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Abstract
A summary of a study located at the beginning of an article. It helps researchers quickly decide if the source is relevant to their work.
Academic Literature / Article
Also known as "scholarly literature" or "scientific literature," these are sources written by experts in a field to share knowledge with other experts. They are often difficult to interpret due to their technical language and specific structure. Often these are peer-reviewed and published in academic journals.
Algorithm
Recipes in code form that provide step-by-step instructions for computers to solve problems. They determine search results and social media feeds, often tailoring content to user preference rather than credibility.
Annotating
A method of making reading active by "talking back" to the text. This involves writing down questions, noticing patterns, and noting reflections in the margins rather than just passively highlighting.
Bias
A tendency to lean toward a specific perspective, such as politically left or right. All sources, even credible ones, contain a degree of bias that must be read critically.
Body of Knowledge
What has already been studied on a particular topic. This is summarized, analyzed, and critiqued in a Literature Review.
Citation
The practice of acknowledging the sources used in research to give credit to the author or artist for their intellectual property. Citing sources also increases the author's credibility and helps readers locate the original material.
CRAAP Test
A strategy used to critique the content of a source to determine its credibility. The acronym stands for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose.
Database
A subscription service paid for by libraries that contains credible information, such as news and scholarly articles, selected specifically for students and researchers.
Descriptive Statistics
Summarize and describe a quantitative sample (e.g., mean, median, standard deviation, frequency distributions).
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
A unique alphanumeric string, similar to a URL, that is often found on scholarly articles to permanently identify them.
Empirical Research
Another term for "Original Research" or "Primary Research." This involves collecting your own data in a structured, methodical way.
Gray Literature
Information produced by organizations outside of traditional academic publishing channels, such as government agencies, non-profits, and businesses. Examples include reports, white papers, and theses.
IMRaD
The common structural format for original research articles in the sciences and social sciences, standing for Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
Inferential Statistics
Use quantitative data collected from a sample to test hypotheses and draw conclusions about a broader population (e.g., regression analysis, t-tests, confidence intervals).
Inquiry
A learning process that involves eight phases, starting with a stimulus that piques curiosity and moving through research, creation, and reflection.
Lateral Reading
A strategy for evaluating the credibility of a source by leaving the website and opening new tabs to see what other sources say about the author or organization.
Literature Review
A report, essay, or section of a paper that summarizes, analyzes, or synthesizes existing research on a topic. It establishes the Body of Knowledge and frames the scholarly conversation on a particular topic.
Meta-analysis
A type of quantitative review article that summarizes a large portion of original research that has already been done.
Methods
Methodology
The approach a researcher takes, which may include a design that includes various Methods to collect and analyze data or evidence. These vary by discipline. Some are qualitative and some are quantitative, while others use mixed methods.
Mixed Methods
A combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods.
MLA Style
Acronym for Modern Language Association, this style is a formatting and citation style often used by scholars of literature and in schools. It defines how citations and sources are presented in research papers. (Other disciplines may use APA, Harvard, Chicago, or other formats, so you will see examples of these in scholarly papers in various disciplines).
Open Access (OA)
Scholarly work that is available for free on the web rather than being behind a paywall.
Original Research
A study in which the author collects their own data in a structured, methodical way; also referred to as empirical or primary research. Compare this to Secondary Data, which is a dataset collected and published by an organization (for example the World Bank or the US Census).
Peer-review
A process where other experts in a field review a researcher's work before it is published to ensure the study is well-designed and the article is of good quality.
Predatory Publishers
Publishers that pose as legitimate academic journals but charge researchers fees to publish their work with little or no peer review.
Primary Research / Primary Data
Also called "original" or "empirical" research, this is the act of collecting your own data in a structured, methodical way (not to be confused with "Primary Source").
Primary Source
A source that provides a first-hand account of an event or time period and is considered authoritative, such as a diary, letter, or original document (History). Literature and works of art (films, paintings, sculptures, dance choreography, plays, music scores) are also considered primary source materials.
Qualitative Data Methods
Often called "soft data," qualitative data deals with non-numerical information such as words, images, and behaviors that capture subjective meanings, context, and lived experiences. Qualitative methods collect this data through techniques like interviews, focus groups, and field observations, analyzing it via approaches such as thematic analysis, content analysis, or narrative analysis to identify recurring patterns and insights.
Quantitative Data Methods
Collected through structured tools like surveys, sensors, and experiments, quantitative data (sometimes called "hard data") deals with objective, measurable numerical data, which can be analyzed via descriptive statistics or inferential statistics, deterministic mathematics, discrete computer science, optimization, and topology.
Research Question
A focused, feasible, specific, and complex question that guides a research study.
Review Article
A scholarly source that provides a comprehensive summary of existing research on a specific topic. A quantitative summary may be called a "meta-analysis."
Scholarly Source / Article
An article written by an expert in a specific field to share knowledge with other experts. These sources often use technical language and follow specific structures.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The practice of trying to generate more traffic for a website so that it appears on the first page of search engine results.
Secondary Data
Data collected and published by an organization (for example the World Bank or the US Census) that a researcher can use in lieu of collecting their own Primary Data. The researcher can then analyze whatever portion of this raw data that helps them answer their research questions.
Secondary Source
A source that involves the analysis, synthesis, interpretation, or evaluation of primary sources, often attempting to describe or explain them.
Top-Level Domain (TLD)
The ending of a URL (such as .com, .org, or .gov). Restricted TLDs (like .gov) tell you who is publishing the information, while Open TLDs (like .com) can be purchased by anyone.
URL
The address of a web page. The end of the URL (the Top Level Domain) can sometimes help determine the credibility or purpose of the site.
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