This document defines key research terminology used in basic research. It defines concepts, constructs, dependent and independent variables, assumptions, hypotheses, data, limitations, and more. It also discusses study design elements like population, sampling, research settings, interventions, and types of variables including dichotomous, attribute, dependent, independent, and extraneous variables. Examples are provided to illustrate the definitions. The overall purpose is to help students understand basic research terminology at the end of the session.

1. UNIT-I (c): BASIC
RESEARCH
TERMINOLOGY
Ms. Chanda Jabeen
Lecturer
RN, RM, BSN
M.Phil. Epidemiology & Public Health
PhD (Scholar) Epidemiology & Public Health 1

2. OBJECTIVES
At the end of this session, the students will
be able to:
a. Understand basic research terminologies.
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3. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Concept:
"A general idea referring to a behavior or
characteristic of an individual, group, or
nation".
For example, pain, patient care,coping,
happiness, cleanliness, dignity…etc.
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4. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Construct:
"A concept specified in such a way that it is
observable in the real world, in order to facilitate
testing of the idea".
For example, position, in real world has many
different meanings in gynecology, in surgery and in
management.
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5. Example of the relationship
between "concept" and
"construct":
 Weight a concept.
 Weight By electronic scale.
In the morning.
Before breakfast.
Without clothes.
aconstruct
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6. HOW TO DEFINE ???
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7. Dependent variable
0 The "effect"; a response or behavior
that is influenced by the independent
variable; sometimes called the criterion
variable.
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8. Independent variable
0 The "cause" or the variable that is
thought to influence the dependent
variable; in experimental research it is
the variable that is manipulated by the
researcher.
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9. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Conceptual definition:
"The definition or description of the
study variables that is drawn from the
theoretical or conceptual framework".
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10. HOW TO DEFINE ???
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11. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Assumption:
"Astatement of principles whose
correctness has not been proven,
but is taken for granted on the
basis of logical reasoning".
"health is a priority for all people"
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12. HOW TO DEFINE ???
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13. Null hypothesis (Ho)
Astatistical hypothesis that predicts there is
no relationship between variables; the
hypothesis that is subjected to statistical
analysis.
Research hypothesis (H1)
An alternative hypothesis to the statistical
null hypothesis; predicts the researcher's
actual expectations about the outcome of
a study; also called scientific, substantive,
and theoretical
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14. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Data:
"Pieces of information that are collected
as they pertain to the study".
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15. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Limitations:
"Weaknesses in a research“
Uncontrolled extraneous variables,
that limit the generalizability of the
findings.
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16. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Pilot study:
"Asmall scale trial done in
preparation of a major research".
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17. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Validity:
“Degree or extent to which the tool or
instrument measures what it is supposed
to measure".
For example, a ruler measures the height not
the weight, while the scale measures the
weight not the height.
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18. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Reliability:
“Degree or extent of consistency or
dependability with which a study tool
measures the variable over time, by
different persons".
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20. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Population:
“Group of people who are going to be
studied, and to whom should the study
result apply".
For example, bed-side nurses are the
population in a research studying the
factors affecting the nurse'sworkload.
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21. HOW TO DEFINE ???
Sample:
"Are those persons – in the population-
from whom data will be actually
collected, and from whom
generalizations about the population
will be made".
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22. Target population
0 The entire group of people or
objects to which the researcher
wishes to generalize the findings
of a study.
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23. Accessible Population
0 The group of people or objects that
is available to the researcher for a
particular study.
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26. Sampling
Sampling is a process/ technique of
selecting participants who are representative
of the population being studied.
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27. Random sampling usually provides a sample
that is representative of a population because
each member of the population is selected
independently and has an equal chance, or
probability, of being included in the study.
In quantitative research, random and non-
random samples are used.
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28. Research Design
0 The overall plan for gathering data in a
research study.
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29. Research Settings
The setting is the location in which a study is
conducted.
There are three common settings for
conducting research.
I. natural,
II. partially controlled,
III. and highly controlled
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30. Natural Setting Or Field Setting
A natural setting, or field setting, is an
uncontrolled, real-life situation or
environment.
Conducting a study in a natural setting means
that the researcher does not manipulate or
change the environment for the study.
Descriptive and correlational studies often
are conducted in natural settings.
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31. Partially Controlled Setting
A partially controlled setting is an
environment that the researcher has
manipulated or modified in some
way.
An increasing number of nursing studies are
occurring in partially controlled settings to
limit the effects of extraneous variables on
the study outcomes.
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32. Highly Controlled Setting
A highly controlled setting is an artificially
constructed environment developed for the
sole purpose of conducting research.
Laboratories, research or experimental
centers, and test units in hospitals or other
healthcare agencies are highly controlled
settings in which experimental studies are
often conducted.
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33. Study Interventions
Quasi-experimental and experimental studies
examine the effect of an independent variable or
intervention on a dependent variable or outcome.
More intervention studies are being conducted in
nursing to establish an EBP.
Controlling the development and implementation
of a study intervention
increases the validity of the study design and
credibility of the findings. 33

34. A study intervention needs to be
(1) clearly and precisely developed,
(2) consistently implemented,
and
(3) examined for effectiveness through
quality measurement of the dependent
variables.
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35. Abstract
0 (research abstracts). Brief
summaries of research studies;
generally contain the purpose,
methods, and major findings of the
study.
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36. Types of Variables
1. Dichotomous variables.
2. Attribute variable .
3. Active variables.
4. Dependent and
independent variables .
5. Extraneous variable
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37. Types of Variables
1. Dichotomous variables.
Variables that vary in only two values.
For example:
Male Vs female.
Alive Vs dead.
Day Vs night.
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38. Types of Variables
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40. Types of Variables
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41. Example of Dependent/Independent
Variables
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42. Extraneous Variables
Extraneous Variables are undesirable
variables that influence the relationship
between the variables that an experimenter is
examining.
Another way to think of this, is that these are
variables the influence the outcome of an
experiment, though they are not the variables
that are actually of interest.
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43. For example, if a study focused on the effect
of relaxation therapy on the perception of
incisional pain, the researchers would have to
control the extraneous variables, such as type
of surgical incision and time, amount, and
type of pain medication administered after
surgery, to prevent their influence on the
patient’s perception of pain.
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44. Types of Variables
5. Extraneous variable
Variable that confound the relationship
between the dependent and independent
variables, thus it needs to be controlled
E.g., "air pollution" is an extraneous
variable interferes with studying the
relationship between smoking
"independent variable" and lungcancer
"dependent variable"
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45. Reference
Burns, N. & Grove, S. K. (2007). Understanding nursing
research. (4th ed.).Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
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