CHAPTER 1 - Development of Nursing Research
Key Terms
Key Terms
applied research
Research that is conducted to find a solution to an immediate practical problem.
basic research (pure research)
Research that is conducted to generate knowledge rather than to solve immediate problems.
clinical nursing research
Nursing research studies involving clients or that have the potential for affecting clients.
empirical data
Objective data gathered through the sense organs.
nursing research
A systematic, objective, process of analyzing phenomena of importance to nursing.
outcomes research
Research that examines the outcomes or results of patient care interventions.
qualitative research
Research that is concerned with the subjective meaning of an experience to an individual.
quantitative research
Research that is concerned with objectivity, tight controls over the research situation, and the ability to generalize findings
CHAPTER 2 - An Overview of Quantitative Research
Key Terms.
Key Terms.
accessible population
The group of people or objects that is available to the researcher for a particular study.
assumptions
Beliefs that are held to be true but have not necessarily been proven; assumptions may be explicit or implicit.
data
The pieces of information or facts collected during a research study.
dependent variable
The "effect"; a response or behavior that is influenced by the independent variable; sometimes called the criterion variable.
hypothesis
A statement of the predicted relationship between two or more variables.
independent variable
The "cause" or the variable that is thought to influence the dependent variable; in experimental research it is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher.
limitations
Weaknesses in a study; uncontrolled variables.
operational definition
The definition of a variable that identifies how the variable will be observed or measured.
pilot study
A small-scale, trial run of an actual research study.
population
A complete set of persons or objects that possess some common characteristic that is of interest to the researcher.
research design
The overall plan for gathering data in a research study.
sample
A subset of the population that is selected to represent the population.
target population
The entire group of people or objects to which the researcher wishes to generalize the findings of a study.
variable
A characteristic or attribute of a person or object that differs among the persons or objects that are being studied (e.g., age, blood type).
CHAPTER 3 - Ethical Issues in Nursing Research
Key Terms
Key Terms
anonymity
The identity of research subjects is unknown, even to the study investigator.
confidentiality
The identity of the research subjects is known only to the study investigator(s).
informed consent
A subject voluntarily agrees to participate in a research study in which he or she has full understanding of the study before the study begins.
CHAPTER 4 - Identifying Nursing Research Problems
Key Terms
Key Terms
bivariate study
A research study in which the relationship between two variables is examined.
multivariate study
A research study in which more than two variables are examined.
replication study
A research study that repeats or duplicates an earlier research study, with all of the essential elements of the original study held intact. A different sample or setting may be used.
univariate study
A research study in which only one variable is examined.
CHAPTER 5 - Review of the Literature
Key Terms
Key Terms
abstract
(research abstracts). Brief summaries of research studies; generally contain the purpose, methods, and major findings of the study.
CD-ROM
Compact Disk-Read Only Memory.
ejournal
An online journal.
ezine
An online magazine.
indexes
Compilations of reference materials that provide information on books and periodicals.
primary source
In the research literature, it is an account of a research study that has been written by the original researcher(s); in historical studies, primary sources consist of firsthand information or direct evidence of an event.
secondary source
In the research literature, it is an account of a research study that has been written by someone other than the study investigators; in historical studies, secondary sources are secondhand information or data provided by someone who did not observe the event.
CHAPTER 6 - Theory and Nursing Research
Key Terms
Key Terms
concept
A word picture or mental idea of a phenomenon.
conceptual framework
A background or foundation for a study; a less well-developed structure than a theoretical framework; concepts are related in a logical manner by the researcher.
conceptual model
Symbolic presentation of concepts and the relationships between these concepts.
construct
A highly abstract phenomenon that cannot be directly observed but must be inferred by certain concrete or less abstract indicators of the phenomenon.
deductive reasoning
A reasoning process that proceeds from the general to the specific, from theory to empirical data.
empirical generalization
A summary statement about the occurrence of phenomena that is based on empirical data from a number of different research studies.
grand theories
Theories that are concerned with a broad range of phenomena in the environment or in the experiences of humans.
inductive reasoning
A reasoning process that proceeds from the specific to the general, from empirical data to theory.
middle-range theories
Theories that have a narrow focus; they are concerned with only a small area of the environment or of human experiences.
model
A symbolic representation of some phenomenon or phenomena.
proposition
A statement or assertion of the relationship between concepts.
theoretical framework
A study framework based on propositional statements from a theory.
theory
A set of related statements that describes or explains phenomena in a systematic way.
