Practical Research 2: Introduction to Research and Types of Quantitative Research

Vocabulary flashcards covering core definitions, distinctions (thesis vs. research paper), methodologies, and quantitative research types from the Practical Research 2 introductory module.

Research (Etymological Meaning)

The act of searching closely, combining the prefix 're-' (meaning again or anew) and 'search' (from the Old French 'cerchier', meaning to look for or search closely), implying thoroughness, repetition, and careful looking.

Research (Dictionary-Based Meaning)

A systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.

Academic Research

A specific form of research that adheres to a formal, documented, and ethical process.

Thesis

A degree-requirement form of academic writing in higher education that takes years to complete, spans 20,000–25,000 words (approx. 100–130 pages), and may pursue more than one research goal.

Research Paper

A course or subject requirement form of academic writing that takes a few weeks or months to complete, spans 10,000–15,000 words (approx. 50–60 pages), and has only one focused goal.

Formal Research

A way of conducting research that follows a structured, systematic procedure, is documented and methodical, and adheres to accepted standards of methodology, citation, and peer review.

Informal Research

An exploratory and flexible way of collecting and analyzing data in an unstructured manner (e.g., casual reading, interviewing, observing) that usually leads to publication and often becomes the seed of a formal study.

Qualitative Approach

A research approach focusing on narrative descriptions from in-depth interviews, observations, and open-ended questions to explore human experiences, meanings, and behaviors by answering 'why' and 'how'.

Quantitative Approach

A research approach used to quantify a problem by generating numerical data that can be transformed into usable statistics, measuring variables through mathematical and statistical techniques to answer 'how much,' 'how many,' and 'to what extent'.

Mixed-Method Approach

A research approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods to provide rich explanations through qualitative narrative answers alongside statistical data.

Descriptive Research

A type of quantitative research focused on collecting data to describe the characteristics of variables; it answers 'What is…?' or 'How may… be described?' and usually develops a hypothesis after data collection.

Correlational Research

A type of quantitative research that determines the level and direction of relationship between two quantifiable variables as they occur naturally without manipulation, noting that correlation does not imply causation.

Pearson Correlation Coefficient ($r$)

A statistical value used in correlational research to express the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, ranging from $-1 \text{ to } 1$ ($-1 \le r \le 1$).

Comparative Research

A type of quantitative research (experimental or non-experimental) that compares two or more different groups across a variable of interest by examining group means to answer 'How do groups differ…?'.

Practical Research 2

An academic subject focusing on the design, conduct, and reporting of quantitative research studies that utilize numerical data.