many countries for routine screening of breast cancer.
3. Notations and Technical Definitions
The introduction paragraph is the best place to introduce notations and technical definitions. This can include symbols, characters, and terminologies. Notations and definitions can help you to express very large names and numbers in a form that is easy to understand to your readers. Following are some examples.
✔ Examples of notations introduced in the introduction paragraph of a research paper [1] We introduce some notations which applies throughout the rest of the paper. Let ‘X’ be a collection of points and ‘Y’ be a …. [2] Throughout the paper we will signify variable names with upper-case letters. [3] We first introduce some notation. Let ‘i’ denote ….
If you have any questions, please drop a comment below, and we will answer as soon as possible. We also recommend you to refer to our other blogs on academic writing tools , academic writing resources , academic writing phrases and research paper examples which are relevant to the topic discussed in this blog.
Similar Posts
Discussion Section Examples and Writing Tips
In this blog, we will go through many discussion examples and understand how to write a great discussion for your research paper.
Conclusion Section Examples and Writing Tips
In this blog, we will go through many conclusion examples and learn how to present a powerful final take-home message to your readers.
Writing a Questionnaire Survey Research Paper – Example & Format
In this blog, we will explain how to write a survey questionnaire paper and discuss all the important points to consider while writing the research paper.
How to Create a Research Paper Outline?
In this blog we will see how to create a research paper outline and start writing your research paper.
Paraphrasing – Techniques for Rephrasing, Rewording, and Rewriting.
In this blog, we explain good paraphrasing techniques. We also discuss how paraphrasing tools and plagiarism checkers can be used to avoid academic misconduct.
How to Write a Research Paper? A Beginners Guide with Useful Academic Phrases
This blog explains how to write a research paper and provides writing ideas in the form of academic phrases.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
- 10 Share Facebook
- 0 Share Twitter
- 0 Share LinkedIn
- 0 Share Email
Research Terminology
Refer to this page for definitions and explanations of common terms used in research. This list is not exhaustive and is intended as a quick reference. Main menu | Comments/Suggestions
Understanding research terminology |
|
Research | The process of systematic study or investigation to discover new knowledge or expand on existing knowledge |
Research method | A means of collecting data
|
Theory | A theory is a set of interrelated concepts, definitions, and propositions that explains or predicts events or situations by specifying relations among variables. Theories can be used as the conceptual basis for understanding, analyzing, and designing ways to investigate relationships within social systems. |
Population vs. Sample | A population includes all members of interest whereas the sample includes only a portion (subset) of the population. |
Sampling | The process of selecting a subset of participants from the pool of all potential participants |
Probability sampling | The process of selecting a subset of participants for which all individuals in a sampling frame have a known probability of being selected to participate. Simple random sampling is a common example where members of the sample are selected randomly, and each has the same probability of being selected. |
Nonprobability sampling | The process of selecting a subset of participants for which all individuals in a sampling frame do have a known probability of being selected to participate. This is often used when researchers have reason to be selective in who participates, like studying only those who have experienced a particular phenomenon. |
Variables | An attribute or characteristic that can be measured and takes on different values (changes) among and between participants. |
Independent variable | An attribute or characteristic that the researcher manipulates or changes, and which the researcher expects has an effect on the dependent variable(s) |
Dependent variable | An attribute or characteristic that changes as a result of another variable (typically the independent variable) |
Moderating variables (Moderators) | An attribute or characteristic that changes the strength of an effect between variables (typically the independent and dependent variables) |
Mediating variables (Mediators) | An attribute or characteristic that explains how the relationship between variables happens |
Confounding (extraneous) variables | An attribute or characteristic that is not known or measured, and may have an effect on another variable (typically the dependent variable) |
Discrete variables | A variable whose values can be divided into distinct groups and can be counted like breeds of dogs or grade in school. |
Continuous variables | A variable with infinite number of values like height and weight. |
Nominal variable | Discrete variables for which the order does not matter like breeds of dogs. |
Ordinal variable | Discrete variables for which the order has a meaning like grade in school. |
Ratio variable | Continuous variable that includes a value of zero that is meaningful like temperature. |
Hypothesis | An informed and educated prediction or explanation about a relationship or phenomena. |
Outcomes | The expected result of interest; often the dependent variable. |
Parameter | A characteristic or attribute of a population. |
Qualitative methods | Commonly refers to a research approach that emphasizes non-numerical data |
Quantitative methods | Commonly refers to a research approach that emphasizes numerical data |
Mixed methods | Commonly refers to a research approach that integrates both numerical and non-numerical data |
Rigor | Refers to the degree of methodological soundness; how well the researcher(s) adhered to the process of conducting research based on the type of method used |
Validity | The degree to which we are observing or measuring what we think we are (precision) |
Reliability | The degree to which we will obtain the same results with repeated observations or measures (accuracy) |
Bias | Something that happens during the course of a study that is not part of the research protocol and which alters the results. |
