quantitative research terminology

quantitative research

research approach that focuses on numbers, measurements, and statistic to examine relationships, differences, or effects between variables

Experimental research

a type of quantitative research that investigates cause and effect relationships by manipulating an independant variable and observing its effects on the dependent variable

non-experimental research

a type of quantitative research where the researcher does not manipulate variables instead observes, measures, and analyzes relationships as they naturally occur

quasi-experimental research

a type of non-experimental research where the researcher examines the cause and effect relationship but lacks random assignments to group

correlational design

a type of non experimental quantitative research that examines the relationship between 2 or more variables to understand if they correlate without manipulation

descriptive design

a type of non-experimental quantitative research that aims to descriptive characteristics, behaviors, and conditions of a population without examining relationships.

hypothesis

a clear and testable statement that predicts a relationship between 2 variables in a research study

null hypothesis

a type of hypothesis that states there is no relationship between the 2 variables

true experiment

a type of experimental quantitative research that tests cause and effect relationship by manipulating the independant variable using random assignment and a control group

Independant variable

the variable i the research study delibaratley changes, manipulates, or controls to see its effects on the other variable

dependant variable

the measurable variable that is getting manipulated by the independant variable

experimental group

the group of participants in a study that receives the intervention being tested

control group

the group in a study that does not receive the intervention

extraneous variable

any variable other than the independant that could effect the independant variable

confounding variables

a type of extraneous variable that affects both the independant and dependent variable

random selection

sample units randomly selected from a population and everyone has an equal chance

random allocation

participants placed in a group that each participants have an equal chance of being in a group

allocation concealment

the action of hiding group assihgnments from person enrolling participants

blinding

when researchers and participants do not know which group participants in after allocation

meta-analysis

a statistical method that combines results from multiple independant studies on the same topic to produce one overall estimate of the effect

rigor

overall quality,production, and precision of a research study

validity

the overall accuracy fo whether a study measures what it claims to measure

internal validity

extent to which the independant varibale changes the dependant variable and not the extraneous variables

construct validity

the extent to which your test or measure accurately assesses what it's supposed to.

external validity

the extent to which study findings can be generalizable to the target population

predictive coorelational research

a type of quantitative nonexperimental coorelational research that determines the relationshhip between variables to determine whether one variable cna be used to preduct another

retrospective predictive coorelational research

a type of quantitative nonexperimental coorelational research that examines existing data from the past to examine relationships or outcomes

cross sectional research

a type of non experimental research that examines a relationship between variables at a single point in time

prospective longitudinal research

a type of quantitative research that follows participants forward in time to observe outcomes as they occur

case control design

a quantitative non experimental retrospective study that compaares indivisuals with a condition to those without a condition to identify possibel past exposures or risk factors

phenomenology

a qualitative research design that focuses on exploring and understanding peoples lived experiences

bracketing

a key technique in phenomenological research where a researcher sets aside their own beliefs, assumptions, and experiences to focus solely on a participants lived experience

ethnography

a qualitative research approach that explores the culture, behaviour, and social interactions of a group in their natural setting.

reflexivity

a process in qualitative research where the researcher reflects on their own influences, biases, and role in study to ensure transperecy and credibility.