Quantitative Research, Variables, Research Design, and Ethics

Vocabulary flashcards covering quantitative research fundamentals, types of variables, comparative and experimental research designs, statistical tests, and principles of research ethics.

Quantitative Research

A systematic investigation that collects and analyzes numerical data about a population or phenomenon to measure variables, test hypotheses, identify relationships or differences, and draw objective conclusions.

Reliability

The degree to which research findings are replicable and consistent across studies.

Generalizability

The applicability of research findings to the whole population from which the sample was drawn.

Causal-Comparative Research (Ex Post Facto)

A comparative research design where compared groups already exist naturally, and researchers cannot manipulate or ethically assign the independent variable.

Experimental Research

A research design where the researcher deliberately creates groups or conditions by introducing an intervention (manipulating the independent variable) and observing its effect.

Variable

A characteristic, property, or factor studied in research that can take on different values or categories among individuals, objects, or situations.

Univariate Study

A study that involves and analyzes only one variable.

Bivariate Study

A study that examines two variables.

Polyvariate Study

A study that involves more than two variables.

Dichotomous Variable

A categorical variable that has exactly two categories.

Polychotomous Variable

A categorical variable that has more than two categories.

Nominal Variable

A categorical variable consisting of groups or categories that do not have an intrinsic hierarchy or order.

Ordinal Variable

A categorical variable whose groups or categories have a set order or ranking, but where the distances between categories are not necessarily equal.

Interval Variable

A numerical variable with ordered numerical values and equal intervals between values, but without a meaningful absolute zero.

Ratio Variable

A numerical variable with ordered numerical values, equal intervals between values, and a meaningful absolute zero.

Discrete Variable

A numerical variable whose values result from counting and consist of separate, countable values.

Continuous Variable

A numerical variable whose values result from measurement and can take any value within a continuous range.

Research Construct

An abstract concept or phenomenon that researchers seek to study but cannot observe or measure directly, often composed of multiple sub-variables or dimensions.

Descriptive Research

A research design that seeks to describe the characteristics, status, or frequency of a particular phenomenon, situation, or group.

Correlational Research

A research design that aims to determine the relationship between variables and its strength without manipulating any variables.

Causal Research

A research design aimed at establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between variables using manipulation and controlled environments.

True Experimental Design

An experimental research design characterized by three essential elements: manipulation of the independent variable, use of a control or comparison group, and randomization of participants.

Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design

A true experimental design where two randomly assigned groups both have baseline data and posttest measured, with one group receiving treatment and the other serving as control.

Posttest-Only Control Group Design

A true experimental design where two randomly assigned groups have only their posttest measured, with one group receiving treatment and the other serving as control.

Solomon Four-Group Design

A true experimental design involving four randomly assigned groups (two with baseline pretest measurements and two without), where some receive treatment and all have posttests measured.

Quasi-Experimental Design

An experimental design where groups are measured at baseline and posttest, with one group receiving an intervention, but participants are not randomly assigned.

Non-equivalent Control Group Design

A quasi-experimental design featuring two non-randomly assigned groups that undergo both pretest and posttest measurements, with one group receiving intervention.

Time-Series Design

A quasi-experimental design in which one group has its baseline data measured multiple times, receives an intervention, and is measured multiple times afterward to observe changes over time.

Pre-Experimental Design

A weak research design that lacks both randomization and control groups.

One-Shot Case Study

A pre-experimental design where one group receives an intervention and is measured only once afterward, with no baseline pretest or control group.

One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design

A pre-experimental design where a single group is measured at baseline, subjected to an intervention, and measured again post-intervention.

Normal Distribution

A symmetrical distribution where data are reasonably balanced around the center, with fewer observations appearing toward the extremes.

Research Ethics

Guidelines for the proper conduct of research across planning, execution, and reporting phases to maintain integrity and protection of subjects.

Replace (3Rs of Animal Ethics)

The obligation to find suitable non-human or non-animal alternatives whenever possible.

Reduce (3Rs of Animal Ethics)

The obligation to minimize the number of non-human respondents used if no alternative options exist.

Refine (3Rs of Animal Ethics)

The obligation to adjust procedures so that the minimum possible amount of pain and distress is inflicted on non-human respondents.

Republic Act 8485

The Animal Welfare Act.

Republic Act 10173

The Data Privacy Act.

Voluntary Participation

The right of respondents to refuse to participate in research without coercion or force from researchers.

Informed Consent

The requirement that participants must be provided an overview and fully informed about the research before agreeing to participate.

Anonymity

The right of research respondents to keep their identities unknown throughout and after the study.

Confidentiality

The ethical principle requiring that participant data and information be stored securely and kept safe.

Scientific Misconduct

A deviation from universally accepted conduct in research resulting in scientific dishonesty.

Data Fabrication

The act of inventing data without actual experimentation or altering recorded data to fit expected research outcomes.

Falsification of Data

The practice of omitting non-conforming data, or manipulating data, equipment, or processes so research is not accurately represented in records.

Plagiarism

Claiming another person's ideas, work, or publication as one's own; a form of intellectual property theft and dishonesty.

Clone Plagiarism

Submitting another person's work, word-for-word, as one's own.

Copy and Paste Plagiarism

Writing a study that contains significant portions of text copied directly from a single source without citations.

Find-Replace Plagiarism

Changing key words and phrases from a source while retaining the essential original content without proper attribution.

Remix Plagiarism

Paraphrasing from multiple sources and combining the content to fit together seamlessly without citation.

Recycle Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism; borrowing generously from one's own previous work without providing citations.

Hybrid Plagiarism

Combining perfectly-cited sources with uncredited copied passages in the same work.

Mash-Up Plagiarism

Mixing copied word-for-word material from several different sources without proper citation.

404 Error Plagiarism

Including nonexistent citations or inaccurate source details while presenting work that contains almost no original content.

Aggregator Plagiarism

Including proper citations throughout a paper that contains almost no original work.