Generalizability | The degree to which research results or patterns found in a sample population will also be found in the wider population which the sample represents. |
Variance | The difference or the variation that occurs in measures of variables within a sample. |
Research or study protocol | The research plan developed by the researcher that should be followed when carrying out the study. |
Primary data | Data collected from original sources, not from something already published |
Secondary data | Data collected from sources that have been published, not collected from original sources |
-value | A -value helps you determine the significance of your results. The -value is a number between 0 and 1 and interpreted in the following way: · A small -value (typically ≤ 0.05) indicates strong evidence against the null hypothesis, so you reject the null hypothesis in favor of the alternative hypothesis · A large -value (> 0.05) indicates weak evidence against the null hypothesis, so you fail to reject the null hypothesis |
Null hypothesis | The hypothesis that there is significant difference between groups |
Alternative hypothesis | The hypothesis that there a significant difference between groups; typically indicates that an intervention had an effect |
Confidence interval | This is a measure of precision or how confident we can be that the values of the thing(s) we measured in our study sample represent the true or actual values of that thing(s) in the larger population. It takes into consideration both the range of values measured (lowest and highest) and how the range compares to the average value of the measure (variability). |
Sensitivity | The degree to which an instrument can detect changes to a measure; in epidemiology referred to as a true positive rate |
Specificity | The degree to which an instrument detects only changes in a given measure; in epidemiology referred to as a true negative rate |
Descriptive Statistics | Numerical summaries of data, typically the characteristics or attributes of study participants. |
Frequencies | The number of times something occurs, a count of an occurrence |
Measures of central tendency | A single value that describes the way in which a group of data cluster around a central value. |
Mean | Average of a set of numbers calculated by adding the values and dividing the sum by the number of values. |
Median | When a set of values is ordered from low to high, the median is the value that is in the middle of the list. |
Mode | For a set of values, it is the value that is recorded most often. |
Inferential statistics | Statistical tests used to draw conclusions from a sample to the larger population |
Correlation | A measure of the direction and degree of a relationship between two variables. |
Inductive | Using specific observations to develop generalizations, like a theory |
Deductive | Applying generalities, like a theory, to a specific occurrence. |
Clinical significance | The practical importance of a finding or result within the context of health care. |
Statistical significance | The probability that a result could be due to chance (versus from introduction on an intervention) |
Coding | The process of naming a group of observations or responses that are similar. The process of converting responses for ease of data analysis. For example, educational attainment: Less than high school=0; High school=1; More than high school=2 |
Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Research Methods
1.4 Understanding Key Research Concepts and Terms
In this textbook you will be exposed to many terms and concepts associated with research methods, particularly as they relate to the research planning decisions you must make along the way. Figure 1.3 will help you contextualize many of these terms and understand the research process. This general chart begins with two key concepts: ontology and epistemology, advances through other concepts, and concludes with three research methodological approaches: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.
Research does not end with making decisions about the type of methods you will use; we could argue that the work is just beginning at this point. Figure 1.3 does not represent an all-encompassing list of concepts and terms related to research methods. Keep in mind that each strategy has its own data collection and analysis approaches associated with the various methodological approaches you choose. Figure 1.3 is intentioned to provide a general overview of the research concept. You may want to keep this figure handy as you read through the various chapters.
Ontology & Epistemology
Thinking about what you know and how you know what you know involves questions of ontology and epistemology. Perhaps you have heard these concepts before in a philosophy class? These concepts are relevant to the work of sociologists as well. As sociologists (those who undertake socially-focused research), we want to understand some aspect of our social world. Usually, we are not starting with zero knowledge. In fact, we usually start with some understanding of three concepts: 1) what is; 2) what can be known about what is; and, 3) what the best mechanism happens to be for learning about what is (Saylor Academy, 2012). In the following sections, we will define these concepts and provide an example of the terms, ontology and epistemology.
Ontology is a Greek word that means the study, theory, or science of being. Ontology is concerned with the what is or the nature of reality (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2009). It can involve some very large and difficult to answer questions, such as:
- What is the purpose of life?
- What, if anything, exists beyond our universe?
- What categories does it belong to?
- Is there such a thing as objective reality?
- What does the verb “to be” mean?
Ontology is comprised of two aspects: objectivism and subjectivism. Objectivism means that social entities exist externally to the social actors who are concerned with their existence. Subjectivism means that social phenomena are created from the perceptions and actions of the social actors who are concerned with their existence (Saunders, et al., 2009). The table below provides an example of a similar research project to be undertaken by two different students. While the projects being proposed by the students are similar, they each have different research questions. Read the scenario and then answer the questions that follow.
