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Language of Research Quick Reference List

The document provides definitions for key terms used in research including: - Concepts are abstract ideas or mental images used to describe objects, events, or phenomena. Conceptualization is specifying precisely what a term means. - Constructs are concepts that are invented or constructed. Operationalization is defining how concepts can be measured. - Variables are logical collections of attributes that can be measured. A theory weaves assumptions to organize, explain, and predict relationships between concepts. - Hypotheses are educated guesses about relationships between variables that theories predict. Theoretical models apply theories to specific situations.

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8 views

Language of Research Quick Reference List

The document provides definitions for key terms used in research including: - Concepts are abstract ideas or mental images used to describe objects, events, or phenomena. Conceptualization is specifying precisely what a term means. - Constructs are concepts that are invented or constructed. Operationalization is defining how concepts can be measured. - Variables are logical collections of attributes that can be measured. A theory weaves assumptions to organize, explain, and predict relationships between concepts. - Hypotheses are educated guesses about relationships between variables that theories predict. Theoretical models apply theories to specific situations.

Uploaded by

takemebrick
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Language of Research: Quick Reference List

Concept
A mental image or abstract idea one holds about an object, event, or phenomenon.

Conceptualization
The process through which we specify precisely what we mean when we use a particular term.

Conceptual Definitions
Definitions that describe what we mean by a concept.

Construct
Because concepts are "invented" or constructed, they are sometimes referred to as constructs.

Operationalization
The process of moving from an abstract concept to concrete indicators that enable measurement.

Operational Definition
Defines how a concept will be measured by specifying the attributes of interest along with rules for gathering and interpreting the measure.

Variable
A logical collection of attributes, characteristics, or qualities.
A concept that can be measured... its empirical counterpart.

Proposition
A statement that describes how the concepts within a theory relate to one another (i.e., why the relationships exist or how they work).
It might also be known as "an axiom," or "a postulate," "a theorem," or an "empirical generalization."

Theory
Results from weaving together what is known with conjecture (i.e., our assumptions).
Its main functions include: organizing, explaining, and predicting.
A set of interrelated concepts that guide how we approach or think about something.

Hypothesis
An educated hunch, notion, or speculation.
A statement of what we expect to find in the "real world" if our theory is correct.
A statement re: how 2 or more variables are believed to relate to, or differ from, one another.

Theoretical Model
An application of a theory to a specific situation (e.g., using systems theory to explain family behavior).

Research Hypothesis
A statement re: how 2 or more variables will relate to, or differ from one another... in a given study.

Null Hypothesis
States that no real relationship or difference exists among the variables under study.

Control Variable
It is sometimes referred to as an extraneous variable.
A variable the researcher is not interested in studying, but may influence the outcome.

Independent Variable
It influences, predicts, or explains the outcome(s) of interest.

Dependent Variable
It is what you are trying to predict or explain (i.e., the outcome of interest).

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