STA630 Glossary

STA630 · Glossary ·  Action Research

That research role where the researcher and their role is involved in the research study and is interventionist. Here research is joined with action in order to plan, implement and monitor change.

 Alternative hypothesis

Alternative hypothesis is a statement that expresses a relationship between two variables or indicating differences among groups. It is opposite to null hypothesis. It is usually denoted by H1.

 Applied Research

Applied research solves specific problems and it is conducted when decision must be made for particular real-life poblem. For example, a particular product may not be selling well and manager wants to know reasons in order to take actions.

 Basic Research

Basic research is conducted to generate a body of knowledge which may not be immediately utilized. It is also known as Fundamental research or Pure research.

 Bibliography

Bibliography is the list of all works that are relevant to the topic of interested research, arranged in alphabetical order of the last name of authors.

 Broad Problem Area

Broad problem area refers to the entire situation where one sees a possible need of doing research and solving a problem. It is a general area of study from where research process starts.

 Case study

Case study is in-depth, contextual analysis of a situation or number of specific situations i.e. cases. Case study is a problem solving technique that explores problem in as rich detail as possible. Example can be case study of highly successful organization.

 Categorical variable

Categorical variable is a variable that has distinct value and which cannot be divided into fractions. For example, sex; male and female. Categorical variables are also known as discontinuous or classifactory variables.

 Causal study

The study in which researcher wants to explain the cause of one or more problems is called causal study. For example, does smoking cause cancer? The given research question is causal study.

 Causality

Relationship where a change in one variable produces a change in another variable. One variable affects, influences, or determines some other variable.

 Chi-square test statistic

Measure of the goodness of fit between the numbers observed in the sample and the numbers we should have seen in the sample, given the null hypothesis is true.

 Close ended question

Closed ended questions are the questions in which respondent has to choose one of the given options in a question that specifically reflects his/her answer. Close ended questions help respondents to make quick decisions to choose among several alternatives

 Cluster sampling

Cluster sampling is form of probability sampling which is done when groups of elements have heterogeneity among members within.

 Coding

Coding is assigning of numbers or symbols to the data before entering it into the computer. The assigned numbers and symbols make statistical analysis easy.

 Communication research

An umbrella term for market research, social research, media research and audience research combined.

 Computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI)

Computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) is another type of Computer assisted interviews in which responses can be directly entered into the computer using microcomputers. It reduces the error and cost

 Computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI)

Computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) is a technique to collect data in which responses gathered from telephone interviews are directly entered into the computer by using advance software. Voice recording system assists CATI programs to record interviewees’ responses.

 Concept

An idea aimed at satisfying consumer wants and needs.

 Confounds or confounding variables

Extraneous causal factors (variables) that can possibly affect the dependent variable and, therefore, must be controlled.

 Content Validity

Establishes the representative sampling of a whole set of items that measures a concept, and reflects how well the dimensions and elements therof are delineated.

 Data analysis

Data analysis is the process to analyze data after collecting it. During the analysis stage, several interrelated procedures are performed to summarize and rearrange the data.

 Data interpretation

Data interpretation refers to making inferences pertinent to the meaning and implications of the research investigation and drawing conclusions.