vocabulary

Question 1

abductive reasoning

Answer 1

A type of reasoning that uses creative intuition as the basis for possible directions for inquiry.

Question 2

brainstorming

Answer 2

To spontaneously think of ideas

Question 3

case study design

Answer 3

A qualitative research design that examines time-sensitive activities that have explicit and tacit rules that affect human experience and interaction

Question 4

causation

Answer 4

Establishing, through scientific inquiry, the reasons for specific effects occurring

Question 5

comparative analysis

Answer 5

Examination of the component parts of subject or object for purposes of discussion.

Question 6

comparative research

Answer 6

Examination of the constituent parts of a subject or object as a basis for ascertaining fact or drawing conclusions.

Question 7

constructivist paradigm

Answer 7

A paradigm in which researchers view knowledge and reality as socially constructed, which places an emphasis on contextual factors.

Question 8

content expert

Answer 8

The content expert is selected by the learner based on the specific area of interest in the dissertation. They provide valuable feedback on the proposal and dissertation.

Question 9

convergent design

Answer 9

A mixed-method design that collects and analyzes both quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously, compares the two datasets, and then interprets combined findings.

Question 10

correlation

Answer 10

Establishing, through scientific inquiry, the degree of association between variables.

Question 11

critical thinking

Answer 11

An engaged examination of component characteristics of a problem or question, taking acquired knowledge and new knowledge in to account in order to develop an informed, coherent and clear position.

Question 12

deductive reasoning

Answer 12

A type of reasoning that subtracts items no longer relevant because of new information.

Question 13

dissertation chair

Answer 13

In charge of the dissertation committee. Chairs are selected because of their knowledge of GCU’s dissertation process, overall research experience, and skills in coordination. GCU provides each learner with a chair.

Question 14

dissertation committee

Answer 14

Consists of a chair and a methodologist supplied by the University, and a content expert selected by the learner.

Question 15

doctoral DNA

Answer 15

A high-level design concept that has been used in the development of all doctoral programs to ensure that research and dissertation skills are embedded through the program, proper support structures are in place, and the curriculum is scaffolded and effectively creates learners who can balance application and theory.

Question 16

engaging doctoral learners

Answer 16

GCU uses the acronym “EDL” to refer to the specific development of curriculum, training of faculty, and buildup of support for learners in the first courses to promote a successful start to the program.

Question 17

enrollment counselor

Answer 17

A college representative who initially assists learners in enrolling in the program and advises them through their first course.

Question 18

epistomology

Answer 18

The study of how people go about obtaining facts and how people justify and, hence, provide warrant for their belief in such facts

Question 19

ethnographic design

Answer 19

A qualitative research design focused primarily on describing culture and how individuals create and interact with the culture.

Question 20

experimental design

Answer 20

A quantitative research design that uses control and intervention groups of participants to determine causal relationships between variables.

Question 21

external validity

Answer 21

The degree to which the results of a scientific study are generalizable or can be applied to other populations outside of the sample used for inquiry.

Question 22

grounded theory design

Answer 22

A qualitative research design that uses an inductive approach to build or discover theory from the ground up not by imposing theory on participants.

Question 23

heuristics

Answer 23

Cognitive shortcuts that reduce the cognitive load necessary to come to conclusions, also called rules of thumb

Question 24

hypothesis

Answer 24

A prediction made for the purpose of being tested by methods employed in scientific inquiry.

Question 25

inductive reasoning

Answer 25

A type of reasoning that involves a subjective assessment based upon exemplars found in experience.

Question 26

information literacy

Answer 26

The ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and use that information effectively for the issue or problem at hand.

Question 27

internal validity

Answer 27

The degree to which confounding factors or systematic errors are minimized to make a research design and research study coherent.

Question 28

literature review

Answer 28

Within a doctoral program, a compiling and synthesizing of empirical studies for the purpose of determining appropriate questions for research, which provide empirical reasons for inquiring about a research topic.

Question 29

mechanics

Answer 29

In reference to editing, mechanics refers to items such as punctuation, capitalization, indentions, etc., pertaining to written language as guidance for communicating appropriate action in oral language.

Question 30

metacognition

Answer 30

Being aware of and taking in to account one’s own knowledge foundations while looking across wide information sources to provide a glimpse of commonalities and differences across contexts.

Question 31

methodology

Answer 31

The study of tools and procedures used to obtain knowledge within science.

Question 32

methodologist

Answer 32

Provides direct support for the research essentials, whether qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Methodologists support the chair and provide important feedback on the prospectus, proposal, and dissertation. GCU provides each learner with a methodologist.

Question 33

milestones

Answer 33

Key steps in the dissertation journey