Subjectivist and objectivist approaches (adapted from Saunders et al., 2009)
Ana is an Emergency & Security Management Studies (ESMS) student at a local college. She is just beginning her capstone research project and she plans to do research at the City of Vancouver. Her research question is: What is the role of City of Vancouver managers in the Emergency Management Department (EMD) in enabling positive community relationships? She will be collecting data related to the roles and duties of managers in enabling positive community relationships.
Robert is also an ESMS student at the same college. He, too, will be undertaking his research at the City of Vancouver. His research question is: What is the effect of the City of Vancouver’s corporate culture in enabling EMD managers to develop a positive relationship with the local community? He will be collecting data related to perceptions of corporate culture and its effect on enabling positive community-emergency management department relationships.
Before the students begin collecting data, they learn that six months ago, the long-time emergency department manager and assistance manager both retired. They have been replaced by two senior staff managers who have Bachelor’s degrees in Emergency Services Management. These new managers are considered more up-to-date and knowledgeable on emergency services management, given their specialized academic training and practical on-the-job work experience in this department. The new managers have essentially the same job duties and operate under the same procedures as the managers they replaced. When Ana and Robert approach the managers to ask them to participate in their separate studies, the new managers state that they are just new on the job and probably cannot answer the research questions; they decline to participate. Ana and Robert are worried that they will need to start all over again with a new research project. They return to their supervisors to get their opinions on what they should do.
Before reading about their supervisors’ responses, answer the following questions:
- Is Ana’s research question indicative of an objectivist or a subjectivist approach?
- Is Robert’s research question indicative of an objectivist or a subjectivist approach?
- Given your answer in question 1, which managers could Ana interview (new, old, or both) for her research study? Why?
- Given your answer in question 2, which managers could Robert interview (new, old, or both) for his research study? Why?
Ana’s supervisor tells her that her research question is set up for an objectivist approach. Her supervisor tells her that in her study the social entity (the City) exists in reality external to the social actors (the managers), i.e., there is a formal management structure at the City that has largely remained unchanged since the old managers left and the new ones started. The procedures remain the same regardless of whoever occupies those positions. As such, Ana, using an objectivist approach, could state that the new managers have job descriptions which describe their duties and that they are a part of a formal structure with a hierarchy of people reporting to them and to whom they report. She could further state that this hierarchy, which is unique to this organization, also resembles hierarchies found in other similar organizations. As such, she can argue that the new managers will be able to speak about the role they play in enabling positive community relationships. Their answers would likely be no different than those of the old managers, because the management structure and the procedures remain the same. Therefore, she could go back to the new managers and ask them to participate in her research study.
Robert’s supervisor tells him that his research is set up for a subjectivist approach. In his study, the social phenomena (the effect of corporate culture on the relationship with the community) is created from the perceptions and consequent actions of the social actors (the managers); i.e., the corporate culture at the City continually influences the process of social interaction, and these interactions influence perceptions of the relationship with the community. The relationship is in a constant state of revision. As such, Robert, using a subjectivist approach, could state that the new managers may have had few interactions with the community members to date and therefore may not be fully cognizant of how the corporate culture affects the department’s relationship with the community. While it would be important to get the new managers’ perceptions, he would also need to speak with the previous managers to get their perceptions from the time they were employed in their positions. This is because the community-department relationship is in a state of constant revision, which is influenced by the various managers’ perceptions of the corporate culture and its effect on their ability to form positive community relationships. Therefore, he could go back to the current managers and ask them to participate in his study, and also ask that the department please contact the previous managers to see if they would be willing to participate in his study.
As you can see the research question of each study guides the decision as to whether the researcher should take a subjective or an objective ontological approach. This decision, in turn, guides their approach to the research study, including whom they should interview.
Epistemology
Epistemology has to do with knowledge. Rather than dealing with questions about what is, epistemology deals with questions of how we know what is. In sociology, there are many ways to uncover knowledge. We might interview people to understand public opinion about a topic, or perhaps observe them in their natural environment. We could avoid face-to-face interaction altogether by mailing people surveys to complete on their own or by reading people’s opinions in newspaper editorials. Each method of data collection comes with its own set of epistemological assumptions about how to find things out (Saylor Academy, 2012). There are two main subsections of epistemology: positivist and interpretivist philosophies. We will examine these philosophies or paradigms in the following sections.
Research Methods for the Social Sciences: An Introduction Copyright © 2020 by Valerie Sheppard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
5.1 Research Terminology Nicholas Walliman, in his handbook Research Methods: The Basics, defines research methods as "the tools and techniques for doing research." [1] These techniques include collecting, sorting, and analyzing the information and data you find. The better the tools and more comprehensive the techniques you employ, the more effective your research will be.
Research: the systematic process of finding out more about something than you already know, ideally so that you can prove a hypothesis, produce new knowledge and understanding, and make evidence-based decisions. Research Methods: techniques of collecting, sorting, and analyzing information/data. Data: bits of information.
