Glossary: Research

Critical Theory

An evaluative approach to social science research, associated with Germany's neo-Marxist “Frankfurt School,” that aims to criticize as well as analyze society, opposing the political orthodoxy of modern communism.

Cultural Relativism

The idea that cultures are value-neutral, rather than various cultures being a better or worse ways of organizing behavior, they are simply different. In anthropology, this idea has been used to make sense out of behaviors and values that seem alien or morally wrong to an outside observer. The concept has been largely debated and has raised concern for the potential for bias by an observer and the possibility of leading to moral relativism.

Data

Recorded observations, information, in numerical or textual form collected through systematic methods, and used as a basis for reasoning, discussion and analysis of a phenomenon.

Data Mining

The process of analyzing data and summarizing it into useful information, to discover patterns and/or systematic relationships among variables.

Data Quality

This is the degree to which the collected data meet the standards to be considered valid and reliable.

Deduction

A form of logical reasoning in which specific conclusions are formulated from general principles.

Dependability

The consistency, reliability, and stability of the study's findings, methods, and procedures over time and across different conditions. It is one of the criteria used to assess the trustworthiness and rigor of research studies.

Dependent Variable

A variable that receives stimulus and measured for the effect the treatment has had upon it. In other words, its value “depends” on the value of the independent variable. For example, suppose a researcher is investigating the effect of studying time (independent variable) on exam performance (dependent variable) among college students. The exam performance is the dependent variable as it is impacted by the independent variable's value.

Design flexibility

A quality of an observational study that allows researchers to pursue inquiries on new topics or questions that emerge from initial research. A high degree of design flexibility can account for changes in the design of the study and the changing conditions surrounding what is being studied.

Deviation

The distance between the mean and a particular data point in a given distribution.

Discourse Community

A community of scholars and researchers in a given discipline who communicate with each other through published articles in journals and presentations at conventions. All members of the discourse community adhere to certain conventions for the presentation of their theories and research.

Discrete Variable

A variable that is measured solely in whole units, such as gender, number of cars in a household or number of siblings.

Discriminate Validity

A concept used to evaluate the degree to which scores on the measurement instrument are not highly correlated with scores on measures of unrelated constructs, demonstrating that the instrument is measuring a unique and specific construct. It provides evidence that the instrument is capable of accurately assessing the intended construct and is not confounded by measures of unrelated constructs.

Distribution

The range of values of a particular variable across a sample or population, describing how the values are spread out among units studied.

Dynamic systems

A theoretical framework focused on the interactions and relationships between the components of a study topic, emphasizing the dynamic processes and patterns that emerge from these interactions. Qualitative observational research is not concerned with having straight-forward, right or wrong answers so change in a qualatative study is common because the researcher is not concerned with finding only one answer.