Caribbean Studies

Glossary of Some Research Related Terms

Test yourself: See which ones you already knew

1. Action Research: A small scale intervention/activity carried out in order to

examine its effects. It is usually concerned with solving a particular problem or
understanding more about the problem.
2. Appendix: Supplementary material at the end of a text.
3. Case Study: An examination of a specific entity. The researcher usually takes a
qualitative approach (participant observation/interviews).
4. Conditional Conclusions: Bear in mind that conclusions in research are not
absolute, hence the use of terms such as “tend to indicate”, “are suggestive”.
5. Controlled Variables: The factors held constant in order that the relationships
between a dependent and a set of independent variables may be more clearly
established.
6. Data: Information collected systematically in research.
7. Dependent Variable: The main variable for which explanations are being offered
in terms of the way in which the independent variable influences it.
8. Descriptive research: Describes and interprets what is. Concerned with
conditions or relationships that exist.
9. Empirical: Relating to the process of directly observing, recording, monitoring a
situation. The results are therefore guided by evidence obtained from systematic
research rather than opinions
10. Generalizability: The degree to which the results of a study apply to a larger
population
11. Generalization: Proposition asserting something to be true to/for all members of
an indefinite part of that class.
12. Hypothesis: Tentative, reasonable, testable explanation for the occurrence of a
certain behaviour or event.
13. Independent Variable: The variable which may be a possible predictor of the
main effect(s) which are being studied.
14. Iterative: Evidence is constantly evaluated, theories and hypotheses are
constantly refined, as the researchers interact with data. Technical advances are
made, and so on.
15. Limitations: Aspects of a study that the researcher knows may negatively affect
the result/generalizability of the results, but over which he has no control.
16. Logical Reasoning: Thinking process, whether from general to specific
(deductive) or specific to general (inductive).
17. Parsimonious Explanation: The act of reducing complex realities to simple
explanations
 18. Reliability: refers to the extent that data would deliver the exact same results no
matter how many times it is was applied to random members of the same target
group. The results can therefore be trusted.
19. Research Design: Selecting a sample, measuring outcomes, analyzing data for
the purpose of answering research questions.
20. Validity: The degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure
21. Variable: The factor, entity or group that a researcher wants information on,
especially how one set of variables interacts with other variables.

References

Beckford, E. (2005). Caribbean Studies: Course Outline, Notes and Newspaper

Articles. Unpublished Book.

Keep an eye out for more of these research related terms. Please contact your teachers for
further clarifications.