BASIC

RESEARCH
TERMINOLOGY

RACHEL D. VELORIA
Teacher I
 ABSTRACT
A clear, concise summary of the study
that communicates the essential information about
the study. In research journals, it is usually located
at the beginning of an article.
 DATA
Units of information or any statistics,
facts, figures, general material, evidence, or
knowledge collected during the course of the
study.
 VARIABLES
Attributes or characteristics that can have
more than one value, such as height or weight. In other
words, variables are qualities, quantities, properties, or
characteristics of people, things, or situations that
change or vary.
Dependent variables: Variables that change as the
independent variable is manipulated by the researcher;
sometimes called the criterion variables.

Independent variables: Variables that are purposely

manipulated or changed by the researcher; also called
manipulated variables.
Research variables: These are the qualities, properties,
or characteristics which are observed or measured in
a natural setting without manipulating & establishing
cause- &-effect relationship
Demographic variables: The characteristics & attributes of the
study subjects are considered demographic variables, for
example, age, gender, educational status, religion, social class,
marital status, habitat, occupation, income, medical diagnosis,
&so on.

Extraneous variables: Extraneous variables are the factors that

are not the part of the study but may affect the measurement of
the study variables.
Operational definition: The way by which a researcher
clarifies & defines the variables under investigation. In
addition, the researcher must also specify how the
variables will be observed & measured in the actual
research situation.
Concept: A word picture or mental idea of phenomenon.
Concepts are words or terms that symbolize some aspects
of reality. For example, stress, pain, or love. Concepts are
the building blocks of theory.
Construct: A highly abstract, complex phenomenon(concept) is
denoted by a made-up or construed term. A construct term is
used to indicate a phenomenon that cannot be directly
observed but must be inferred by certain concrete or
less-abstract indicators of the phenomenon. For example,
wellness, mental health, & self-esteem are constructed, &
they can only be measured through indefinable &
measurable concept; for example, wellness can only be
assessed through laboratory data.
Proposition: A proposition is a statement or assertion of
the relationship between concepts. For example,
there is relationship between level of anxiety &
performance; or virus causes acute illness. Proposition
are drawn from theories or empirical data.
Conceptual framework: Interrelated concepts or
abstractions that are assembled together in some rational
scheme by virtue of their relevance to a common theme;
sometimes referred to as a conceptual theoretical
framework if based on the concepts of an existing theory
or theories.
Assumption: Basic principle that is accepted as being true
on the basis of logic or reason, without proof or
verification.

Hypothesis: A statement of the predicted relationship

between two or more variable in a research study; an
educated or calculated guess by researcher.
Literature review: A critical summary or research on a
topic of interest, generally prepared to put a research
problem in context or to identify gaps & weaknesses in
prior studies so as to justify a new investigation.
Limitations: Restrictions in a study that may decrease the
credibility & generalization of the research findings.

Manipulation: An intervention or treatment introduced by

the researcher in an experimental or quasi-experimental
study; the researcher manipulates the independent
variable to assess its impact on the dependent variable.
Population: The entire set of individuals or objects having
some common characteristics selected for a research study
(eg; patients admitted in intensive care units);sometimes
referred to as the universe of the research study.
Target population: The entire population in which the
researchers are interested & to which they would like to
generalize the research finding.

Accessible population: The aggregate of cases that

conform to designated inclusion or exclusion criteria &
that are accessible as subject of the study.
Research study setting: The study setting is the location in
which the research is conducted – it could be natural,
partially controlled, or highly controlled. Natural or field
setting is an uncontrolled real-life situation. In a
partially controlled situation, environment is partially
modified to control extraneous variables, while in highly
controlled situations, study environment is fully controlled
to combat the effect of extraneous variables.
Sample: A part or subset of population selected to
participate in research study.

Representative sample: A sample whose characteristics are

highly similar to that of the population from which it is
drawn.

Sampling: The process of selecting sample from the target

population to represent the entire population.
Probability sampling: The selection of subjects or sampling
units from a population using random procedure; example
include simple random sampling, stratified random
sampling, & systematic sampling.

Non-probability sampling: The selection of subjects or

sampling units from a population using nonrandom
procedures; examples include convenient, purposive, & quota
sampling.
Reliability: The degree of consistency or accuracy with
which an instrument measures the attribute it is designed
to measure.

Validity: The degree to which an instrument measures

what it is intended to measure.
Pilot study: Study carried out at the end of the planning
phase of research in order to explore & test the research
elements to make relevant to make modification in
research tools & methodology.
Analysis: Method of organizing, sorting, & scrutinizing
data in such a way that research question can be
answered or meaningful inferences can be drawn.