Legend

• Parentheses are used to show acronyms:  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Brackets are used to show a parent topic or organization:  (ATF) [U.S. Dept. of Justice]
• Curly brackets are used to disambiguate terms:  element {of a crime}
• Terms in black have not yet been defined, but are forthcoming.

#

A

• a (symbol)
• A-B-A-B Design
• Action Research Studies
• alpha (symbol)
• Absolute Zero
• Adjusted Goodness of Fit (AGFI)
• Alpha Level
• Alternative Hypothesis
• Analysis {of the literature}
• Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA)
• Annotated Bibliography
• Anonymity {in research ethics}
• ANOVA Summary Table
• APA Style
• Applied Research
• Archival Data
• Assumptions (of statistical tests)
• Attribute (of a Variable)
• Audience {in scientific writing}
• Authority {as a method of knowing}
• Average

B

• b (symbol)
• Bell Curve
• Bias {in samples}
• Bimodal Distribution
• Binary
• Bivariate
• Bracketing {in qualitative research}

C

• Case Study
• Causal-comparative Research
• Causal Relationship
• Cell {in a spreadsheet}
• Census {in data collection}
• Chi-square {test statistic}
• Citation
• Clichés {avoid in scientific writing}
• Clinical Significance
• Closed-Ended Questions {in surveys}
• Cluster Sampling
• Coefficient of Determination
• Column
• Common Knowledge {in writing}
• Comparative Fit Index (CFI)
• Comparative Fit Indices
• Concept {in science}
• Conceptual Definition
• Confidence Interval
• Confidentiality {research ethics}
• Confounding {variable}
• Constant
• Construct {in science}
• Construct Validity
• Continuity {scientific writing}
• Continuous (variable)
• Control Group
• Control Variable
• Convenience Sampling
• Correlated Data (dependency)
• Correlation
• Correlation Coefficient
• Correlational Method
• Covariance
• Covariate
• Criterion Variable
• Cross-sectional Design
• Cross Tabulation
• Cumulative Percent

D

• Data
• Data Analysis ToolPak
• Deductive Research
• Dependent Groups
• Dependent Variable (DV)
• Descriptive Statistic
• Descriptive Research
• Direct Effect (in SEM)
• Direct Relationship
• Direction {of hypotheses}
• Directional Hypothesis
• Discrete (variable)
• Dispersion (variability)
• Distribution
• Double-headed Arrow {in path diagrams}
• Dummy Code

E

• Effect Size
• Eigenvalue
• Empirical
• Empirical Research
• Empirical Research Report
• Environmental Variable
• Equal {probability of being selected}
• Error Terms (in SEM)
• Ethnographic Studies
• Euphemisms {avoid in scientific writing}
• Experimenter Effects {threat to external validity}
• Ex Post Facto Research
• Exhaustive {variables}
• Excel
• Exogenous Variable (in SEM)
• Expected Frequency
• Experimental Group
• Experimental Research
• Exploratory Studies
• External Validity
• Extraneous Variables

F

• f (symbol)
• F statistic
• Face-to-face Questionnaire
• Factor Analysis
• Factor Score
• Factor Loading
• Fit Indices (SEM)
• Focus Group
• Formal Style {in scientific writing}
• Frequency (f)
• Function (in a spreadsheet)
• Funneling Questions {in surveys}

G

• Gap {in the literature}
• Gaussian Distribution
• General Linear Model (GLM)
• Generalization
• Goodness of Fit
• Goodness of Fit Index (GFI)
• Grounded Theory Studies
• Group Questionnaire
• Grouping Variable

H

• Hawthorne Effect {threat to external validity}
• Heterogeneous (variability)
• Higher-order Factor
• Historical Studies
• History {threat to internal validity}
• Holistic {in social research}
• Homogenous (variability)
• Homoscedasticity
• Hypothesis

I

• Idiom {avoid in scientific writing}
• Independent Group
• Independent Model (SEM)
• Independent Variable (IV)
• Independent {probability of being selected}
• Indicator Variables (SEM)
• Indirect Effect (SEM)
• Inductive Research
• Inference (statistical)
• Inferential Statistic
• Informal Observations
• Informed Consent {research ethics}
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) {research ethics}
• Instrumentation {threat to internal validity}
• Intensifiers {avoid in scientific writing}
• Interaction Effect
• Intercept (regression)
• Internal Validity
• Interquartile Range (IQR)
• Interval (scale of measurement)
• Interval Estimate
• Interview
• Introductory Words {in scientific writing}
• Inverse Relationship

J

• Jargon {avoid in scientific writing}
• Justification {of a study}

K

• Kurtosis

L

• Label [scientific concepts]
• Latent Construct
• Latent Variables
• Level (of a Variable)
• Likert Scale
• Line Graph
• Linear Relationship
• Literature Review
• Lived Experiences {in qualitative research}
• Longitudinal Design
• Logistic Regression

M

• Magnitude Estimation Scales {in surveys}
• Mailed Questionnaire
• Main Effect
• Margin of Error
• Matching (subjects)
• Matrix
• Maturation {threat to internal validity}
• Mean
• Mean Differences
• Measurement Model (SEM)
• Measurement Quality
• Measures of Central Tendency
• Measures of Variability
• Median
• Mesokurtic
• Methodological Articles
• Mode
• Models {in science}
• Model Specification Errors (in SEMs)
• Mortality {threat to internal validity}
• Mu (symbol)
• Multiple Comparison Tests
• Multiple Correlation
• Multiple Regression Analysis
• Multiple Treatment Interference {threat to external validity}
• Mutually Exclusive {variables}

