The research glossary defines terms used in conducting social science and policy research, for example those describing methods, measurements, statistical procedures, and other aspects of research; the child care glossary defines terms used to describe aspects of child care and early education practice and policy.
Error Term
The part of a statistical equation that indicates what remains unexplained by the independent variables. The residuals in regression models.
Estimated Sampling Error
When researchers use a sample to predict the true but unknown value of a population there is the risk of being wrong. They decide ahead of time how much error in their prediction is acceptable. For example, when predicting the percentage of children enrolled in home-based child care, a researcher could select a sample size with an error of +/- 5 percent points.
Estimation
The process by which data from a sample are used to indicate the value of an unknown quantity in a population.
Ethnographic Decision Models
A qualitative method for examining behavior under specific circumstances. An EDM is often referred to as a decision tree or flow chart and comprises a series of nested "if-then" statements that link criteria (and combinations of criteria) to the behavior of interest.
Ethnographic Interviewing
A research method in which face-to-face interviews with respondents are conducted using open-ended questions to explore topics in great depth. Questions are often customized for each interview, and topics are generally probed extensively with follow-up questions.
Ethnography
Literally meaning "folk-" or "people-" "writing," ethnography is a field method focused on recording the details of social life occurring in a society. A primary objective is to gain a rich, ¿thick¿ understanding of a setting and of the members within a society. Ethnographers seek to learn the language, thoughts, and practices of a society by participating in the rituals and observing the everyday routines of the community. Ethnography is primarily based upon participant observation, direct observation, and in-depth interviewing.
Evaluation Research
The use of scientific research methods to plan intervention programs, to monitor the implementation of new programs and the operation of existing programs, and to determine how effectively programs or clinical practices achieve their goals.
Event History Analysis
Event history analysis deals with data obtained by observing individuals over time, focusing on events occurring for the individuals under observation. It is similar to linear or logistic regression analysis, except that the dependent variable is a measure of the likelihood or timing of an event (e.g., birth of first child, divorce, job changes).
Exogeneity
The condition of being external to the process under study. For example, a researcher may study the effect of parental characteristics on their children's behaviors. A parent's religious upbringing is exogenous to their children's behaviors because it is impossible for children's current behavior to impact parent's upbringing, which occurred prior to the birth of the child. The opposite of exogeneity is endogeneity.
Experimental Control
Processes used to hold the conditions uniform or constant under which an investigation is carried out.