Research Methods and Foundations Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the hidden curriculum, research methodologies, philosophies, study designs, and power and inequity concepts.

Hidden Curriculum

The unspoken rules, knowledge, values, or expectations that students need to know to succeed in school but are not directly taught.

Access vs. Inclusion

Access refers to being allowed into an academic institution, whereas inclusion refers to being actively supported once you are there.

Research

The process of finding or creating knowledge, described as curiosity turned into action.

Basic Research

A form of research that builds knowledge and understanding, though it may not solve an immediate practical problem.

Applied Research

A form of research that uses findings to solve a practical, real-world problem.

Action Research

A type of research that investigates how to create or improve change, such as testing a new strategy to improve leadership or workplace culture.

Exploratory Research

Research that explores a topic that is not well understood to help generate new questions or ideas.

Descriptive Research

Research that describes what is happening by answering questions such as Who, What, When, and Where.

Conclusive Research

Research that tests hypotheses and information to reach a clear conclusion about whether an idea is supported.

Prescriptive Research

Research that recommends what should be done by providing advice or possible solutions.

Case Study

A detailed research investigation focusing deeply on one person, group, place, program, or event.

Survey Research

A research method that gathers information and answers from many people.

Historical Research

A method of research that studies the past through records and historical documents.

Ex-post Facto Research

Research that examines an event or phenomenon after it has occurred without researcher intervention or control.

Field Research

Research conducted directly in a natural, real-world setting rather than in a controlled laboratory environment.

Empirical Research

A research approach that relies on real-world observations and data as evidence.

Theoretical Research

A research approach that employs conceptual ideas and explanations to understand facts.

Deductive Reasoning

A top-down reasoning process that begins with a general theory or hypothesis and tests it against specific observations or data.

Inductive Reasoning

A bottom-up reasoning process that starts with specific observations, identifies patterns, and builds toward a general theory.

Ontology

A branch of research philosophy concerning beliefs about reality and existence, addressing the question: What is real?

Epistemology

A branch of research philosophy focused on how knowledge is created and what counts as truth, addressing the question: How do we know?

Axiology

The philosophical element within research that addresses ethical values and what is considered ethical.

Methodology

The strategic framework or plan within research philosophy that dictates how the research will be conducted.

Literature Review

A collection and synthesis of research sources surrounding a topic that establishes context, gaps, theories, and comparisons.

Primary Research

Research that provides original, firsthand information gathered directly by the researcher.

Secondary Research

Research that utilizes data, findings, or information previously collected and examined by others.

Keshav Method

A three-step approach for reviewing academic literature consisting of skim, understand, and evaluate.

Positivism

A research paradigm asserting that reality can be objectively measured through facts, experiments, statistics, and cause-and-effect evidence.

Interpretivism

A research paradigm asserting that people experience different realities, focusing on understanding subjective meanings, opinions, and context.

Critical Theory

A research paradigm dedicated to studying power, inequality, and oppression to challenge unfair systems and foster social change.

Pragmatism

A research paradigm centered on the research question and what works best, frequently combining quantitative and qualitative mixed methods for real-world solutions.

Quantitative Methods

Research designs that employ numbers, measurements, and statistical analyses to measure, compare, and test hypotheses.

Experimental Research

A quantitative study design where the researcher manipulates an independent variable, measures the dependent variable, and typically uses a control group to evaluate cause and effect.

Non-experimental Research

A quantitative study design where the researcher does not manipulate variables, instead observing and measuring conditions that already exist.

Experimental vs. Non-experimental Research

Experimental designs involve changing variables and using control groups to test cause and effect, whereas non-experimental designs observe existing conditions to show descriptions, relationships, or differences.

Correlational Research

A non-experimental research design that investigates whether a relationship exists between two factors.

Causal-comparative Research

A quantitative research approach that compares pre-existing groups to uncover potential causes of differences without researcher manipulation.

Qualitative Methods

Research approaches focused on examining human experiences, meanings, opinions, and narratives in-depth and in context using words rather than numbers.

Ethnography

A qualitative design dedicated to studying the culture and everyday life of a specific group.

Grounded Theory

A qualitative research approach that develops a theoretical framework inductively from patterns discovered within the data.

Narrative Analysis

A qualitative methodology focused on examining the personal stories people share and the manner in which they narrate them.

Phenomenological Analysis

A qualitative method that explores individuals' lived experiences regarding a specific event or situation.

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

A collaborative qualitative framework where researchers and community members share power and work together throughout the research process.

Intersectionality

A framework recognizing that an individual's overlapping identities (such as race, gender, social class, and sexuality) interact to shape their experiences of advantage and disadvantage.

Researcher Positionality

The principle that a researcher's identity, background, personal values, and life experiences influence their research questions, interactions, and interpretations.

Standpoint

The perspective that an individual's social position and lived experiences shape their knowledge, allowing marginalized groups to perceive structural inequalities that dominant groups overlook.