Identifying a Research Question and Study Purpose(s)

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on identifying a research question and study purposes.

Research Topic

A narrowly focused and clearly defined area related to an important complex problem.

Research Problem

The foundational need for the study, describing why the study needs to be conducted and the context for the study.

Descriptive Research Problem

Describes a phenomenon without attempting to explain outcomes.

Predictive Research Problem

Identifies relationships among variables to predict an outcome.

Explanation Problems

Attempts to answer questions about why events and behaviors occur.

Theory

An explanation of observed patterns or relationships among phenomena.

Inductive Reasoning

Making predictions about general principles based on specific observations.

Deductive Reasoning

Starting with general information to explain specific events.

Literature Review

A synopsis of existing knowledge based on previous studies on similar topics.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated in research; known as the treatment variable.

Dependent Variable

The variable being affected or the outcome variable in research.

Mediator Variable

A variable that explains the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Control Variable

A variable that could influence the outcome but is not the main focus of the study.

Extraneous Variable

An unmeasured variable that is not controlled for in a study.

Research Hypothesis

A prediction derived from theory about the outcome of a study.

Null Hypothesis

States that there is no relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Purpose Statement

The most important statement in a research study that declares the intent and identifies variables.