CHAPTER 7 - Hypotheses and Research Questions
Key Terms
Key Terms
complex hypothesis
A hypothesis that concerns a relationship where two or more independent variables, two or more dependent variables, or both are being examined.
directional research hypothesis
A type of hypothesis in which a prediction is made of the type of relationship that exists between variables.
interaction effect
The result of two variables acting in conjunction with each other.
nondirectional research hypothesis
A type of research hypothesis in which a prediction is made that a relationship exists between variables, but the type of relationship is not specified.
null hypothesis (Ho)
A statistical hypothesis that predicts there is no relationship between variables; the hypothesis that is subjected to statistical analysis.
research hypothesis (H1)
An alternative hypothesis to the statistical null hypothesis; predicts the researcher's actual expectations about the outcome of a study; also called scientific, substantive, and theoretical.
simple hypothesis
A hypothesis that predicts the relationship between one independent and one dependent variable.
CHAPTER 8 - Quantitative Research Designs
Key Terms
Key Terms
comparative studies
Studies in which intact groups are compared on some dependent variable. The researcher is not able to manipulate the independent variable, which is frequently some inherent characteristic of the subjects, such as age or educational level.
comparison group
A group of subjects in an experimental study that does not receive any experimental treatment or receives an alternate treatment such as the "normal" or routine treatment.
control group
A group of subjects in an experimental study that does not receive the experimental treatment (see comparison group).
correlation
The extent to which values of one variable (X) are related to the values of a second variable (Y). Correlations may be either positive or negative.
correlation coefficient
A statistic that presents the magnitude and direction of a relationship between two variables. Correlation coefficients range from -1.00 (perfect negative relationship) to +1.00 (perfect positive relationship).
correlational studies
Research studies that examine the strength of relationships between variables.
descriptive studies
Research studies in which phenomena are described or the relationship between variables is examined; no attempt is made to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
experimenter effect
A threat to the external validity of a research study that occurs when the researcher's behavior influences the subjects' behavior in a way that is not intended by the researcher.
explanatory studies
Research studies that search for causal explanations; usually experimental in nature.
exploratory studies
Research studies that are conducted when little is known about the phenomenon that is being studied.
ex post facto studies
Studies in which the variation in the independent variable has already occurred in the past, and the researcher, "after the fact," is trying to determine if the variation that has occurred in the independent variable has any influence on the dependent variable that is being measured in the present.
external validity
The degree to which study results can be generalized to other people and other research settings.
extraneous variable
A type of variable that is not the variable of interest to a researcher but that may influence the results of a study. Other terms for extraneous variable are intervening variable and confounding variable.
field studies
Research studies that are conducted "in the field" or real-life setting.
Hawthorne effect
A threat to the external validity of a research study that occurs when study participants respond in a certain manner because they are aware that they are involved in a research study.
history
A threat to the internal validity of an experimental research study; some event besides the experimental treatment occurs between the pretreatment and posttreatment measurement of the dependent variable, and this event influences the dependent variable.
instrumentation change
A threat to the internal validity of an experimental research study that involves changes from the pretest measurements to the posttest measurements as a result of inaccuracy of the instrument or the judges' ratings rather than as a result of the experimental treatment.
internal validity
The degree to which changes in the dependent variable (effect) can be attributed to the independent or experimental variable (cause) rather than to the effects of extraneous variables.
laboratory studies
Research studies in which subjects are studied in a special environment that has been created by the researcher.
manipulation
The independent or experimental variable is controlled by the researcher to determine its effect on the dependent variable.
maturation
A threat to the internal validity of an experimental research study that occurs when changes that take place within study subjects as a result of the passage of time (growing older, taller) affect the study results.
methodological studies
Research studies that are concerned with the development, testing, and evaluation of research instruments and methods.
mortality
A threat to the internal validity of an experimental research study that occurs when the subject drop-out rate is different or characteristics are different between those who drop out of the experimental group and those who drop out of the comparison group.
