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🤨AP Research Unit 1 Vocabulary

89 essential vocabulary terms and definitions for Unit 1 – Question and Explore

Study Unit 1
Practice Vocabulary
🤨Unit 1 – Question and Explore
Topics

🤨Unit 1 – Question and Explore

1.1 Identifying a problem or issue and developing a question about it

TermDefinition
aesthetic problemsIssues related to artistic, creative, or design-based inquiry concerning beauty, form, or artistic expression.
challengeTo question, dispute, or provide evidence against an existing idea or assumption.
complexitiesThe multiple interconnected factors, perspectives, and nuances that make a problem or issue difficult to understand fully.
complexity of a problemThe multifaceted nature of an issue that involves multiple factors, perspectives, and considerations requiring thorough examination.
contextThe circumstances, background information, and existing knowledge in a field that frame and give meaning to a research question or project goal.
contradictory perspectivesViewpoints that directly oppose or conflict with one another regarding a problem or issue.
corroborateTo confirm, support, or provide evidence that strengthens an existing idea or finding.
divergent perspectivesViewpoints that differ significantly or move in different directions in their interpretation of a problem or issue.
extendTo expand upon, build upon, or develop further an existing idea or body of knowledge.
feasibilityThe practical possibility of conducting a research project given available resources, time, and constraints.
inquiryThe process of asking questions and investigating a topic in order to confirm, challenge, or develop understanding.
inquiry processA systematic approach to research that draws upon curiosity and imagination to explore complex issues and develop understanding.
interpretive problemsIssues involving the analysis, explanation, or understanding of meaning, texts, or phenomena within a scholarly context.
multiple perspectivesDifferent viewpoints or ways of understanding a problem or issue based on various experiences, backgrounds, and ideas.
originsThe sources, causes, or historical roots from which a problem or issue emerges.
practical problemsReal-world, applied issues that require solutions or improvements in practice or implementation.
problem or issueA topic or situation that requires investigation and understanding, serving as the starting point for research inquiry.
project goalThe intended outcome or objective that a research project or scholarly inquiry aims to achieve.
purposeThe intended goal or objective of scholarly inquiry, which may be to address practical, theoretical, interpretive, or aesthetic problems.
research questionA focused inquiry that guides scholarly investigation and defines what the researcher seeks to explore, explain, or understand.
scholarly communityThe collective group of scholars and researchers within a discipline who share common standards, practices, and interests in advancing knowledge.
scholarly inquiryA systematic and rigorous investigation or research project conducted according to academic standards and methods.
scopeThe boundaries and extent of a research project, including what is included and excluded from the inquiry.
significanceThe importance and relevance of scholarly inquiry to the broader scholarly community and its contribution to existing knowledge.
theoretical problemsConceptual or abstract issues related to understanding fundamental principles, concepts, or frameworks within a discipline.

1.2 Finding and organizing the information you need to answer the question

TermDefinition
assumptionUnderlying beliefs or premises that are taken for granted without proof or verification.
brainstormingA strategy for generating and organizing ideas by freely expressing thoughts about a topic without initial judgment or evaluation.
concept mappingA visual strategy for organizing and connecting ideas by diagramming relationships between concepts and topics.
cultural contextThe social, cultural, and historical background that shapes how people understand and interpret information and knowledge.
inquiryThe process of asking questions and investigating a topic in order to confirm, challenge, or develop understanding.
prewritingA strategy used before formal writing to explore, organize, and develop ideas about a topic.
prior knowledgeExisting understanding, information, and experiences that a person already possesses about a topic before beginning new inquiry or research.

1.3 Evaluating the sources of information you use

TermDefinition
bibliographyA complete list of all sources cited and consulted in an academic paper, formatted according to the appropriate disciplinary style.
citation generatorsOnline tools used to automatically create and format citations for sources.
data setsCollections of data that can be analyzed using software tools to identify patterns and draw conclusions.
online databasesDigital repositories that catalog and house secondary and primary sources, such as EBSCO, ProQuest, JSTOR, and Google Scholar.
primary sourcesOriginal documents or materials created at the time of an event, such as letters, photographs, or firsthand accounts.
secondary sourcesSources that interpret, analyze, or discuss primary sources, such as books, articles, or scholarly analyses written after an event.

