EDUC 118 Terms |A+ Graded Update
Constructivism
Theory in education which states individuals do not passively acquire knowledge, rather they
construct new knowledge and understandings through experience and social discourse, integrating
new information with what they already know (prior knowledge)
Post-positivism
The perspective that that theories, hypotheses, background knowledge and values of the researcher
caninfluence what is observed. (Therefore, Post-positivists pursue objectivity by recognizing the
possible effects of biases)
Human Subjects Research
systematic, scientific investigation that can be either interventional or observational and involves
human beings as research subjects, commonly known as test subjects. (Therefore, interviews are
considered human subjects research but surveys are not considered human subjects research)
Independent Variable-
A variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure.
Dependent Variable
The variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to
change as a result of an experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables
Predictor
The variable that researchers believe has some sort of association with an outcome variable. (ex.
Sense of belonging predicts school climate
Outcome
he result of the action of one or more independent variables. It can also be defined as any outcome
variable associated with some measure, such as a survey. (ex. Academic achievement is the outcome
of a reading intervention)
Alternative directional hypothesis
Specifies the direction of the tested relationship (ex. increases or decreases), stating that one variable
is predicted to be larger or smaller than null value, but not both
Null hypothesis
The hypothesis that there is no significant difference between specified populations, any observed
difference being due to sampling or experimental error
Alternative non-directional hypothesis
States that there is a difference between the mean scores of two groups but does not specify which
group is expected to be larger or smaller. (ex. Hypothesis states a variable influences another variable,
but does not say whether it is an increase or decrease or if the influence is positive or negative)
Research approach
Constructivism
Theory in education which states individuals do not passively acquire knowledge, rather they
construct new knowledge and understandings through experience and social discourse, integrating
new information with what they already know (prior knowledge)
Post-positivism
The perspective that that theories, hypotheses, background knowledge and values of the researcher
caninfluence what is observed. (Therefore, Post-positivists pursue objectivity by recognizing the
possible effects of biases)
Human Subjects Research
systematic, scientific investigation that can be either interventional or observational and involves
human beings as research subjects, commonly known as test subjects. (Therefore, interviews are
considered human subjects research but surveys are not considered human subjects research)
Independent Variable-
A variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure.
Dependent Variable
The variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to
change as a result of an experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables
Predictor
The variable that researchers believe has some sort of association with an outcome variable. (ex.
Sense of belonging predicts school climate
Outcome
he result of the action of one or more independent variables. It can also be defined as any outcome
variable associated with some measure, such as a survey. (ex. Academic achievement is the outcome
of a reading intervention)
Alternative directional hypothesis
Specifies the direction of the tested relationship (ex. increases or decreases), stating that one variable
is predicted to be larger or smaller than null value, but not both
Null hypothesis
The hypothesis that there is no significant difference between specified populations, any observed
difference being due to sampling or experimental error
Alternative non-directional hypothesis
States that there is a difference between the mean scores of two groups but does not specify which
group is expected to be larger or smaller. (ex. Hypothesis states a variable influences another variable,
but does not say whether it is an increase or decrease or if the influence is positive or negative)
Research approach