negative relationship (inverse relationship)
A relationship between two variables in which there is a tendency for the values of one variable to increase as the values of the other variable decrease.
nonequivalent control group design
A type of quasiexperimental design; similar to the pretest-posttest control group experimental design, except that there is no random assignment of subjects to groups.
one-group pretest-posttest design
A type of preexperimental design; compares one group of subjects before and after an experimental treatment.
one-shot case study
A type of preexperimental design; a single group of subjects is observed after a treatment to determine the effects of the treatment. No pretest measurement is made.
positive relationship (direct relationship)
A relationship between two variables in which the variables tend to vary together; as the values of one variable increase or decrease, the values of the other variable increase or decrease.
posttest-only control group design
True experimental design in which subjects in the experimental and comparison groups are given a posttest after the experimental group receives the study treatment.
preexperimental design
A type of experimental design in which the researcher has little control over the research situation; includes the one-shot case study and the one-group pretest-posttest design.
pretest-posttest control group design
True experimental design in which subjects in the experimental and comparison groups are given a pretest before and a posttest after the administration of the study treatment to the experimental group.
prospective studies
Studies in which the independent variable or presumed cause (use of birth control pills, for example) is identified at the present time and then subjects are followed for some time in the future to observe the dependent variable or effect (thrombophlebitis or myocardial infarctions, for example).
quasiexperimental design
A type of experimental design in which there is either no comparison group or no random assignment of subjects to groups; includes the nonequivalent control group design and time-series design.
random assignment
A procedure used in an experimental study to ensure that each study subject has an equal chance of being placed into any one of the study groups.
reactive effects of the pretest
A threat to the external validity of a research study that occurs when subjects are sensitized to the experimental treatment by the pretest.
retrospective studies
Studies in which the dependent variable is identified in the present (e.g., a disease condition) and an attempt is made to determine the independent variable (e.g., cause of the disease) that occurred in the past.
Rosenthal effect
The influence of interviewers on respondents' answers.
selection bias
A threat to the internal validity of an experimental research study that occurs when study results are attributed to the experimental treatment when, in fact, the results may be due to pretreatment differences between the subjects in the experimental and comparison groups.
simulation studies
Laboratory studies in which subjects are presented with a description of a case study or situation that is intended to represent a real-life situation.
Solomon four-group design
True experimental design that minimizes threats to internal and external validity.
survey studies
Research studies in which self-report data are collected from a sample to determine the characteristics of a population.
testing
A threat to the internal validity of a research study that occurs when a pretest is administered to subjects; the effects of taking a pretest on responses on the posttest.
time-series design
Quasiexperimental design in which the researcher periodically observes subjects and administers an experimental treatment between two of the observations.
true experimental design
An experimental design in which the researcher (a) manipulates the experimental variable, (b) includes at least one experimental and one comparison group in the study, and (c) randomly assigns subjects to either the experimental or comparison group; includes the pretest-posttest control group design, posttest-only control group design, and Solomon four-group design.
CHAPTER 9 - Qualitative Research Designs
Key Terms
Key Terms
case studies
Research studies that involve an in-depth examination of a single person or a group of people. A case study might also examine an institution.
content analysis
A data collection method that examines communication messages that are usually in written form.
ethnographic studies
Research studies that involve the collection and analysis of data about cultural groups.
external criticism (external appraisal, external examination)
A type of examination of historical data that is concerned with the authenticity or genuineness of the data. External criticism might be used to determine if a letter was actually written by the person whose signature was contained on the letter.
focus group
A small group of individuals who meet together and are asked questions by a moderator about a certain topic or topics.
grounded theory studies
Research studies in which data are collected and analyzed and then a theory is developed that is "grounded" in the data.
historical studies
Research studies that are concerned with the identification, location, evaluation, and synthesis of data from the past.
internal criticism
A type of examination of historical data that is concerned with the accuracy of the data. Internal criticism might be used to determine if a document contained an accurate recording of events as they actually happened.
phenomenological studies
Research studies that examine human experiences through the descriptions of the meanings of these experiences provided by the people involved.
saturation
The researcher is hearing a repetition of themes or ideas as additional participants are interviewed in a qualitative study.
triangulation
Combining both qualitative and quantitative methods in one study.
CHAPTER 10 - Populations and Samples
Key Terms
Key Terms
cluster random sampling
A random sampling process that involves two or more stages. The population is first listed by clusters or categories (e.g., hospitals) and then the sample elements (e.g., hospital administrators) are randomly selected from these clusters.
cohort study
A special type of longitudinal study in which subjects are studied who have been born during one particular period or who have similar backgrounds.
convenience sampling (accidental sampling)
A nonprobability sampling procedure that involves the selection of the most readily available people or objects for a study.
cross-sectional study
A research study that collects data on subjects at one point in time.
disproportional stratified sampling
Random selection of members from population strata where the number of members chosen for each stratum is not in proportion to the size of the stratum in the total population.
element
A single member of a population.
longitudinal study
Subjects are followed during a period in the future; data are collected at two or more different time periods.
nonprobability sampling
A sampling process in which a sample is selected from elements or members of a population through nonrandom methods; includes convenience, quota, and purposive.
power analysis
A procedure that is used to determine the sample size needed to prevent a Type II error.
probability sampling
The use of a random sampling procedure to select a sample from elements or members of a population; includes simple, stratified, cluster, and systematic random sampling techniques.
proportional stratified sampling
Random selection of members from population strata where the number of members chosen from each stratum is in proportion to the size of the stratum in the total population.
purposive sampling (judgmental sampling)
A nonprobability sampling procedure in which the researcher uses personal judgment to select subjects who are considered to be representative of the population.
quota sampling
A nonprobability sampling procedure in which the researcher selects the sample to reflect certain characteristics of the population.
sampling bias
(a) The difference between sample data and population data that can be attributed to a faulty selection process; (b) a threat to the external validity of a research study that occurs when subjects are not randomly selected from the population.
sampling error
Random fluctuations in data that occur when a sample is selected to represent a population.
sampling frame
A listing of all the elements of the population from which a sample is to be chosen.
simple random sampling
A method of random sampling in which each element of the population has an equal and independent chance of being chosen for the sample.
snowball sampling
A sampling method that involves the assistance of study subjects to help obtain other potential subjects.
stratified random sampling
A random sampling process in which a sample is selected after the population has been divided into subgroups or strata according to some variable of importance to the research study.
systematic random sampling
A random sampling process in which every kth (e.g., every fifth) element or member of the population is selected for the sample.
table of random numbers
A list of numbers that have been generated in such a manner that there is no order or sequencing of the numbers. Each number is equally likely to follow any other number.
volunteers
Subjects who have asked to participate in a study.
CHAPTER 11 - Measurement and Collection of Data Key Terms |
concurrent validity
A type of criterion validity in which a determination is made of the instrument's ability to obtain a measurement of subjects' behavior that is comparable to some other criterion used to indicate that behavior.
construct validity
The ability of an instrument to measure the construct that it is intended to measure.
content validity
The degree to which an instrument covers the scope and range of information that is sought.
criterion validity
The extent to which an instrument corresponds or correlates with some criterion measure of the information that is being sought; the ability of an instrument to determine subjects' responses at present or predict subjects’ responses in the future.
equivalence reliability
The degree to which two forms of an instrument obtain the same results or two or more observers obtain the same results when using a single instrument to measure a variable.
face validity
A subjective determination that an instrument is adequate for obtaining the desired information; on the surface or the "face" of the instrument it appears to be an adequate means of obtaining the desired data.
factor analysis
A type of validity used to identify clusters of related items on an instrument or scale.
internal consistency reliability (scale homogeneity)
The extent to which all items of an instrument measure the same variable.
interobserver reliability
See interrater reliability.
interrater reliability (interobserver reliability)
The degree to which two or more independent judges are in agreement about ratings or observations of events or behaviors.
interval level of measurement
Data can be categorized and ranked, and the distance between the ranks can be specified; pulse rates and temperature readings are examples of interval data.
known-groups procedure
A research technique in which a research instrument is administered to two groups of people whose responses are expected to differ on the variable of interest.
measurement
A process in scientific research that uses rules to assign numbers to objects.
nominal level of measurement
The lowest level of measurement; data are "named" or categorized, such as race and marital status.
