LESSON: DISTINGUISHING

TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN

RESEARCH
After going through this module, you are
expected to:

 get familiar with technical terms in research

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 As time passes by your vocabulary grows
even wider and wider. Some are common and
basic, but as you move to a higher level such
as going to Grade 10, senior high school and
tertiary level, the words you use also move to
a higher level.

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 Academically, you are encountering different
words and terminologies which are useful as
you go along your journey in studies and in the
long run, you can use them in your chosen
career in the future.

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This time you will get to know the technical
terms that would help you in developing
or writing your own research.

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Technical terms are essential parts of all technical and
scientific writing. Each field and specialty typically uses a
vocabulary that relays a variety of specialized concepts using
technical language. These special terms convey concentrated
meanings that have been built up over significant periods of
a study of a field.

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Research is defined as a systematic and scientific process to answer
questions about facts and relationship between facts. It can also be
defined as an activity involved in seeking answer to unanswered
questions. It seeks to generate an answer to the problems as well as
suggesting additional questions in need of further inquiry.

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 Aside from knowing the term research itself,
knowing other common research terminologies
help you understand how to read and interpret
scholarly journal articles so you can more
effectively apply the results to real life situations.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
The following are basic terms and their definitions:
1. Analysis is a method of organizing, sorting, and
scrutinizing data in such a way that a research question
can be answered or meaningful inferences can be drawn.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
2. Bibliography is a list of all the sources used in the process
of researching.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH

3. Concept refers to a mental idea of a phenomenon. These

are words or terms that symbolize some aspects of reality.
e.g. love, pain.

4. Conclusion provides a summary of the research.

5. Data is an information that can be words or numbers.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
6. Data Gathering Tools refer to the devices/ instruments
used to collect data such as questionnaire or computer-
assisted interviewing system.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
7. Data Presentation involves the use of a variety of
different graphical techniques.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
8. Descriptive study is a research design that describes
“what is”( e.g. a survey).

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
9. In-Text Citation is the brief form of the reference
included in the body of one’s work.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
10. Limitations are restrictions in a study that may
decrease the credibility and generalizability of the research
findings.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
11. Literature review is a critical summary or research on a
topic of interest, generally prepared to put a research problem
in context or to identify gaps and weaknesses in prior studies so
as to justify a new investigation.
12. Plagiarism is the unethical practice of using words or
ideas of another author/researcher without proper
acknowledgement.
13. Quantitative Research is the process of collecting and
analyzing numerical data.
14. Questionnaire is a set of questions used to gather
information in a survey.
15. Research Topic is a subject or issue that a researcher is
interested in when conducting a research. 17
 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH

16. Respondents are those persons who have been invited to

participate in a particular study and have actually taken part
in the study.
17. Research Question is the question around which a
researcher centers his/ her research.
18. Sample is a part or subset of population selected to
participate in the research study.
19. Socio-Demographic Profile includes age, sex, education,
migration, background and ethnicity, religious affiliation,
marital status, household, employment, and income.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH
20. Variables are qualities or quantities, properties or
characteristics of people, things, or situations that change or
vary.

 Independent variable- variables that are purposely

manipulated or changed by the researcher. It is also called as
“Manipulated Variable”.
 Dependent variable- variables that depend on other
factors that are measured. These variables are expected to
change as a result of an experimental manipulation of the
independent variable or variables.
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BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH

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BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH

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BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH

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However, there are terms in research that are abbreviated,

these are the Latin words and Non-English structures. Some of
these commonly used Latin terminologies in research are the
following:
 Etc. et cetera- It means “and so on”.
Allow the children to eat only healthy food—vegetables, fruits,
etc.

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 BASIC TERMS IN RESEARCH

However, there are terms in research that are abbreviated,

these are the Latin words and Non-English structures. Some of
these commonly used Latin terminologies in research are the
following:
 E.g. exempli gratia- It means “for example”,
literally, it means “free as an example”.
The Summer Olympics is composed of a variety of sports
(e.g., gymnastics, swimming, and tennis).
 et al. et alii- It means “and others”.
Feynman, Hawking, Sagan, et al.
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 ib/ibid. ibedem. It means “in the same passage or page
quoted above.” Literally, it means “in the same place”.

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PERFORMANCE TASK. Directions: Make a list of at
least 10 research terminologies and their definitions,
which you think are not yet included in this lesson.
Scoring Rubric: Completeness – 5 pts; Clarity of
definition – 5 pts, Mechanics – 5 pts

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