Basic Research Terms:

Some of the basic  terms that are defined  in  this section are: 

Assumptions Operational Definitions 

Variables  Delimitation and Limitation 

Hypothesis 

Assumptions 

To begin with, certain things  the researcher decides that have been  sufficiently well demonstrated by  other studies or are systematically observed to  be  true. These the researcher believes or assumes that they are true and  are called as assumptions. A researcher  is entitled to make assumptions  in  terms of his/ her perceptions based on findings of .other studies, systematic observations made by  the researcher andlor based on general theories. Assumptions drawn  in a  study are not  tested  for its validity  in  that  study but may be  taken up  in  the another study  if  the researcher  felt that there are not  enough evidences to support the assumptions stated. Assumptions are important but  are made very carefully after a thorough review of  literature.

Assumptions need  to be  evaluated by  examining the foundation on which they are. Therefore, the researcher has to have a sound sense of judgment to draw the research assumptions.  

Variables:

The characteristics, attributes or phenomena under study are called variables. You must identify, define and quantify them.  It is easy to define some variable, e.g.  age, height or weight. Here  the data consists of measurement of the characteristics of age  in years, Monday or days, height can be measured  in inches or centimeters and weights  in pounds or kilograms. Some variables require definition in a measurable term. For example,  in  a  study of growth pattern of children "growth  is  the variable, then it needs to be  defined  in  a measurable term.