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.
Generalizability
The extent to which conclusions from analysis of data from a sample can be applied to the population as a whole.
Generalized Linear Mixed Model
A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) is an extension to the generalized linear models (GLMs) in which the predictor contains random effects in addition to fixed effects.
Generalized Linear Models
The generalized linear models (GLMs) are a broad class of statistical models that include linear regression, analysis of variance, logistic regression, log-linear models, etc. These models can be used when analyzing the effects of independent variables with different distributions. They do not require that the dependent variable be normally distributed.
Gini Coefficient
A measure of inequality or dispersion in a group of values (e.g.; racial inequality in a population). The larger the coefficient the greater the dispersion.
GIS (Geographical Information Systems)
A computer system that enables one to assemble, store, manipulate, and display geographically referenced information.
Grounded Theory
The development of social science theory from the inductive analysis of data. This approach is generally used in qualitative research. The specific and detailed observations in the data are studied and understood to such an extent that a theory of more general patterns of behavior can be generated.
Grounded Theory
Grounded theory (GT) is an inductive research methodology used in the social sciences. It involves the construction of theory from the data collected in research and analyses of those data. Thus, it is quite different from the traditional deductive approach, where the researcher collects and analyzes data to test an existing theory and a set of research hypotheses derived from that theory. Grounded theory is used widely in qualitative research.
Hawthorne Effect
Refers to the process where research subjects change their behavior in response to being studied. That is, people behave differently because they are being observed. For example, teachers in a classroom might change their discipline practices if they are part of a study that uses classroom observations as a data collection approach.
Heterogeneity
The degree of dissimilarity among cases with respect to a particular characteristic.
Heterogeneous Treatment Effects
Randomized experimental designs test the average effect of a treatment or intervention. However, the treatment might affect different research subjects or groups of subjects in different ways. The effects might be larger for some subjects and smaller for others, and it may have no effect on some subjects in the treatment group. The study of treatment effect heterogeneity is the study of these differences across subjects and groups of subjects. The findings from these studies provide important information that can be used to develop theories about the conditions under which the treatment is effective or ineffective.