ADVANCED NETWORKING AND SECURITY
STUDY GUIDE 2026
◉ Correlation research method.
Answer: non-experimantal research method. A process to collect
data to determine if a relationship exists between two or more
quantitative variables, and to what degree.
◉ Correlation Coefficient.
Answer: Strength and direction of a relationship between two
variables. range of +1 to -1
◉ Positive Correlation.
Answer: r=+1 (points follow along a line)
◉ Negative Correlation.
Answer: r=-1 (no correlation is a 0 and looks like a gun shot all over)
◉ Variable.
Answer: a condition or characteristic that can take on different
values or categories (such as age, GPA, gender, etc.)
,◉ Descriptive Statistics.
Answer: Goal is to describe, summarize, or make sense of a
particular set of data.
◉ Inferential Statistics.
Answer: where researchers use the laws of probability to make
inferences about populations based on sample data.
◉ Strengths of Quantitative Research.
Answer: -Testing and validating already constructed theories
-Can generalize research findings when based on random samples
-Determining nomothetic consumption (general scientific casual
relationships)
-Quick and cheap
◉ Qualitative Research purpose.
Answer: Collects text or imagery data to gain a deeper
understanding of existing phenomena, gain insight on insider
perspective. Exploration, discovery, understanding
◉ Quantitative Research Purpose.
,Answer: Collect numerical data. Purpose is to describe, predict,
control, or explain. Narrow lens approach (top-down)
◉ Linguistic-relativity hypothesis.
Answer: (assumptions of qualitative research) Intuits' local
languages might allow them to see distinctions that you do not
notice.
◉ Empathetic Understanding.
Answer: (assumptions of qualitative research) I can appreciate
where you're coming from. I have an interest in you
◉ Ontology (Qualitative Assumption).
Answer: (inherit understanding) Take on personal, mental,
subjective, personal, constructed
◉ Epistemology (Qualitative Assumption).
Answer: (theory of knowledge) Everything is relative, varying
standards, individual/group justification, social construction.
Overall understanding of how knowledge is created.
◉ Criterion Based aka Purposive Sampling.
Answer: selecting participants because they meet the criteria or
purpose of the study.
, ◉ Phenomenology.
Answer: Rich narrative allowing researcher to vicariously
experience the phenomenon through the eyes of the participant.
Purpose: Describing the individuals experience of the phenomena.
◉ Ethnography.
Answer: Extensive physical description of the physical and social
settings aimed at holistic understanding.
Purpose: Describing cultural characteristics of a group of people
◉ Narrative Inquiry.
Answer: including patterns, connections, and insights uncovered
and carefully synthesized.
Purpose: Describing people's lives/stories to add to our
understanding. Chronological story
◉ Case Study.
Answer: Rich, holistic narrative which triangulates data and places
the case into a meaningful context
Purpose: Addressing research questions through in-depth analysis.
Environment based on a set of circumstances.