For a dozen years, from 2005 to 2017, the Institute for Work & Health published a regular column called "What researchers mean by..." in its newsletter At Work. The column was designed to help readers better understand what researchers do and the language they use when reporting their findings. These columns have been pulled together into one guide, providing easy-to-understand definitions of over 35 common research terms used in the health and social sciences.
Who should use this guide
Students studying in the health and social sciences will find this collection to be a handy guide to terms they may come across in their studies. So, too, will anyone in the working world who has to read journal articles and/or use evidence from the health and social sciences to be most effective in their work.
You can also access the definitions online, from our What researchers mean by.... page.