Research
A formal process by which knowledge is produced and understood
Generalizability
the extent to which conclusions drawn from one research study spread or apply to a larger population
Theory
A statement that proposes to explain relationships among phenomena of interest
Inductive method
A sequence that starts with data and ends in theory
Deductive method
A sequence that starts with the theory and then tests the theory by collecting data
Research design
A plan for conducting scientific research for the purpose of learning about a phenomenon of interest
Internal validity
The degree to which the relationships evidenced among variables in a particular study are accurate or true
external validity
The degree to which the relationships evidenced among variables in a particular study are generalizable or accurate in other contexts
Primary research methods
A class of research methods that generates new information on a particular research question
True experiment
type of research method in which the investigator manipulates independent variables and randomly assigns subjects to experimental and control conditions
randomization
a process of randomly assigning subjects to different treatment groups
quasi-experiment
a type of research method for conducting studies that does not involve random assignment
non-experiment
A type of research method for conducting studies that does not involve the manipulation of variables or assignment of participants
secondary research methods
class of research methods that examines existing information from research studies that used primary methods
archival research
secondary research methods that involves the extraction of information from existing records
meta-analysis
secondary research method for summarizing and integrating the findings from original empirical research studies
level of analysis
the unit or level that is the object of the researcher’s interest and about which conclusions are drawn from the research
data mining
secondary research method that looks for patterns of association among the measured items in very large data sets
Qualitiative Research
A class of research methods in which the investigator takes an active role in interacting with the subjects he or she wishes to study
ethnography
research method that utilizes field observations to study a society’s culture
emic
approach of studying a culture’s behavior from the perspective of an insider
etic
approach of studying a culture’s behavior from the perspective of an outsider
organizational records
a source of data consisting of information collected and maintained by an organization for reasons other than research
questionnaire
source of data in which subjects respond to written questions posed by the investigator