ordinal level of measurement
Data can be categorized and placed in order; small, medium, and large is an example of a set of ordinal data.
predictive validity
A type of criterion validity of an instrument in which a determination is made of the instrument's ability to predict behavior of subjects in the future.
ratio level of measurement
Data can be categorized and ranked, the distance between ranks can be specified, and a "true" or natural zero point can be identified; the amount of money in a checking account and the number of requests for pain medication are examples of ratio data.
reliability
The consistency and dependability of a research instrument to measure a variable; types of reliability are stability, equivalence, and internal consistency.
research instruments (research tools)
Devices used to collect data in research studies.
stability reliability
The consistency of a research instrument over time; test-retest procedures and repeated observations are methods to test the stability of an instrument.
validity
The ability of an instrument to measure the variable that it is intended to measure.
CHAPTER 12 - Data-Collection Methods Key Terms |
ambiguous questions
Questions that contain words that may be interpreted in more than one way.
attitude scales
Self-report data collection instruments that ask respondents to report their attitudes or feelings on a continuum.
attribute variables
See demographic variables.
close-ended questions
Questions that require respondents to choose from given alternatives.
collectively exhaustive categories
Categories are provided for every possible answer.
contingency questions
Questions that are relevant for some respondents and not for others.
Delphi technique
A data collection method that uses several rounds of questions to seek a consensus on a particular topic from a group of experts on the topic.
demographic questions
Questions that gather data on characteristics of the subjects (see demographic variables).
demographic variables
Subject characteristics such as age, educational levels, and marital status.
double-barreled questions
Questions that ask two questions in one.
event sampling
Observations made throughout the entire course of an event or behavior.
filler questions
Questions used to distract respondents from the purpose of other questions that are being asked.
interview
A method of data collection in which the interviewer obtains responses from a subject in a face-to-face encounter or through a telephone call.
interview schedule
An instrument containing a set of questions, directions for asking these questions, and space to record the respondents' answers.
Likert scale
An attitude scale named after its developer, Rensis Likert. These scales usually contain five or seven responses for each item, ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree."
mutually exclusive categories
Categories are uniquely distinct; no overlap occurs between categories.
nonparticipant observer-covert
Research observer does not identify herself or himself to the subjects who are being observed.
nonparticipant observer-overt
Research observer openly identifies that she or he is conducting research and provides subjects with information about the type of data that will be collected.
observation research
A data-collection method in which data are collected through visual observations.
open-ended questions
Questions that allow respondents to answer in their own words.
participant observer-covert
Research observer interacts with subjects and observes their behavior without their knowledge.
participant observer-overt
Research observer interacts with subjects openly and with the full awareness of those people who will be observed.
personality inventories
Self-report measures used to assess the differences in personality traits, needs, or values of people.
preexisting data
Existing information that has not been collected for research purposes.
probes
Prompting questions that encourage the respondent to elaborate on the topic that is being discussed.
projective technique
Self-report measure in which a subject is asked to respond to stimuli that are designed to be ambiguous or to have no definite meaning. The responses reflect the internal feelings of the subject that are projected on the external stimuli.
Q-sort (Q methodology)
A data-collection method in which subjects are asked to sort statements into categories according to their attitudes toward, or rating of, the statements.
questionnaire
A paper-and-pencil, self-report instrument used to gather data from subjects.
semantic differential
Attitude scale that asks subjects to indicate their position or attitude about some concept along a continuum between two adjectives or phrases that are presented in relation to the concept that is being measured.
semistructured interviews
Interviewers ask a certain number of specific questions, but additional questions or probes are used at the discretion of the interviewer.
structured interviews
Interviewers ask the same questions in the same manner of all respondents.
structured observations
The researcher makes the determination of behaviors to be observed before data collection. Usually some kind of checklist is used to record behaviors.
telephone interviews
Data are collected from subjects through the use of phone calls rather than in face-to-face encounters.
time sampling
Observations of events or behaviors that are made during certain specified time periods.
unstructured interviews
The interviewer is given a great deal of freedom to direct the course of the interview; the interviewer's main goal is to encourage the respondent to talk freely about the topic that is being explored.
unstructured observations
The researcher describes behaviors as they are viewed, with no preconceived ideas of what will be seen.
visual analogue scale
Subjects are presented with a straight line that is anchored on each end with words or phrases that represent the extremes of some phenomenon, such as pain. Subjects are asked to make a mark on the line at the point that corresponds to their experience of the phenomenon.
