Quarter 4 – Module 1: Distinguishing Technical Terms Used in Research

Research is defined as a systematic and scientific process to answer questions about facts and
relationship between facts. It can also be defined as an activity involved in seeking answer to
unanswered questions. It seeks to generate an answer to the problems as well as suggesting
additional questions in need of further inquiry.
Aside from knowing the term research itself, knowing other common research terminologies help
you understand how to read and interpret scholarly journal articles so you can more effectively apply
the results to real life situations.

The following are basic terms and their definitions:

1. Analysis is a method of organizing, sorting, and scrutinizing data in such a way that a research
question can be answered or meaningful inferences can be drawn.
2. Bibliography is a list of all the sources used in the process of researching.
3. Concept refers to a mental idea of a phenomenon. These are words or terms that symbolize
some aspects of reality. e. g. love, pain.
4. Conclusion provides a summary of the research.
5. Data is an information that can be words or numbers.
6. Data Gathering Tools refer to the devices/ instruments used to collect data such as questionnaire
or computer- assisted interviewing system.
7. Data Presentation involves the use of a variety of different graphical techniques.
8. Descriptive study is a research design that describes “what is”( e.g. a survey).
9. In-Text Citation is the brief form of the reference included in the body of one’s work.
10. Limitations are restrictions in a study that may decrease the credibility and generalizability of
the research findings.
[Link] review is a critical summary or research on a topic of interest, generally prepared
to put a research problem in context or to identify gaps and weaknesses in prior studies so as
to justify a new investigation.
[Link] is the unethical practice of using words or ideas of another author/researcher without
proper acknowledgement.
[Link] Research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data.
[Link] is a set of questions used to gather information in a survey.
15. Research Topic is a subject or issue that a researcher is interested in when conducting a
research.
[Link] are those persons who have been invited to participate in a particular study and
have actually taken part in the study.
17. Research Question is the question around which a researcher centers his/ her research.
18. Sample is a part or subset of population selected to participate in the research study.
[Link] Demographic Profile includes age, sex, education, migration, background and ethnicity,
religious affiliation, marital status, household, employment, and income.
20. Variables are attributes or characteristics that can have more than one value, such as height or
weight. These are qualities or quantities, properties or characteristics of people, things, or situations
that change or vary.
 Independent variable- variables that are purposely manipulated or changed by the
researcher. It is also called as “Manipulated Variable”.
 Dependent variable- variables that depend 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.
However, there are terms in research that are abbreviated, these are the Latin words and Non-
English structures. Some of these commonly used Latin terminologies in research are the following:
 Etc. et cetera- It means “and so on”.
 E.g. exempli gratia- It means “for example”, literally, it means “free as an example”.
 et al. et alii- It means “and others”.
 ib/ibid. ibedem. It means “in the same passage or page quoted above.” Literally, it means
“in the same place”.
Quarter 4 – Module 2: Giving Technical and Operational Definitions

Technical Definition
- It refers to the definition of a word as used in a particular field like Science, Law, or Engineering.
- The meaning of the word is associated with the field or area of study.
- Mostly refers to the aspect of explaining or describing any terminology.
- The definition of terms/words are found in the dictionary.

Operational Definition
- It is a result of the process of operationalization and it is used to define something (term/object) in
terms of process.
- It is the process of defining a word/term of how it is used in a sentence, or using context clues.
- It is the application of the word/term. These may include the various attempts to define or explain
a certain process and its properties including but not limited to the characterization of the event
itself.

EXAMPLE:
Computer is a device or machine used in performing, assessing, evaluating, and following
commands set by the users. (Technical)
Computer is something used in doing homework or browsing the internet. (Operational)

How to define the terms/variables operationally?

▪ In fact, there is no hard and first rule for operationally defining a variable. Operational definitions
may vary, depending on your purpose and the way you choose to measure them.
▪ Neither are there any universally accepted definitions of all the variables. A researcher can logically
choose a definition of a variable that will serve his or her purpose.

Operational Definition in Research

▪ It is critical to operationally define a variable in order to lend credibility to the methodology and to
ensure the reproducibility of the results of the study. Another study may identify the same variable
differently, making it difficult to compare the results of these two studies.

An operational definition serves four purposes:

1) It establishes the rules and procedures the researcher uses to measure the variable.
2) It provides unambiguous and consistent meaning to terms/variables that otherwise can be
interpreted in different ways.
3) It makes the collection of data as well as the analysis more focused and efficient.
4) It guides what type of data and information we are looking for.

Why should you use Operational Definitions?