1.4 Looking at the problem or issue from different perspectives

TermDefinition
alternate approachesDifferent methods or strategies used to achieve research goals when the initial approach encounters difficulties or proves ineffective.
artistic processesCreative approaches to inquiry that may include generating, conceptualizing, testing, and refining aesthetic approaches such as workshopping, storyboarding, composing, choreographing, staging, and model-making.
author's perspectiveThe viewpoint, bias, and assumptions that influence how an author presents information and interprets data.
authoritativeRecognized as having expert knowledge and trustworthy expertise in a particular subject area.
codingThe process of organizing and categorizing data or information to identify patterns, themes, or meaningful units.
contextualizationThe process of placing a research problem within its broader circumstances, background, and framework to understand its significance and scope.
copyright lawsLegal protections that govern the use, reproduction, and distribution of original creative works and intellectual property.
correlationsStatistical relationships between two or more variables indicating how they vary together.
credibilityThe quality of being trustworthy and believable, which is enhanced through accurate and ethical attribution of sources.
data analysisThe process of examining and interpreting collected data or information to identify patterns, trends, and meaning.
data collectionThe process of gathering information or evidence through various methods to address a research question or project goal.
data collection instrumentThe tool or method used to gather information from respondents or observers, such as surveys, questionnaires, or observation protocols.
descriptive statisticsStatistical methods used to summarize and display data characteristics such as mean, median, and standard deviation.
ethical research practicesConducting research in accordance with moral principles and established guidelines to ensure responsible and honest scholarly work.
feasibilityThe practical possibility of conducting a research project given available resources, time, and constraints.
generalizabilityThe extent to which research findings and conclusions can be applied to broader populations or contexts beyond the specific study.
inferencesConclusions drawn from data or evidence that extend beyond the immediate observations to make broader claims.
inferential statisticsStatistical methods used to analyze data and draw conclusions about a larger population based on a sample.
inquiry processA systematic approach to research that draws upon curiosity and imagination to explore complex issues and develop understanding.
institutional review boardA committee that reviews and approves research proposals involving human subjects to ensure ethical standards and protect participant rights.
intellectual propertyOriginal creations of the mind, including written works, inventions, and personal information, that are protected by law from unauthorized use.
interpretation of textsA qualitative method of analyzing written or recorded materials to extract meaning and understanding.
interviewsA qualitative data collection method involving direct conversation between a researcher and participant to gather information and insights.
long-term projectAn extended research or inquiry effort that requires sustained effort over an extended period of time.
methods of inquiryThe systematic approaches, procedures, and techniques used to investigate questions or create artistic works.
mixed methodsA research approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques.
modelingA quantitative method of representing data or phenomena through mathematical or visual representations.
observational notesQualitative data recorded by a researcher through direct observation of phenomena, behaviors, or events.
open-ended survey questionsSurvey questions that allow respondents to provide detailed, unrestricted responses rather than selecting from predetermined options.
patent lawsLegal protections that grant inventors exclusive rights to their inventions and prevent unauthorized use or reproduction of patented work.
patternRecurring sequences, structures, or relationships identified in evidence.
peer-reviewedA process in which scholarly articles are evaluated and approved by disciplinary experts before publication.
perseveranceThe ability to persist and continue working toward goals despite difficulties, setbacks, or obstacles in a research project.
populationThe entire group or collection from which a sample is drawn in a research study.
precise measurementsQuantitative data collection involving exact, accurate numerical values obtained through standardized procedures.
project goalThe intended outcome or objective that a research project or scholarly inquiry aims to achieve.
qualitative researchA research method that focuses on understanding phenomena through descriptive data, such as interviews, observations, and open-ended responses.
quantitative researchA research method that focuses on measuring and analyzing numerical data using precise measurements and statistical procedures.
relevanceThe quality of evidence being directly related to and supporting the specific claims or arguments being made.
reliabilityThe consistency and dependability of conclusions and data, reflecting how trustworthy and reproducible the results are.
research methodsThe systematic procedures and techniques used to collect, analyze, and interpret data in a study.
research questionA focused inquiry that guides scholarly investigation and defines what the researcher seeks to explore, explain, or understand.
sampleA subset of a population or collection of artifacts selected for study in a research project.
scholarly inquiryA systematic and rigorous investigation or research project conducted according to academic standards and methods.
scopeThe boundaries and extent of a research project, including what is included and excluded from the inquiry.
self-sufficiencyThe ability to work independently and solve problems on one's own while conducting research, even while seeking guidance from experts.
setbacksUnexpected obstacles, failures, or delays that occur during the research process and require adaptation or alternative approaches.
structured data collection instrumentsValidated tools and procedures used in quantitative research to systematically gather consistent and comparable data.
themesRecurring ideas, concepts, or categories that emerge from organized and analyzed data or information.
triangulationA method of combining multiple qualitative and/or quantitative data sources to verify and corroborate findings.
validityThe degree to which evidence is sound, reliable, and actually supports the claims being made.