Definition of Terms

Essay: (n): a relatively brief literary composition, usually in prose, giving the author’s views on a particular topic.

Hypothesis: 1. formal affirmative statement predicting a single research outcome; a tentative explanation of the relationship between two or more variables. 2. For a hypothesis to be testable, the variables must be operationally defined.

Null-hypothesis: 1. restate hypothesis in a negative form. There is no significant difference. The null hypothesis relates to a statistical method of interpreting conclusions about population characteristics observed in the samples. 2. It asserts that observed differences or relationships results merely from chance errors inherent in the sampling process. 3. Researching the null hypothesis: if a researcher rejects the null hypothesis, she accepts the research hypothesis, concluding that the magnitude of the observed/variable relationship is too great to attribute to sampling error. Example of a hypothesis: Fluency guarantees comprehension: Variables: Fluency-observable measures-speed/rate; phrasing; inflection; accuracy. Comprehension-observable measures-words; spoken and written. Null hypothesis: there is no significant difference (relationship) between the two groups, fluency and comprehension. When the null hypothesis is rejected, there is too much going on for it to be by chance.

Population: 1. A group of individuals who has one or more characteristics that is of interest to the researcher. 2. Parameters: a population value that is inferred from a statistic.

Qualitative: systematic procedure to describe what is. (Statistics not used in the same way.)

Quantitative: statistics, comparison/contrast to discover the “what is” of relationships.

Reflection: the active, persistent, and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and further conclusions to which it tends (Dewey, 1933).