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.
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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
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-squared (symbol)
- R-squared (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 Analysis {statistical method}
- Regression to the Mean {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
- Statistically Significant Difference
- 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?