CHAPTER 13 - Descriptive Statistics Key Terms |
bar graph
A figure used to represent a frequency distribution of nominal or ordinal data.
bimodal
A frequency distribution that contains two identical high frequency values.
class interval
A group of scores in a frequency distribution.
coefficient of determination (r2, R2)
A statistic obtained by squaring a correlation coefficient and is interpreted as the percentage of variance shared by two variables.
contingency table
A table that visually displays the relationship between sets of nominal data.
descriptive statistics
That group of statistics that organizes and summarizes numerical data obtained from populations and samples.
frequency distribution
A listing of all scores or numerical values from a set of data and the number of times each score or value appears; scores may be listed from highest to lowest or lowest to highest.
frequency polygon
A graph that uses dots connected with straight lines to represent the frequency distribution of interval or ratio data. A dot is placed above the midpoint of each class interval.
histogram
A graph used to represent the frequency distribution of variables measured at the interval or ratio level.
inferential statistics
That group of statistics concerned with the characteristics of populations and uses sample data to make an "inference" about a population.
interquartile range
Contains the middle half of the values in a frequency distribution.
mean (M)
A measure of central tendency; the average of a set of values that is found by adding all values and dividing by the total number of values. The population symbol is µ and the sample symbol is ¯x.
measures of central tendency
Statistics that describe the average, typical, or most common value for a group of data.
measures of relationship
Statistics that present the correlation between variables.
measures of variability
Statistics that describe how spread out values are in a distribution of values (e.g., range, standard deviation).
measures to condense data
Statistics that are used to condense and summarize data.
median (Md, Mdn)
A measure of central tendency; the middle score or value in a group of data.
modal class
The category with the greatest frequency of observations; used with nominal and ordinal data.
mode (Mo)
A measure of central tendency; the category or value that occurs most often in a set of data.
multimodal
A frequency distribution in which more than two values have the same high frequency.
negatively skewed
A frequency distribution in which the tail of the distribution points to the left.
nonsymmetrical distribution (skewed distribution)
Frequency distribution in which the distribution has an off-center peak. If the tail of the distribution points to the right, the distribution is said to be positively skewed; if the tail of the distribution points to the left, the distribution is said to be negatively skewed.
normal curve
A bell-shaped curve that graphically depicts a normally distributed frequency distribution (see normal distribution).
normal distribution
A symmetrical, bell-shaped theoretical distribution; has one central peak or set of values in the middle of the distribution.
parameter
A numerical characteristic of a population (e.g., the average educational level of people living in the United States).
percentage (%)
A statistic that represents the proportion of a subgroup to a total group, expressed as a % ranging from 0 to 100%.
percentile
A data point below which lies a certain percentage of the values in a frequency distribution.
positively skewed
A frequency distribution in which the tail of the distribution points to the right.
range
A measure of variability; the distance between the highest and lowest value in a group of values or scores.
scatter plot (scatter diagram, scattergram)
A graphic presentation of the relationship between two variables. The graph contains variables plotted on an X axis and a Y axis. Pairs of scores are plotted by the placement of dots to indicate where each pair of Xs and Ys intersect.
semiquartile range
Determined by dividing the interquartile range in half (see interquartile range).
standard deviation (SD; s)
A measure of variability; the statistic that indicates the average deviation or variation of all the values in a set of data from the mean value of that data.
statistic
A numerical characteristic of a sample (e.g., the average educational level of a random sample of people living in the United States).
symmetrical distributions
Frequency distributions in which both halves of the distribution are the same.
unimodal
A frequency distribution that contains one value that occurs more frequently than any other.
variance (SD2;s2)
A measure of variability; the standard deviation squared.
z-score
A standard score that indicates how many standard deviations that a particular value is away from the mean of the set of values.
