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Some Important Terminologies

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DEFINE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TERMS: RESEARCH QUESTION/AIM: While exploratory research can be used to gain a general overview of a given issue, a research question is needed to focus the research in meaningful ways (Neuman, 2003). As an example, Schumacker and Akers (2001) report that, "The first step in any academic discipline that conducts scientific investigation is to ask a research question. Research questions can be expressed in many different ways. For example, 'In the upcoming election, who will be elected President of the United States?' or 'Which is better, margarine or butter, in lowering cholesterol?'" (p. 189). By contrast, a research aim is the combination of the supporting research goals that define the study's purpose (Neuman, 2003). RESEARCH DESIGN Simply stated, a research design is the general framework in which a study is conducted (Mauch & Park, 2003). The definition offered by these educators states that it is "a total plan for carrying out an investigation. Research methodology, research type, or general method are considered synonyms for research design" (Mauch & Park, 2003, p. 37). When completed, a good research design describes all of the steps necessary to complete the study as well as how the findings that emerge will be used to answer the guiding research questions or confirm or refute the guiding hypothesis or hypotheses (Mauch & Park. 2003). PILOT STUDY A study's reliability can be improved by using a pretest version known as a pilot

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