| Background
= |
The
information researchers are aware of before they conduct their own research.
The background may include information about why this particular type of
research is needed, findings from previous studies related to the topic
of the research, or personal experiences of the researchers that have motivated
them to do this study. |
| Hypothesis
= |
A
prediction,
or educated guess, about the outcome of the research. The research, in
turn, should be designed to test the hypothesis. |
| Subjects
= |
The
people
or animals whose thoughts and behaviors are studied in the research.
(e.g., in a study of reflex behaviors in newborn babies, the babies are
the subjects in the research). |
| Variables
= |
Things
that can vary or be changed as part of research. To be a VARIABLE,
something must be capable of existing in more than one state, or must be
capable of being changed. (e.g. sex (as in being male or female) can be
a variable; the highest level of education a person has achieved can be
a variable; skin color can be a variable; number of colleges a person applied
to can be a variable; score on a test that measures depression can be a
variable, etc.) Obviously, many things can vary in the course of research
(such as the subjects' weight and mood), but the formal VARIABLES in research
are the one that the researcher is paying attention to and keeping track
of. |
| Data
= |
A
plural
word (the singular version is "datum") referring to the information
that is gathered through research. Data may take the form of drawings,
videotapes, audio recordings, reaction times, etc. Data used in research
are commonly converted to numbers, which makes them easier to analyze. |
| Statistical
methods = |
Methods
used to analyze data with the goal of making the meaning of the data clear
to the researcher. |
| Support
(a hypothesis) = |
This
means that the data obtained in the research are consistent with the predictions
made by the hypothesis. |
| Refute
(a hypothesis) = |
This
means that the data obtained in the research are not consistent with the
predictions made by the hypothesis; therefore, the hypothesis is probably
not correct. |