Glossary Terms

Elements, characteristics, or factors that can change or vary in a study and may affect the outcome.

The degree to which a study or measure accurately reflects what it is intended to assess.

A set of ideas or principles that explains a phenomenon and can be tested through research.

The overall plan or structure of a research study, detailing how data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted.

Structured investigations designed to answer specific questions, often following a defined research protocol.

A study in which participants do not know which group they are in (e.g., receiving treatment or placebo), but the researchers do.

A systematic process used in research that involves formulating a question, developing a hypothesis, testing it, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

The process of selecting individuals or units from a larger population to participate in a study.

The number of participants or units included in a study. Represented by "N" in statistical reporting.

The blueprint of a study that outlines how to answer the research question, including the methods, participants, and procedures.