Key science skills and research methods

Accuracy

How close a measure relates to the ‘true’ value of the quantity being measured.

Aim

A statement outlining the purpose of the investigation.

Anecdote

An informal verbal report of an event that has been casually observed.

Bar chart

A graph which uses a series of separate bars or rectangles next to, but not touching one another, to enable comparisons of different categories of data.

Behaviour

Any action made by a living person (or animal) that can be observed or measured.

Beneficence

In relation to research ethics, the commitment to maximizing benefits and minimizing the risks and harms involved in taking a particular position or course of action.

Between subjects

An experimental design in which each participant is assigned to only one group or condition and provides only one score for data analysis; also called independent groups and between groups.

Biased sample

A research sample that does not adequately represent the key characteristics of its population.

Case study

An intensive, in-depth investigation of some behavior, event, or problem of interest in a single individual, group, organization, or situation.

Conclusion

In relation to research, a decision about what the results obtained from a research study mean.