Glossary: Research

Margin of Error

The permissible or acceptable deviation from the target or a specific value. The allowance for slight error or miscalculation or changing circumstances in a study.

Matched T-Test

A statistical test used to compare two sets of scores for the same subject. A matched pairs T-test can be used to determine if the scores of the same participants in a study differ under different conditions. For instance, this sort of t-test could be used to determine if people write better essays after taking a writing class than they did before taking the writing class.

Matching

Process of corresponding variables in experimental groups equally feature for feature.

Mean

The average score within a distribution. Mean = (Sum of all the observations/Total number of observations)

Measurement

Process of obtaining a numerical description of the extent to which persons, organizations, or things possess specified characteristics.

Median

The center score in a distribution. To find the median, organize each number in order by size; the number in the middle is the median.

Mental Models

A group or network of interrelated concepts that reflect conscious or subconscious perceptions of reality. They are constructed as people draw inferences and gather information about the world.

Meta-Analysis

An analysis combining the results of several studies that address a set of related hypotheses to provide a comprehensive overview of the research evidence and derive more robust conclusions than those obtained from individual studies alone.

Methodology

A theory or analysis of how research does and should proceed. It encompasses the principles, procedures, techniques, tools, and strategies employed to gather, analyze, interpret, and report data in a research study.

Methods

Systematic approaches to the conduct of an operation or process. It includes steps of procedure, application of techniques, systems of reasoning or analysis, and the modes of inquiry employed by a discipline.

Mixed-Methods

A research approach that uses two or more methods from both the quantitative and qualitative research categories. It is also referred to as blended methods, combined methods, or methodological triangulation.

Mode

The most frequently occurring score in a distribution.To find the mode, one must count how often each number appears and the number that appears the most times is the mode.

Modeling

The creation of a physical or computer analogy to understand a particular phenomenon. Modeling helps in estimating the relative magnitude of various factors involved in a phenomenon. A successful model can be shown to account for unexpected behavior that has been observed, to predict certain behaviors, which can then be tested experimentally, and to demonstrate that a given theory cannot account for certain phenomena.

Models

Representations of objects, principles, processes, or ideas often used for imitation or emulation.

Multimodal Methods

A research approach that employs a variety of methods. These methods integrate different types of data, such as textual, visual, auditory, spatial, and tactile information, to capture diverse aspects of the research subject and provide richer insights than single-mode approaches.