The Nature of Inquiry, Research, and Variables

Vocabulary flashcards covering inquiry, quantitative and qualitative research, experimental and non-experimental designs, research steps, citations, and variable types based on the lecture notes.

Inquiry (General Definition)

Looking for information by asking various questions about something one is curious about.

Inquiry (Quest Definition)

A quest for truth, information, or knowledge through questioning.

Research (General Definition)

Discovering truths by investigating a chosen topic scientifically using a systematic pattern of thinking from simple to complex.

Research (Leedy & Ormrod, 2013)

A systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting information in order to increase understanding of a phenomenon of interest or concern.

Research (Knowledge Creation)

A systematic and objective creation of knowledge.

Add to Existing Knowledge

An importance of research that expands current information and understanding.

Improve Practice

An importance of research focused on enhancing practical application and execution in a field.

Inform Policies

An importance of research focused on providing data and insights to guide policy decision-making.

Solve Problems

An importance of research aimed at addressing underlying problems rather than emergencies.

Manner of Thinking in Research

A scientific, experimental, or inductive manner of thinking starting from particular to more complex ideas.

Range of Thinking Acts

Thinking strategies ranging from lower-order to higher-order executed across various research activities.

Research Activity: Identifying the Topic

The research activity of defining the specific problem or topic to be investigated.

Research Activity: Gathering Data

The research activity involving the collection of facts, information, or measurements.

Research Activity: Making Theories

Formulating systematic conceptual explanations based on gathered observations.

Research Activity: Formulating Hypotheses

Developing testable predictions or proposed solutions for a research problem.

Research Activity: Analyzing Data

Evaluating collected data through statistical tools or thematic analysis.

Research Activity: Drawing Conclusions

Summarizing findings and determining outcomes based on analyzed data.

Qualitative Research

Educational research relying on participant views, asking broad questions, collecting text data, analyzing themes, and conducting inquiry in a subjective, biased manner.

Data in Qualitative Research

Information consisting largely of words or text obtained directly from participants.

Subjective Manner in Qualitative Research

Conducting inquiry based on personal perspectives, participant views, and researcher interpretations.

Quantitative Research

Educational research where the researcher decides what to study, asks narrow questions, collects quantifiable data, and uses statistics in an unbiased, objective manner.

Quantifiable Data

Numerical data collected from participants that can be analyzed using statistical methods.

Objective Manner in Quantitative Research

Conducting research in an unbiased, exact manner unaffected by personal bias or intuition.

Precise Measurement in Quantitative Research

The production of research results that reflect exact numeric measurements and in-depth analysis.

Objective Understanding

Attaching exact meanings to objects, subjects, people, places, and events rather than inflated meanings from bias.

Large Sample Size

A characteristic of quantitative research required to obtain meaningful statistical results.

Objectivity (Quantitative Characteristic)

Ensuring data gathering and analysis are accurate and unaffected by researcher intuition or personal guesses.

Faster Data Analysis

A quantitative characteristic made possible by using statistical tools to save time during data analysis.

Generalized Data

Applying sample data to the entire population when random sampling of sufficient size is executed.

Reliable Data

Data analyzed objectively from a representative sample, making it credible for policymaking and decision making.

High Replicability

The ability to repeat a quantitative method to verify findings, enhancing validity and preventing false conclusions.

Experimental Quantitative Design

A quantitative research design that determines cause-and-effect relationships through variable manipulation.

Non-Experimental Quantitative Design

A research design used for descriptive and exploratory purposes primarily through observation.

Cause and Effect Relationship

A connection where changes in one variable directly produce a specific change or effect in another variable.

Manipulation in Experimental Design

The purposeful alteration or control of conditions or variables by the researcher.

Observation in Non-Experimental Design

Examining and recording conditions or behaviors without applying any treatment or manipulation.

Experimental Research

A research approach that carries out a cause-and-effect experiment on defined subject groups.

Experimental Group

The group in experimental research that receives the treatment or influence of the variable being studied.

Control Group

The group in experimental research that does not receive any treatment or exposure to the variable being studied.

Random Selection of Subjects

Choosing subjects by chance rather than by the decision of the researcher.

Treatment (in Experiments)

The specific condition, influence, or variable applied to subjects in an experimental group.

Sales Training vs Market Coverage Example

An experimental research example proving a direct correlation between technical sales training and positive market response.

True Experimental Research

Experimental research that absolutely uses random assignment and is controlled by researchers.

Quasi-Experimental Research

Experimental research that lacks randomization and is not controlled by researchers.

Random Assignment

The process used in true experimental research to randomly assign participants into experimental or control groups.

