Research

Research Glossary

Abstract

A brief written summary of the purpose, aims, results and conclusions of your research; separate from the dissertation.

Action research

Where the researcher is involved in a situation, makes changes and observes the effects.

Bibliography

An ordered list of all works consulted or referred to in the dissertation.

Case study

Research into a particular business or defined institution, describing and investigating the issues and relationships.

Correctional research

Exploring the possible relationships between variables.

Convenience sample

A sample chosen because it is easily accessed.

Data

All the information and facts collected.

Dependent variable

A variable which takes on values when an independent variable is deliberately altered.

Descriptive research

Describing what exists in your sample, without analysing variables.

Empirical

Based on observation, experiment and recording.

Epistemology

The philosophy of knowledge and ways of knowing.

Ethics

Protocols adopted to ensure research is confidential and sensitive

Ethnography

Study of a group’s culture, customs and behaviour by observation and recording.

Experiment

Obtaining data by quantitative methods with scientific precision and control.

Generalisability

This tests whether your results can be applied or be useful to others.

Historical research

Structured study of past events to help understand current problems.

Hypothesis

A tentative or supposed proposition based on observed happenings or theories about a testable relationship or quality.

Independent variable

The variable controlled by the researcher to investigate its effects on others.

Instrument

Any research ‘tool’ such as a questionnaire used to obtain data.

Interpretative

Subjective explaining and interpreting data.

Interval scale

A scale where test and measurement results have supposedly equal intervals.

Nominal scale

Scales designed to label or categorise groups and their qualities.

Ordinal scale

Ranking people according to how they possess a given quality.

Positivist

Considering only observable, objective facts.

Purposive sample

A non-random sample of those believed to be representative.

Qualitative

Concerned with description, qualities and observation – used to investigate views and opinions.

Quantitative

Concerned with measurement and numbers. – used to demonstrate incidence and prevalence

Questionnaire

A structured set of written questions to obtain information from a sample.

Random sample

Every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Ratio scale

A scale that has intervals and an absolute zero.

Reliability

Would you get the same results if you repeated the procedure?

Research question

A proposed focus of inquiry; what you want to find out.

Sample

A group selected from a studied population which supposedly possesses the same characteristics as the whole.

Semi-structured

A schedule for interviews which has a partially planned framework.

Structured

A completely planned framework of interview questions.

Stratified sample

A proportional sample selected to represent an identifiable group

Survey

A method of obtaining data about variables from a population or a sample.

Systematic sample

A sample taken at equal, regular intervals, e.g. every tenth name on a register.

Validity

How far you are actually measuring the variable that you say you are measuring.

Updated: 28 October, 2008 | Effective Learning Service | Legal