Glossary
AP Research
A student-driven course where individuals conduct original research to generate new data and contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
Example:
In AP Research, a student might design and execute a survey to understand the impact of remote learning on student motivation, generating novel insights.
AP Seminar
A foundational AP Capstone course that focuses on analyzing existing evidence from various perspectives to develop arguments, contrasting with AP Research's focus on generating new data.
Example:
Unlike AP Seminar, where you might analyze different arguments about climate change, AP Research requires you to conduct an original study on a specific aspect of it.
Bibliography (Research Paper Component)
A comprehensive list of all sources cited or consulted during the research process, formatted according to a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).
Example:
Ensure every source you referenced in your paper is accurately listed in the Bibliography at the end, following the correct citation guidelines.
Big-R Research
The original, primary research conducted by the student to generate new data and address the identified research gap.
Example:
After extensive literature review, your actual experiment collecting data on plant growth under different light conditions constitutes your Big-R Research.
Body of Knowledge
The cumulative collection of all existing information, theories, findings, and studies related to a particular subject or field.
Example:
Before starting your experiment, you must thoroughly review the current body of knowledge on plant growth stimulants to identify what's already known.
Conclusion (Research Paper Component)
The final section that summarizes the key findings, discusses their implications, acknowledges limitations of the study, and suggests directions for future research.
Example:
Your Conclusion should reiterate your main findings, explain their significance, and perhaps suggest that future studies could explore different age groups.
Credibility
The trustworthiness and reliability of sources, determined by factors such as the author's expertise, peer review, and the reputation of the publication venue.
Example:
When citing sources for your paper, always check the credibility of the authors and publishers to ensure the information is reliable and well-supported.
Discipline
A broad field of study or academic subject area (e.g., psychology, economics, history) within which a research topic is situated.
Example:
While your broad interest might be in the discipline of environmental science, your specific research focuses on microplastic contamination in local freshwater sources.
Ethical Considerations
Principles and guidelines that ensure research is conducted responsibly, protecting participants from harm, maintaining confidentiality, and obtaining informed consent.
Example:
Before interviewing students about sensitive topics, you must address ethical considerations by getting parental consent and ensuring anonymity for their responses.
Feasibility
The practicality and realistic possibility of successfully completing a research project within given constraints, such as time, resources, and access to participants.
Example:
While researching the entire school's study habits sounds interesting, the feasibility of surveying 2,000 students in a month is low, so you might focus on a single grade level.
Individualistic
Describes the nature of AP Research, emphasizing that the project is independently conceived, designed, and executed by a single student.
Example:
Unlike group projects, your individualistic AP Research paper requires you to be the sole author and researcher, taking full ownership of the study.
Introduction (Research Paper Component)
The opening section of a research paper that provides background information, establishes the context of the study, and clearly states the research question or thesis.
Example:
Your paper's Introduction should hook the reader, explain why your topic matters, and clearly present the central question your research will answer.
Literature Review (Research Paper Component)
A comprehensive survey and critical analysis of existing scholarly works, theories, and findings relevant to the research topic, demonstrating the identified gap.
Example:
In your Literature Review, you'll synthesize what other researchers have found about adolescent sleep patterns, highlighting where your study adds new insights.
Little-r Research
The initial, extensive background research conducted using existing databases and sources to understand the current body of knowledge and identify a research gap.
Example:
Before designing your own experiment, you'll spend weeks on little-r research, reading scholarly articles to understand previous findings on your topic.
Methodology (Research Paper Component)
The section detailing the specific research design, participants, data collection instruments, and procedures used to conduct the study, allowing for replication.
Example:
Your Methodology section will explain exactly how you conducted your survey, including the sample size, the questions asked, and how data was analyzed.
Narrowing Down
The process of refining a broad interest or subject area into a specific, manageable, and researchable topic through preliminary investigation.
Example:
You started with a general interest in 'sleep,' but through narrowing down, you decided to investigate 'the effect of blue light exposure from screens on sleep quality in high school students.'
New Data Generation
The process of collecting original information or observations through studies, experiments, or content analysis, which is a core aspect of AP Research.
Example:
Instead of just analyzing existing studies, your project on local recycling habits will involve new data generation by conducting interviews with community members.
Research Gap
An unexplored or unanswered question within the existing body of knowledge on a particular topic, which your original research aims to address.
Example:
After reviewing dozens of articles on climate change communication, you might identify a research gap regarding how Gen Z uses TikTok to share environmental information.
Results/Analysis (Research Paper Component)
The section where the collected data is presented, interpreted, and analyzed in relation to the research question, often using statistics, graphs, or thematic discussions.
Example:
In the Results/Analysis section, you'll present the survey data showing a correlation between screen time and sleep quality, explaining what the numbers mean.
Topic of Inquiry
The specific, detailed, and focused subject of your research paper, narrow enough to be uniquely identifiable.
Example:
Instead of 'social media,' your topic of inquiry might be 'the impact of Instagram's algorithm on body image perceptions among adolescent females in urban areas.'