No Randomization

The absence of random selection, characteristic of quasi-experimental research designs.

Controlled by Researchers

A feature of true experimental research where conditions and participant groupings are directly managed by researchers.

Not Controlled by Researchers

A feature of quasi-experimental research where environmental control and group separation are limited.

Individual Differences Variable

A naturally occurring characteristic in subjects present in quasi-experimental research.

Natural Experiments

Empirical studies in quasi-experimental research where subjects are exposed to conditions in natural, intact settings.

Class Incapable of Disintegration

An intact pre-existing group (such as a classroom) that remains whole and is used without random assignment in quasi-experiments.

Muijs (2011)

Author cited regarding participant selection and intact non-random groups in quasi-experimental research.

Experimental Design Step 1

Specify the problem or topic of your research.

Experimental Design Step 2

Formulate the research problem or hypotheses.

Experimental Design Step 3

Determine the dependent and independent variables.

Experimental Design Step 4

Select the participants or subjects.

Experimental Design Step 5

Decide on the specific type of experimental research (true experimental or quasi-experimental).

Experimental Design Step 6

Conduct the experiment.

Experimental Design Step 7

Collect, analyze, and interpret the results.

Non-Experimental Research

Finding out truths by describing collected data and determining relationships without involving any treatment or condition.

Absence of Treatment

The defining condition of non-experimental research where no variables are manipulated.

Incapable of Establishing Cause-Effect

A key characteristic of non-experimental research due to the lack of variable manipulation.

Primary Analysis

Analysis of data collected directly by the researcher himself.

Secondary Analysis

Examination of data that was previously collected by other people.

Methodological Applicability of Non-Experimental Research

Research approach that is applicable to both quantitative and qualitative data.

Survey Method

A non-experimental data collection tool used to gather self-reported data from participants.

Historical Studies

A non-experimental research method that collects data by examining past events and historical records.

Case Studies

A non-experimental research method focusing on an in-depth examination of a single unit or subject.

Documentary Analysis

A non-experimental method of gathering data by evaluating primary or secondary written documents.

Suter (2012)

Citations associated with non-experimental research methods and data collection.

Sarantakos (2013)

Author cited alongside Suter regarding non-experimental research methods.

Variable (Changing Qualities)

Changing qualities or characteristics of a subject or object under study.

Variable (Varying Values)

Properties that have different or varying values in relation to time and situation.

Variable (Study Effect)

Anything that can affect or change the results of a study.

Variable (Understanding Differences)

Anything that can vary, which is essential to understand differences in research.

Independent Variable

The causal variable that causes change in another variable and is usually manipulated in an experiment.

Causal Variable

Another term for an independent variable because it acts as the cause.

Dependent Variable

The effect variable that changes because of another variable and is monitored in an experiment.

Effect Variable

Another term for a dependent variable because it represents the outcome or effect.

Manipulation of Independent Variable

The experimental act of changing the causal variable to observe its impact.

Monitoring Dependent Variable

The process of observing and measuring changes in the effect variable during research.

Constant Variable

A variable that does not undergo any changes during an experiment.

Attribute Variable

Characteristics inherent to people, such as intelligence, creativity, anxiety, or learning styles.

Intelligence as a Variable

An example of an attribute variable reflecting mental capacity.

Creativity as a Variable

An example of an attribute variable reflecting inventive thinking.

Anxiety as a Variable

An example of an attribute variable representing emotional distress.

Learning Styles as a Variable

An attribute variable measuring distinct individual learning preferences.

Latent Variable

A variable that cannot be directly observed, such as personality traits.

Personality Traits

A prime example of a latent variable that cannot be seen directly.

Manifest Variable

A variable that can be directly observed to give proofs to latent variables.

Proof of Latent Variables

The role played by manifest variables by providing observable evidence of unobservable traits.

Broad Questions

Open-ended questions asked in qualitative research to gather descriptive verbal data.

Specific, Narrow Questions

Focused questions asked in quantitative research to yield quantifiable data.

Thematic Analysis

Describing and analyzing word data to uncover overarching themes in qualitative studies.

Statistical Tools

Mathematical and statistical instruments used in quantitative research to conduct rapid data analysis.

Sampling Credibility

Achieved when proper sample size and random selection yield data credible for decision-making.

Descriptive Purpose

A non-experimental research goal aiming to depict and summarize existing data.

Exploratory Purpose

A non-experimental research goal aimed at gathering preliminary observational information.

Pattern of Thinking in Research

A systematic progression from simple ideas to complex conceptual structures during investigation.

Verification of Findings

Achieved through high replicability in quantitative research to ensure conclusions are free from false assumptions.