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• Guide Words


  Words listed in a dictionary in alphabetical order, letter by letter. Help quickly locate the word you seek.
• Main/Word Entries


  The words that are explained in a dictionary, appearing in boldface type.
• Parts of Speech


  • n., v.t., adj., pron., interj., adv., v.i., conj., prep.
• Restrictive labels


  Subject labels tell you a word has a special meaning in a particular field. Usage labels tell you how a word is used.
• Not knowing how to spell a word can make it difficult but not impossible to find in the dictionary
• Thesaurus


  The opposite of a dictionary - you go to it when you know the definition but need the word
• Thesaurus


  • In dictionary form, you look up the word. In traditional form, you look up the word in the alphabetical index at the back.
• Guide Numbers


  Numbers after a word in a thesaurus index, not page numbers
• The internet provides many different types of information besides dictionaries and thesauruses, including definitions of terms
• Research


  A process of systematic inquiry that entails collection of data, documentation of critical information, and analysis and interpretation of that data/information, in accordance with suitable methodologies set by specific professional fields and academic disciplines.
• Abstract


  A brief overview of a research study
• Applied Research


  Research conducted to generate knowledge that influences or improves practices
• Basic Research


  Research that tests theories
• Conceptual Definition


  A definition of a variable, such as anxiety, as a feeling of uneasiness
• Concepts


  The building blocks of theories
• Constitutive Definitions


  The basic, dictionary meaning
• Control Group


  The group that does not get the treatment
• Correlational Group


  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, calculation
• Delimitation


  How the study will be narrowed in scope
• Dependent Variable


  The variable the researcher is most interested in understanding
• Descriptive Study


  A research design that describes "what is", e.g. a survey
• Experiment


  A research design used to find cause and effect relationships
• Experimental Group


  The group that gets the treatment
• External Validity


  How generalized the results are as it concerns other populations and locations
• Extraneous


  Variables that may influence the data
• Heterogeneous


  Groups under study are very different or varied
• Homogeneous


  Groups that are very similar
• Independent Variable


  The concept being studied that usually indicates the influence or cause; the one the researcher is manipulating
• Hypothesis


  A statement written by the researcher that states the relationship among or between variables
• Inductive Reasoning


  The basis for the qualitative research approach
• Deductive Reasoning


  Pencil premises and is the basis for the quantitative research approach
• Internal Validity


  The extent to which a study measures what it is supposed to be measured
• Introduction


  Establishes the scope, context and significance of the research to be conducted
• Limitations


  Identify the potential weaknesses of the study
• Measures of Central Tendency


  • Mean
  • Median
  • Mode
• Methodology


  Systematic approach to the conduct of a process
• Null Hypothesis


  The proposition to be tested statistically, that the experimental intervention has no effect
• Operational Definition


  How a term is used in a study
• Participant


  Also called respondents, their characteristics and responses are the object of the study