CHAPTER 14 - Inferential Statistics Key Terms |
analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)
A statistical test that allows the researcher to statistically control for some variable(s) that may have an influence on the dependent variable.
analysis of variance (ANOVA)
A parametric statistical test that is used to compare the difference between the means of two or more groups or sets of values.
canonical correlation
Examines the correlation between two or more independent variables and two or more dependent variables.
central limit theorem
The phenomenon in which sample values tend to be normally distributed around the population value.
chi-square test
A nonparametric statistical test that is used to compare sets of data that are in the form of frequencies or percentages (nominal level data).
confidence interval
A range of values that, with a specified degree of probability, is thought to contain the population value.
critical region (region of rejection)
An area in a theoretical sampling distribution that contains the critical values, which are values that are considered to be statistically significant.
critical value
A scientific cut-off point that denotes the value in a theoretical distribution at which all obtained values from a sample that are equal to or beyond that point are said to be statistically significant.
degrees of freedom (df)
A concept in inferential statistics that concerns the number of values that are free to vary.
dependent t-test
A form of the t-test that is used when one set of scores or values is associated or dependent on another set of scores or values.
independent t-test
A form of the t-test that is used when there is no association between the two sets of scores or values that are being compared.
level of significance (probability level)
The probability of rejecting a null hypothesis when it is true; symbolized by lowercase Greek letter alpha; also symbolized by p.
meta-analysis
A technique that combines the results of several similar studies on a topic and statistically analyzes the results as if only one study had been conducted.
multiple regression
A statistical procedure used to determine the influence of more than one independent variable on the dependent variable.
multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA)
A statistical test that examines the difference between the mean scores of two or more groups on two or more dependent variables that are measured at the same time.
nonparametric tests (distribution-free statistics)
Types of inferential statistics that are not concerned with population parameters, and requirements for their use are less stringent; can be used with nominal and ordinal data and small sample sizes.
one-tailed test of significance
A test of statistical significance in which the critical values (statistically significant values) are sought in only one tail of the theoretical sampling distribution (either the right or the left tail); used when a directional research hypothesis has been formulated for a study.
parametric tests
Types of inferential statistics that are concerned with population parameters. When parametric tests are used assumptions are made that (a) the level of measurement of the data is interval or ratio, (b) data are taken from populations that are normally distributed on the variable that is being measured, and (c) data are taken from populations that have equal variances on the variable that is being measured.
power of a statistical test
The ability of a statistical test to reject a null hypothesis when it is false (and should be rejected).
region of rejection
See critical region.
sampling distribution
A theoretical frequency distribution that is based on an infinite number of samples. Sampling distributions are based on mathematical formulas and logic.
standard error of the mean
The standard deviation of the sampling distribution of the mean.
t-test (t)
A parametric statistical test that examines the difference between the means of two groups of values. Types of t-tests are the independent t-test (independent samples t-test) and the dependent t-test (paired t-test).
two-tailed test of significance
A test of statistical significance in which critical values (statistically significant values) are sought in both tails of the sampling distribution; used when the researcher has not predicted the direction of the relationship between variables.
Type I error
A decision is made to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually true; a decision is made that a relationship exists between variables when it does not.
Type II error
A decision is made not to reject the null hypothesis when it is false and should be rejected; a decision is made that no relationship exists between variables when, in fact, a relationship does exist.
CHAPTER 15 - Presentation and Discussion of Study... Key Terms |
cells
Boxes in a table that are formed by the intersection of rows and columns.
columns
Vertical entries in a table.
rows
Horizontal entries in a table.
CHAPTER 16 - Communication and Utilization of Research study Key Terms |
blind review
Manuscript reviewers are not made aware of the author's identity before the manuscript is evaluated.
call for abstract
A request for a summary of a study that the researcher wishes to present at a research conference.
galley proofs
Sheets of paper that show how an article or book will appear in typeset form.
nonrefereed journal
A journal that uses editorial staff members or consultants to review manuscripts.
peer review
The review of a research manuscript by professional colleagues who have content or methodological expertise concerning the material that is presented in the manuscript.
query letter
A letter of inquiry sent to a journal to determine the editor's interest in publishing a manuscript. The letter usually contains an outline of the manuscript and important information about the content of the manuscript.
refereed journal
A journal that uses experts in a given field to review manuscripts.
research report
A written or oral summary of a research study