 Operational Definitions put workable meaning into our everyday terminology.
 To communicate effectively and avoid misinterpretations, members of a team, data collectors,
and both internal and external customers and suppliers or a certain group must use the same
Operational Definitions for the same concepts.
 Misunderstandings waste time; but worse, they add variation to your process. Consequently, it
is vitally important to develop Operational Definitions especially if you are doing research.
Quarter 4 – Module 3: Giving Expanded Definitions of Words
Expanded Definition
An expanded definition defines and explains a single term, concept, or object, pins down the meaning of a specific word,
or defines an abstract concept, and goes deeper than a simple dictionary definition.

Techniques in Expanding Definition

1. Etymology explains the origin of the word itself.
Example: Using the example term “arbitration”:
Arbitration comes from the Latin judicium which means “judgment”.

2. History discusses the history of the term, its use, and controversies associated with it.
Example: The use of arbitration as third-party mediation dates from the 1630s.

3. Cause and Effect discusses how the situation came about and what effects it may have.
Example: An arbitration clause is considered to be ambiguous when the parties do not express clearly, that in case of
conflict, the method to use to settle the disagreements will be arbitration. Hence, parties are compelled to refrain from
signing confusing agreements to arbitrate, because the general rule is that arbitration is prompted out of the contract,
and if there is not an explicit arbitration clause within the contract it would not be an agreement to arbitrate.

4. Description lists and defines the term.

Example:
Arbitration is the process of solving an argument between people by helping them to agree to an acceptable solution. It
is the formal process of having an outside person, chosen by both sides to a disagreement to end the disagreement.

5. Principles of Operation discusses how something functions, including any special materials or conditions required.
Example: Arbitration is conducted by a trained arbiter who sets down the rules that the parties must abide by. The object
of arbitration is to obtain a fair resolution of disputes by an impartial third party without unnecessary expense or delay.
Parties should be free to agree on how their disputes are resolved, subject only to such safeguards as are necessary
for the public interest. Courts should not interfere.

6. Classification shows how the topic fits into a larger category.

Example: Arbitration is one of the alternatives to going into a formal court to settle disputes.

7. Contrast shows how the topic differs from others in the same class.
Example: In an arbitration proceeding, no lawyers are present. The main difference between arbitration and litigation
law is that the court is involved in the case of litigation, as it is a lawsuit, whereas, in arbitration, a settlement between
the parties is done outside of court.

8. Comparison shows how the topic is similar to others in the class.

Example: As with lawsuits or other court proceedings, the decision in an arbitration proceeding is legally binding on the
parties.

9. Analogy explains and compares two dissimilar topics, where the second is familiar to the audience.
Example: An arbiter is like a referee–he or she listens to both sides and decides as to who is at fault, without the
intervention of outside parties.

10. Examples represent other things because they have all the main qualities or characteristics that the thing they
represent also have. Examples:
Arbitration was used to settle the dispute between the labor union and management. Two people who are divorcing
cannot agree on terms and allow a third party to come in to help them negotiate.

11. Illustrations are pictures in a book, magazine, etc. or the process of illustrating something.
Example:
Quarter 4 – Module 4: Observing Correct Grammar in Making Definitions

The examples below show the parts of a definition.

Parts of a Definition:
A. Term refers to the word or phrase that is being defined. It may be introduced by articles “the”, “an” and “a”. Written
together with the term is the general class to make an independent clause.

If you use Pattern#1 in writing a definition, the term is the subject of your sentence and the verb to be used should
agree with it. Here are the verbs or verb conjugation that you can use when writing a definition.

When writing your definitions, make sure that the verb you will use agrees with the subject of your statement.
Remember, a singular subject should take a singular verb. A plural subject should take a plural verb. Read the
following examples:
1. An abstract is a brief statement of essential information contained within a document or presentation.
(Art.) (Term) (Verb)

2. Research questions are questions that you include in the body of your work.
(Term) (Verb)
[Link] in-text citation refers to a brief form of reference that you include in in the body of your work.
(Art.) (Term) (Verb)

REMEMBER:
Be careful with terms that end with “s” but are singular in form like the example below:
 Statistics is a form of mathematical analysis that uses quantified models.

And words that are plural in form but do not end with “s” like the example below:
 Data are characteristics or information, that are collected through observation.

And when a phrase comes between the subject and the verb, remember that the verb still agrees with the subject,
not the noun in the phrase following the subject of the sentence. This may occur when you use Pattern #2 in writing
your definitions. Look at the examples below:
 B. Class or General Class
A general class refers to the class where the term belongs. When writing your definition, it is necessary to include the
general class to which it belongs, if there is any. Through this method, your readers will a have specific idea of the
term being defined.
Examples:

C. Differentiating Characteristics
To introduce your differentiating characteristics, you should use relative pronouns and a dependent clause.
Look at the examples below: