KSS

• correlational studies

  a type of non-experimental study in which researches observe and measure the relationship between two or more variables without any active control or manipulation
• negative correlation

  a relationship in which as increase in one variable results in a decrease of the other
• zero correlation

  no relationship between the variables
• positive correlation

  a relationship in which both variables increase/decrease together
• casual relationships

  there is thought to be a casual relationship between the two variables but they are too dangerous, unethical or difficult to actively manipulate
• Correlational studies are conducted to identify which factors may be of greater importance to some phenomena and aim to find relationships between variables, describe them and make predictions on the basis of them.
• case studies

  an in depth investigation of an individual, group or particular phenomenon (activity, behaviour, event or problem) that contains a real or hypothetical situation and includes the complexities that would be encountered in the real world
• fieldwork

  refers to any research involving observation and interaction with people & environments in real world settings, conducted beyond the lab

  can be collecting data firsthand, participant observation, focus groups, questionnaires
• literature reviews

  refer to the process of collecting and analysing secondary data related to other people's scientific findings and viewpoints, in order to answer a question or provide background info to help explain observed events or as preparation for an investigation to generate primary data
• modelling

  the construction and/or manipulation of whether a physical model, such as a representation of an object or conceptual model that represents a system, that allows us to know, understand or simulate the system
• product, process or system development

  refers broadly to the design or evaluation of an artefact, process or system to meet a human need, which may involve technological applications, in addition to scientific knowledge & procedures
• simulation

  the process of using a model to study the behaviour of a real or theoretical system
• measures of central tendency


  descriptive statistics that summariese a data set by decribing the centre of the distribution of the data with a single value

  • mean, median, mode
• measures of variability

  statistics that summarise & describe the spread and distribution of a data set

  • range (subract lowest from highest)
  • standard deviation (decribes the spread of data around the mean, shows how much data deviates from the mean)