Introduction to Research

Research Method

Approach to acquiring knowledge involving formulating specific questions and systematically finding accurate answers.

Scientific Method

Systematic inquiry using disciplined methods to build knowledge and potentially solve problems.

Basic Research

Attempt to create knowledge without directly solving practical problems, highly theoretical.

Applied Research

Attempt to find immediate solutions to current practical problems.

Reality

The phenomenon or event being studied.

Theory

System of variables and their assumed relationships to explain a phenomenon.

Measurement

Quantifying and assigning numerical values to variables.

Postpositivism

Philosophical stance that reality is imperfectly apprehendable, emphasizes falsification of hypotheses.

Variable

Any factor that can be measured or controlled in a study.

Efficacy

Success in achieving desired outcomes.

Gender

A variable used to categorize individuals based on their biological sex.

Academic Performance

Measurement of a student's success in educational settings.

Agreeableness

A personality trait representing a person's tendency to be friendly and cooperative.

Validity

The extent to which a measuring instrument accurately measures what it intends to measure.

Reliability

The consistency and stability of a measuring instrument over repeated measurements.

Perceived Effort

Individual's subjective assessment of the amount of effort exerted in a task.

Attributional Feedback

Feedback given based on attributing success or failure to specific causes.

Scale

Measurement instrument used to assign numerical values to variables.

Statistics

Mathematical procedures for organizing, summarizing, and interpreting data.

Academic Performance

Student's achievement and success in educational tasks.

Teacher Attributional Feedback

Feedback provided by a teacher based on attributing student performance to specific causes.

Grades

Numerical representation of academic achievement.

Ontology

Branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of being and reality.

Epistemology

Branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of knowledge and belief.

Critical realism

Philosophical perspective that assumes reality exists and can be imperfectly understood.

Modified dualist/objectivist

Epistemological stance combining elements of dualism and objectivism in research.

Manipulative

Research methodology where variables are manipulated to observe their effects.

Triangulation

Method for validating research findings through multiple sources or methods.

Hypotheses

Testable predictions or statements in research.

Quantitative

Research approach involving the collection and analysis of numerical data.