What does 'alternative hypothesis' refer to?

The alternative hypothesis is a statement that indicates the presence of an effect or a difference, opposing the null hypothesis.

Define 'qualitative research'.

Qualitative research focuses on understanding concepts, thoughts, or experiences through non-numerical data.

Explain 'random sampling'.

Random sampling is a technique where each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected for a study.

What is 'action research'?

Action research is a participatory study that aims to solve a problem while simultaneously contributing to knowledge.

Explain 'sampling bias'.

Sampling bias occurs when the sample is not representative of the population, leading to skewed results.

What does 'external validity' refer to?

External validity is the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other settings, populations, or times.

What does 'saturation' mean in qualitative research?

Saturation is the point in data collection when no new information or themes are emerging, indicating that enough data has been gathered.

Explain 'triangulation' in research.

Triangulation is the use of multiple methods or data sources in research to enhance the credibility and validity of the results.

Define 'variable' in research.

A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types in an experiment.

What does 'hypothesis' refer to in a scientific context?

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, which can be tested through experimentation.

What does 'p-value' indicate?

The p-value indicates the probability of obtaining results at least as extreme as the observed results, assuming the null hypothesis is true.

What is the purpose of a 'control group'?

A control group is used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested subjects do, ensuring that the results are due to the variable being tested.

Explain 'replication' in research.

Replication is the process of repeating a study to see if the original findings can be consistently reproduced.

Explain the term 'theory' in science.

A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence.

What is 'type II error'?

A type II error occurs when a false null hypothesis is not rejected, also known as a false negative.

What does 'generalizability' mean?

Generalizability refers to the extent to which findings from a study can be applied to settings, people, or times beyond the study's sample.

What does 'peer review' entail?

Peer review is the process by which a scholarly work is evaluated by experts in the same field before publication.

What does 'validity' refer to in research?

Validity refers to the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

What is 'longitudinal study'?

A longitudinal study observes the same subjects over a long period to detect changes and developments.

Define 'null hypothesis'.

The null hypothesis is a statement that there is no effect or no difference, serving as a starting point for statistical testing.

What does 'ethnography' involve?

Ethnography is a qualitative research method focused on studying cultures and communities through direct observation and participation.

What is an 'anecdotal evidence'?

Anecdotal evidence is based on personal accounts or stories rather than scientific data, often considered less reliable.

Causation indicates that one event is the result of the occurrence of another event; it implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

Define 'cross-sectional study'.

A cross-sectional study analyzes data from a population at a specific point in time, providing a snapshot of the situation.

What is 'falsifiability'?

Falsifiability is the principle that a hypothesis must be able to be proven false to be considered scientific.

Define 'internal validity'.

Internal validity refers to the degree to which a study accurately establishes a causal relationship between variables.

Define 'narrative research'.

Narrative research involves collecting and analyzing the stories of individuals to understand their experiences and perspectives.

What is 'quantitative research'?

Quantitative research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify patterns and test hypotheses.

What does 'operational definition' mean?

An operational definition specifies the procedures used to measure a variable, ensuring clarity and reproducibility.

Explain the term 'correlation'.

Correlation refers to a statistical relationship between two variables, indicating how one may change in relation to the other.

Define 'statistical significance'.

Statistical significance indicates that the results observed in a study are unlikely to have occurred by chance, often measured by a p-value.

Define 'theoretical framework'.

A theoretical framework is a structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study, guiding the research process.

What is 'statistical power'?

Statistical power is the probability that a test will correctly reject a false null hypothesis, indicating the test's sensitivity.

What does 'bias' mean in research?

Bias refers to a systematic error that leads to an incorrect conclusion or interpretation of data.

Define 'confidence interval'.

A confidence interval is a range of values that is likely to contain the population parameter with a specified level of confidence.

Explain 'type I error'.

A type I error occurs when a true null hypothesis is incorrectly rejected, also known as a false positive.

What is 'grounded theory'?

Grounded theory is a research method that generates theory from data systematically gathered and analyzed.

Define 'reliability' in the context of research.

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure; a reliable test yields the same results under consistent conditions.

Explain 'phenomenology' in research.

Phenomenology is a qualitative research approach that seeks to understand and describe the lived experiences of individuals.

What is 'operationalization'?

Operationalization is the process of defining a fuzzy concept into measurable variables.

Explain 'confounding variable'.

A confounding variable is an outside influence that can affect the outcome of an experiment, potentially leading to erroneous conclusions.

What is a 'case study'?

A case study is an in-depth analysis of a particular individual, group, or event to explore complex issues in real-life contexts.

What does 'sample size' mean?

Sample size refers to the number of subjects or observations used in a study, which affects the reliability of the results.

What is 'meta-analysis'?

Meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies to identify overall trends.

Explain 'independent variable'.

An independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effects.

What is 'effect size'?

Effect size is a quantitative measure of the magnitude of a phenomenon, indicating the strength of a relationship or the size of an effect.

What does 'dependent variable' mean?

A dependent variable is the factor that is measured in an experiment, which is affected by changes in the independent variable.