Ask your instructor for guidance and see chapter 5.4 Human Research Ethics. Secondary Data. Comes from sources that record, analyze, and interpret primary data. It is critical to evaluate the credibility of these sources. You might find such data in. Academic research: refereed academic studies published in academic journals
Learn the basic terms and definitions of research methods, sources, data, and analysis for technical writing. Find out how to use primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, quantitative and qualitative data, and ethical and professional standards.
Learn the basics of research methods, sources, data, and terminology for technical and professional communication. Find out how to use primary, secondary, and tertiary sources, quantitative and qualitative data, and other key concepts in your research.
Learn how to use technical terms effectively in your research writing. Find out the principles, benefits and challenges of specialized vocabulary in technical and scientific fields.
Chapter 5 Learning Objectives. The chapter contains the following sections that will help you develop your research skills and meet the following learning objectives: 5.1 Research Terminology: understand basic terms related to conducting and disseminating various kinds of research. 5.2 Finding and Evaluating Research Sources: review various ...
Here is a list of common research terms. Abstract. An abstract is a short summary of a document. Abstracts are useful because they allow you to quickly determine if a document fits your topic. Citation. The citation provides the bibliographic information for a source. It lets the reader know who is responsible for creating a source you ...
Action plan A plan to implement change as a result of an action research study. Action research A type of research focused on a specific local problem and resulting in an action plan to address the problem. Adjusted R-Squared: A measure of how well the independent, or predictor, variables predict the dependent, or outcome, variable.
Research Methods - Technical Writing Essentials - H5P Edition. 5. Research Methods. The chapter contains the following sections that will help you develop your research skills and meet the following learning objectives: 5.1 Research Terminology: understand basic terms related to conducting and disseminating various kinds of research. 5.2 ...
Glossary of Key Research Terms. This glossary provides definitions of many of the terms used in the guides to conducting qualitative and quantitative research. The definitions were developed by members of the research methods seminar (E600) taught by Mike Palmquist in the 1990s and 2000s.
Revised on July 18, 2023. A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it's a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and it's intended to enhance their ...
Download Free PDF. Key Research Terminologies fQuantitative Research Characteristics In quantitative research, the major characteristics are: 1) Describe a research problem through a description of trends or a need for an explanation of the relationship among variables. 2) Providing a major role for the literature through suggesting the ...
Chapter 5 Learning Objectives. The chapter contains the following sections that will help you develop your research skills and meet the following learning objectives: 5.1 Research Terminology: understand basic terms related to conducting and disseminating various kinds of research. 5.2 Finding and Evaluating Research Sources: review various ...
Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Glossary A-Z. Education.com; Glossary of Research Terms. Research Mindedness Virtual Learning Resource. Centre for Human Servive Technology. University of Southampton; Miller, Robert L. and Brewer, John D. The A-Z of Social Research: A Dictionary of Key Social Science Research Concepts London: SAGE, 2003 ...
Glossary of Common Research Terms Term Definition Abstract This is a brief summary of a research study and its results. It should tell you why the study was done, how the researchers went about it and what they found. Action Research Action research is used to bring about improvement or practical change. A group of people who know about a
3. Notations and Technical Definitions. The introduction paragraph is the best place to introduce notations and technical definitions. This can include symbols, characters, and terminologies. Notations and definitions can help you to express very large names and numbers in a form that is easy to understand to your readers. Following are some ...
7. COMMON DOCUMENT TYPES. Descriptive technical writing uses a combination of visuals and text to both "show" and "tell" the reader about the information being conveyed. Like more creative descriptions, technical descriptions sometimes draw on the "five senses" and metaphorical comparisons (analogies) to allow the reader to fully ...
Part 1. Demystifying nursing research terminology: Part 2. Research. The process of systematic study or investigation to discover new knowledge or expand on existing knowledge. Research method. A means of collecting data. Primary and Secondary Research. Theory. A theory is a set of interrelated concepts, definitions, and propositions that ...
Learning Objectives. Upon completion of this chapter, readers will be able to: Explain and apply the 5 primary characteristics of technical definitions. Write a definition using appropriate content, descriptors, details, length, placement, and audience analysis. Avoid common technical definition problems.
Understanding the key research terminologies. If it exists, it can be measured (Babbie 1989:105) 1. Concept. Concepts are mental images or perceptions and are. highly subjective and varies from ...
Figure 1.3 is intentioned to provide a general overview of the research concept. You may want to keep this figure handy as you read through the various chapters. Figure 1.3. Shows the research paradigms and research process. Figure 1.3 by JIBC is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 License. Ontology & Epistemology
Research Terms and Definitions. 1. Delimitations: address how the study will be narrowed in scope. 2. Descriptive statistics: those statistics that describe, organize, and summarize data (frequencies, percentages, descriptions of central tendency and descriptions of relative position). 3.