research

• Principle investigator


  The person who oversees a research
• Population


  The target group under investigation. The population is the entire set under consideration. Samples are drawn from populations.
• Purpose of the study


  Specific research aims and objectives for the research
• Random


  By chance
• Qualitative Research


  Trying to verify or generate descriptive theory that is grounded in the data gleaned from the investigation (naturalistic)
• Quantitative Research


  Answer a specific research question by showing statistical evidence that the data may be addressed in a particular way (experimental)
• Questionnaire


  Structured sets of questions on specified subjects that are used to gather information
• Random sample


  Everybody has the same chance of being assigned to any group
• Research


  A systematic, objective way to generate facts
• Research design


  The method for finding out what the researcher wants to know, experiment, and correlate
• Research Methodology


  The method of research design (paradigm as well as statistics and analysis) as well as the approximate timeline for completion of the study
• Relationship


  The bond or connection between two variables
• Sample


  A smaller group that represents population of interest
• Significance of the study


  It is written as part of the introduction section of a thesis. It provides details to the reader on how the study will contribute such as what the study will contribute and who will benefit from it.
• Standard deviation


  A measure of spread; the average deviation of a group of scores from the mean
• Statement of the problem


  Part of the introduction which enumerates the research questions which the study sought to answer
• Statistical Analysis


  Application of statistical processes and theory to the compilation, presentation, discussion, and interpretation of numerical data
• Statistical significance


  An important finding that did not likely happen by chance
• Statistics


  Mathematical tools based on the normal curve used to analyze data, it must match with research designs
• T-score


  A standard score on the normal curve where the mean is assigned "50" deviations of "10". Allows more simple interpretation of student achievement
• Subject


  The people who are being studied
• T-test


  A parametric statistical tool that compares differences between the means of two groups: assumptions for use include normal distribution and at least interval data
• Theory


  An generalization that presents a representation about relationships among phenomena
• Validity


  Accuracy, the extent which a test or study measures what it is supposed to measure
• Variable


  A quality of interest or concepts that can be manipulated, observed or studied
• Abstract


  A brief overview of a research study
• Applied research


  Conducted to generate knowledge that influences or improves practice
• Basic research


  Research that tests theories
• Conceptual definition


  A variable, such as anxiety, may be defined as a feeling of uneasiness
• Concepts


  The building blocks of theories
• Constitutive definition


  The basic dictionary meaning
• Control group


  In experiments, the one that does not get the treatment
• Correlational study


  A type of research design that depicts a relationship between variables,but not necessarily one of cause-effect
• Data


  Information used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation
• Delimitations


  It addresses how the study will be narrowed in scope
• Dependent variable


  The concept that the researcher is most interested in understanding
• Descriptive study


  Research design that describes "what is" eg. a survey
• Experiment


  A research design used to find cause-effect" relationships the "effect of...on..."
• Experimental Group


  The one that gets the treatment
• External validity


  How generalizable the results are as it concems other populations and locations