LSAT Technical Passage Keywords

Essential technical and scientific terminology commonly found in LSAT passages, organized by subject area

Level: intermediate
Languages: en → en
Cards: 47
Markdown: LSAT Technical Passage Keywords (.md)

Flashcards (47)

#	Front (Term / Question)	Back (Definition / Answer)
1	What does 'alternative hypothesis' refer to?	The alternative hypothesis is a statement that indicates the presence of an effect or a difference, opposing the null hypothesis.
2	Define 'qualitative research'.	Qualitative research focuses on understanding concepts, thoughts, or experiences through non-numerical data.
3	Explain 'random sampling'.	Random sampling is a technique where each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected for a study.
4	What is 'action research'?	Action research is a participatory study that aims to solve a problem while simultaneously contributing to knowledge.
5	Explain 'sampling bias'.	Sampling bias occurs when the sample is not representative of the population, leading to skewed results.
6	What does 'external validity' refer to?	External validity is the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other settings, populations, or times.
7	What does 'saturation' mean in qualitative research?	Saturation is the point in data collection when no new information or themes are emerging, indicating that enough data has been gathered.
8	Explain 'triangulation' in research.	Triangulation is the use of multiple methods or data sources in research to enhance the credibility and validity of the results.
9	Define 'variable' in research.	A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types in an experiment.
10	What does 'hypothesis' refer to in a scientific context?	A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, which can be tested through experimentation.
11	What does 'p-value' indicate?	The p-value indicates the probability of obtaining results at least as extreme as the observed results, assuming the null hypothesis is true.
12	What is the purpose of a 'control group'?	A control group is used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested subjects do, ensuring that the results are due to the variable being tested.
13	Explain 'replication' in research.	Replication is the process of repeating a study to see if the original findings can be consistently reproduced.
14	Explain the term 'theory' in science.	A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence.
15	What is 'type II error'?	A type II error occurs when a false null hypothesis is not rejected, also known as a false negative.
16	What does 'generalizability' mean?	Generalizability refers to the extent to which findings from a study can be applied to settings, people, or times beyond the study's sample.
17	What does 'peer review' entail?	Peer review is the process by which a scholarly work is evaluated by experts in the same field before publication.
18	What does 'validity' refer to in research?	Validity refers to the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.
19	What is 'longitudinal study'?	A longitudinal study observes the same subjects over a long period to detect changes and developments.
20	Define 'null hypothesis'.	The null hypothesis is a statement that there is no effect or no difference, serving as a starting point for statistical testing.
21	What does 'ethnography' involve?	Ethnography is a qualitative research method focused on studying cultures and communities through direct observation and participation.
22	What is an 'anecdotal evidence'?	Anecdotal evidence is based on personal accounts or stories rather than scientific data, often considered less reliable.
23	What is 'causation'?	Causation indicates that one event is the result of the occurrence of another event; it implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
24	Define 'cross-sectional study'.	A cross-sectional study analyzes data from a population at a specific point in time, providing a snapshot of the situation.
25	What is 'falsifiability'?	Falsifiability is the principle that a hypothesis must be able to be proven false to be considered scientific.
26	Define 'internal validity'.	Internal validity refers to the degree to which a study accurately establishes a causal relationship between variables.
27	Define 'narrative research'.	Narrative research involves collecting and analyzing the stories of individuals to understand their experiences and perspectives.
28	What is 'quantitative research'?	Quantitative research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify patterns and test hypotheses.
29	What does 'operational definition' mean?	An operational definition specifies the procedures used to measure a variable, ensuring clarity and reproducibility.
30	Explain the term 'correlation'.	Correlation refers to a statistical relationship between two variables, indicating how one may change in relation to the other.
31	Define 'statistical significance'.	Statistical significance indicates that the results observed in a study are unlikely to have occurred by chance, often measured by a p-value.
32	Define 'theoretical framework'.	A theoretical framework is a structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study, guiding the research process.
33	What is 'statistical power'?	Statistical power is the probability that a test will correctly reject a false null hypothesis, indicating the test's sensitivity.
34	What does 'bias' mean in research?	Bias refers to a systematic error that leads to an incorrect conclusion or interpretation of data.
35	Define 'confidence interval'.	A confidence interval is a range of values that is likely to contain the population parameter with a specified level of confidence.
36	Explain 'type I error'.	A type I error occurs when a true null hypothesis is incorrectly rejected, also known as a false positive.
37	What is 'grounded theory'?	Grounded theory is a research method that generates theory from data systematically gathered and analyzed.
38	Define 'reliability' in the context of research.	Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure; a reliable test yields the same results under consistent conditions.
39	Explain 'phenomenology' in research.	Phenomenology is a qualitative research approach that seeks to understand and describe the lived experiences of individuals.
40	What is 'operationalization'?	Operationalization is the process of defining a fuzzy concept into measurable variables.
41	Explain 'confounding variable'.	A confounding variable is an outside influence that can affect the outcome of an experiment, potentially leading to erroneous conclusions.
42	What is a 'case study'?	A case study is an in-depth analysis of a particular individual, group, or event to explore complex issues in real-life contexts.
43	What does 'sample size' mean?	Sample size refers to the number of subjects or observations used in a study, which affects the reliability of the results.
44	What is 'meta-analysis'?	Meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies to identify overall trends.
45	Explain 'independent variable'.	An independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment to observe its effects.
46	What is 'effect size'?	Effect size is a quantitative measure of the magnitude of a phenomenon, indicating the strength of a relationship or the size of an effect.
47	What does 'dependent variable' mean?	A dependent variable is the factor that is measured in an experiment, which is affected by changes in the independent variable.