N

• n (symbol)
• Narrative Data {in qualitative research}
• Naturalistic Observation
• Needs Assessments {in program evaluation}
• Negative Correlation
• Negative Relationship
• Negative Skew
• News or Opinion Articles
• Nominal
• Nondirectional Hypothesis
• Nonequivalent Control Group Design
• Nonexperimental Study
• Nonparametric Tests
• Nonprobability Sampling
• Non-recursive (models)
• Nonresponse Bias {in surveys}
• Nonspecific References {avoid in scientific writing}
• Normal Curve
• Normed Fit Index (NFI)
• Null Hypotheses

O

• Objectivity
• Observational Study
• Observed Frequency
• Observed Variables (SEM)
• Odds Ratio
• Omit Needless Words {scientific writing}
• One-group Pretest-posttest Design
• One-tailed Test
• One-shot Case Study
• One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
• Open-Ended Questions {in surveys}
• Operational Definition
• Operationalization
• Ordinal
• Ordinal Logistic Regression
• Outcome Evaluation {in program evaluation}
• Outlier
• Overgeneralizations [research methods]

P

• p (symbol)
• p-Value
• Paired Data (matching)
• Parameter
• Parametric
• Paraphrasing {in scientific writing}
• Parenthetical Citation
• Parsimony
• Parsimony Goodness of Fit Index (PGFI)
• Partial Regression Coefficients
• Participant Observation
• Passive Voice {avoid in scientific writing}
• Path Coefficients
• Path Diagram
• Pearson’s r
• Peer Review
• Percentage
• Percentile Rank
• Perfect Correlation
• Phenomenon
• Phenomenological Studies
• Physical Artifacts
• Placebo
• Plagiarism
• Platykurtic
• Point Estimate
• Popular Articles
• Population
• Population Correlation Coefficient
• Positive Correlation
• Positive Relationship
• Positive Skew
• Post Hoc Test
• Posttest
• Posttest-only Control Group Design
• Power (statistical)
• Predictor Variable
• Pre-experimental Design
• Pretest
• Pretest Posttest Control Group Design
• Primary Sources
• Probabilistic
• Probability Sampling
• Process Evaluation {in program evaluation}
• Program Evaluation [applied research]
• Proportion

Q

• Qualitative Research
• Quantitative Research
• Quasi-experimental Design
• Questionnaire
• Quota Sampling
• Quotation {in scientific writing}

R

• r (symbol)
• R (symbol)
• r-square (symbol)
• R-square (symbol)
• Random Selection
• Random Assignment
• Range
• Ranking Scales {in surveys}
• Rate
• Rating Scales {in surveys}
• Ratio
• Raw Score
• Readability {in scientific writing}
• Recursive (models)
• Redundancy {avoid in scientific writing}
• Regression {statistical method}
• Regression {threat to internal validity}
• Regression Coefficients
• Regression Equation
• Regression Line
• Reliability {in measurement}
• Reliability Coefficients
• Research Design
• Research Hypothesis
• Research Objective
• Research Purpose
• Response Rate
• Response Set Bias {in surveys}
• Review Articles
• Right to Service {research ethics}
• Risk of Harm {research ethics}
• Rotation (factor analysis)
• Row

S

• Sample
• Sample Correlation Coefficient
• Sampling Error
• Sampling Frame
• Saturated Model (SEM)
• Scales (Levels) of Measurement
• Scales {as composite measures}
• Scattergram
• Scatterplot
• Scholarly Articles
• Science
• Scientific Method
• Secondary Sources
• Selection {threat to internal validity}
• Selective Observations
• Semistructured Interviews
• Simple Random Sample
• Single-headed Arrow {in path diagrams}
• Single-subject Research Design
• Skewness
• Skewness Statistic
• Slang {avoid in scientific writing}
• Slope (regression)
• Social Science
• Solomon Four-group Design
• Sources to Avoid
• Split Questions {in surveys}
• Spread (variability)
• Spreadsheet
• Spurious Correlation
• Standard Deviation
• Standard Error of the Mean
• Standard Score
• Standardized Mean Difference Statistic (d)
• Standardized Scales
• Standardized Structural Coefficients (SEMs)
• Static Group Comparison Design
• Statistical Control
• Statistical Significance
• Statistics
• Stratified Sampling
• Structural Equation Model (SEM)
• Structural Regression Coefficients
• Structured Interview
• Structured Observations
• Summarizing {in scientific writing}
• Survey
• Symmetrical
• Synthesis {of the literature}
• Systematic Observation
• Systematic Sampling

T

• Test Statistic
• T-Score
• t-Test
• t-Test for Independent Groups
• Temporal Precedence
• Testing {threat to internal validity}
• Theoretical Articles
• Theoretical Definition
• Theory
• Threats to External Validity
• Threats to Internal Validity
• Threats to Validity
• Total Effect (SEM)
• Trade Articles
• Transformed Score
• Treatment {in experiments}
• Trendline
• True Experiment {true experimental designs}
• True Mean
• Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD)
• Tukey Test
• Two-tailed Test
• Two-way ANOVA
• Type I Error
• Type II Error

U

• Unit of Measurement
• Unstructured Interviews
• Unstructured Observations

V

• Validity {in measurement}
• Variable
• Variance
• Voluntary Participation {research ethics}

W

• Way (in ANOVA)
• Wordy Expressions {avoid in scientific writing}

X

• X (symbol)
• x-axis

Y

• Y’ (symbol)
• y-axis

Z

• z-Score

Research FAQ

Experimental Design Questions

• What is an experimental research design?
• What are the 4 types of experimental research designs?
• What is an example of an experimental research design?
• Why use an experimental research design?
• Is experimental research qualitative or quantitative?
• What are the characteristics of experimental research?
• How do you use an experimental research design?
• What are the three key elements of experimental design?
• What does experimental research focus on?
• What is the simplest form of experimental research?
• What are the limitations of experimental research methods?
• What is the key to experimental design?