Glossary: Research

Statistical Bias

Characteristics of an experimental or sampling design, or the mathematical treatment of data, that systematically affects the results of a study so as to produce incorrect, unjustified, or inappropriate inferences or conclusions.

Statistical Significance

The likelihood that the difference between the outcomes of the control and experimental group are great enough that it is unlikely due solely to chance. The probability that the null hypothesis can be rejected at a predetermined significance level [0.05 or 0.01].

Statistical Tests

Researchers use statistical tests to make quantitative decisions about whether a study's data indicate a significant effect from the intervention and allow the researcher to reject the null hypothesis. That is, statistical tests show whether the differences between the outcomes of the control and experimental groups are great enough to be statistically significant. These include for example the chi-square test, correlation and parametric tests.

Subcultures

Groups within a larger society exhibiting characteristic patterns of behavior, norms, values, beliefs, and practices sufficient to distinguish them from the dominant culture or mainstream society.

Subcultures

Groups within a larger society exhibiting characteristic patterns of behavior, norms, values, beliefs, and practices sufficient to distinguish them from the dominant culture or mainstream society.

Survey

A research tool that includes at least one question which is either open-ended or close-ended and employs an oral or written method for asking these questions. The goal of a survey is to gain specific information on the attitudes, beliefs, or knowledge of a particular group.

Synchronic Reliability

It refers to the consistency or stability of measurements obtained at a single point in time, typically through the administration of a test, questionnaire, or assessment instrument. The similarity of observations within the same time frame; not about the similarity of things observed.