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One of the off-putting aspects of research to the new starter, as well as some of the more experienced researchers is the common use of long and complicated sounding words. Because of the nature of research, students are often led into some quite difficult areas relating to the way that different people interpret things in quite different ways. This in turn can lead into aspects of philosophy, which are also difficult to grasp. This situation is made worse by the use of obscure words, which tend to create a barrier to understanding. It is therefore the object of this short glossary, linked directly from other parts of this site, to reduce the level of confusion, and to use straightforward language, wherever possible.
Construct A construct is a concept measured for example, by one or more items in a survey instrument. This can be as simple as "salary" or as complicated as "motivation". epistemology Studies the relationship between the researcher and knowledge, posing questions such as, are researchers and the objects of study seperate, independent elements, or is bias, or influence by the researcher on the studied objects inevitable. hypothesis A testable proposition concerning the relationship between two or more events or concepts. For example, "absenteeism is affected by the management style adopted in the workplace" indicates that there is a relationship between management style and absenteeism, and this can be tested by gathering appropriate data. instrument From a positivist view research is a scientific process, and consequently many terms are borrowed from science. An "instrument" in this context is a questionnaire, usually with the purpose of measuring some construct. method A planned and systematic way of gathering data. methodology The study of how we gain knowledge about the world. ontology There are lots of 'ologies' in research jargon, and they come from the Greek 'logos' meaning subject of interest or study. In this case the 'ont' part of the word makes it the study of 'being'. In practice it is the study of the nature of reality. In terms of the two main approaches to research , qualitative and quantitative, it looks at whether facts exist in an external world, or whether they are constructed in people's heads? philosophy The use of reason and argument in seeking truth and knowledge of reality, especially of the causes and nature of things and of the principles governing existence, the material universe, perception of physical phenomena, and human behaviour. (Concise Oxford Dictionary) It is the way that people make sense of the world and its happenings, and it is at the root of the approach to research. plagiarism Using someone else's work without crediting the source. population A complete set of data in which there is interest, e.g. organizations, people, managers etc.; from this population a sample will be drawn. positivism A philosophical approach to research, adopting 'scientific' and rigerous methods. The approach is influenced by the researcher's ontological and epistemological positions, in other words, their views on reality and the independence of the researcher in relation to knowledge. validity
When trying to measure something as complicated as e.g. "motivation" it requires
careful definition and determination of appropriate items. Simply saying an instrument
(questionnaire) measures a particular construct does not make it so. A valid instrument is
one in which one can have confidence that the intended construct is in fact being
measured. |
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Send mail to G.Urwin@Coventry.ac.uk with questions or comments about
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