Terms Starting with "Q"

99 terms

q

q 1. symbol for studentized range statistic. 2. symbol for the probability of failure in a binary trial: q = 1 – p. Q 1. see Cochran Q test 2. see Yule’s Q. 3. symbol for a specific quartile (e.g., Q1, first quartile; Q3, third quartile).

Q

Q data

Q data questionnaire data: information about an individual gathered from the observations, judgments, and evaluations of that person as provided via subjective self-report inventories—and therefore also known as S data (self data)—or questionnaires. See also L data; O data; T data.

Q factor analysis

Q factor analysis see Q-technique factor analysis.

Q methodology

Q methodology a set of research methods used to study how people think or feel about a topic. It includes, among other methods, Q-technique factor analysis, which attempts to identify shared ways of thinking; and Q sorts, in which participants are given statements about people and topics and asked to sort them into categories. Compare R methodology.

Q sort

Q sort a data-collection procedure, often used in personality measurement, in which a participant or independent rater sorts a broad set of stimuli into categories using a specific instruction set. The stimuli are often short descriptive statements (e.g., of personal traits) printed on cards. Examples of the instruction set are “describe yourself,” “describe this child,” and “describe your friend.” In the classic or structured Q sort, raters are constrained to use a predetermined number of stimuli in each category. Often, general categories are used to reflect the normal distribution, with raters assigning fewer stimuli to the extreme categories and many more stimuli to the middle categories. See Q methodology.

Q test

Q test see Cochran Q test.

Q-technique factor analysis

Q-technique factor analysis a type of factor analysis used to understand the major dimensions or “types” of people by identifying how they perceive different variables. Instead of describing how variables group together, as in R-technique factor analysis, this approach examines how people group together, with a correlation of people across a broad range of variables. For example, types of students could be identified based on how participants describe themselves academically (e.g., “hard working,” “procrastinating”); individual descriptors of academic behavior (e.g., “Plans projects in advance of due dates”) would have factor loadings on each of the underlying person factors. Also called inverse factor analysis; Q factor analysis; Q-technique factoring. Compare P-technique factor analysis.

Q–Q plot

Q–Q plot abbreviation for quantile–quantile plot.

QALYs

QALYs acronym for quality adjusted life years.

qat

qat n. see khat.

qEEG

qEEG abbreviation for quantitative electroencephalograph.

qi

qi n. see chi.

qigong

qigong n. a Chinese health maintenance and self-healing practice that consists of coordination of specific breathing patterns with a variety of postures and body movements. Various forms are often taught as an auxiliary to Chinese martial arts.

QoL-AD

QoL-AD abbreviation for Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease Scale.

QT

QT abbreviation for Quick Test.

QTL

QTL abbreviation for quantitative trait loci.

Quaalude

Quaalude n. a trade name for methaqualone.

quack

quack 1. n. an unqualified person who makes false claims about, or misrepresents his or her ability or credentials in, medical, mental, or behavioral diagnosis and treatment. 2. adj. describing a treatment for which false or exaggerated claims are made. —quackery n.

quadrant

quadrant n. 1. one of four divisions of a two-dimensional x–y plot of psychological variables. The quadrants correspond to positive scores on both dimensions (upper right corner of plot), negative scores on both dimensions (lower left corner of plot), and positive scores on one dimension and negative scores on the other dimension (upper left corner and lower right corner, respectively, of the plot). 2. one of four divisions of the visual field.

quadrant sampling

quadrant sampling a method for selecting units of analysis (e.g., participants, organizations) from different areas of a space. The space is divided into four sections and units are drawn from each. In psychology, units may be drawn from psychological space, such as personality variables that are thought of as arrayed in two-dimensional space. See quadrant.

quadrantanopia

quadrantanopia n. loss of vision in one fourth, or one quadrant, of the visual field. Homonymous quadranopia is the loss of vision in both (upper or lower) quadrants of the same half (right or left) of the visual field of each eye (e.g., left upper quadranopia); it is caused by postchiasmatic brain injury (see postchiasmatic visual deficit). Also called quadranopia; quadrantanopsia; quadrantic hemianopia.

quadrature

quadrature n. the numerical computation of an integral of a function, either by traditional rules or by an adaptive process involving approximation. It is used extensively during estimation in modeling approaches, such as item response theory and generalized linear models.

quadriparesis

quadriparesis n. muscle weakness or partial paralysis in all four limbs, associated with neurological injury or disorder. Also called tetraparesis.

quadriplegia

quadriplegia n. paralysis of all four limbs, resulting from damage to the spinal cord or brain. Also called tetraplegia. —quadriplegic adj.

qualia

qualia pl. n. (sing. quale) 1. characteristics or qualities that determine the nature of a mental experience (sensation or perception) and make it distinguishable from other such experiences, so that, for example, the experiencer differentiates between the sensations of heat and cold. Qualia bear some conceptual relationship to the empiricist notion of primary qualities and secondary qualities; in some systems, however, they take on the quality of basic or fundamental units of experience. Other thinkers, primarily those in the materialist tradition, reject the notion of qualia as an unnecessary construct with little explanatory value. 2. the phenomenal, conscious states or feelings specific to each emotion. The ineffable phenomenal states of anger, happiness, fear, sadness, and so on are qualia of affect.

qualitative

qualitative adj. referring to a variable, study, or analysis that involves a method of inquiry based on descriptive data without the use of numbers. Compare quantitative.

qualitative analysis

qualitative analysis the investigation of open-ended material and narratives by researchers or raters who describe dominant themes that emerge in the data. In many cases, specialized computer programs are used to identify these themes with researcher-provided search terms. A major component of describing the data is trying to understand the reasons behind the observed themes. Compare quantitative analysis.

qualitative data

qualitative data information that is not expressed numerically, such as descriptions of behavior, thoughts, attitudes, and experiences. If desired, qualitative data can often be expressed quantitatively through codification. Compare quantitative data.

qualitative evaluation

qualitative evaluation an evaluation method that yields narratives gathered primarily from unstructured methods of data collection, naturalistic observation, and existing records. As an initial or divergent phase of program evaluation, it seeks to allow maximum opportunity to frame evaluation objectives. This approach is usually associated with a goal-free evaluation rather than a goal-based evaluation. Compare quantitative evaluation.

qualitative observation

qualitative observation a formal description of a phenomenon that takes into account the context in which that phenomenon occurs but does not rely on numbers in the description.

qualitative research

qualitative research a method of research that produces descriptive (non-numerical) data, such as observations of behavior or personal accounts of experiences. The goal of gathering this qualitative data is to examine how individuals can perceive the world from different vantage points. A variety of techniques are subsumed under qualitative research, including content analyses of narratives, in-depth interviews, focus groups, participant observation, and case studies, often conducted in naturalistic settings. Also called qualitative design; qualitative inquiry; qualitative method; qualitative study. Compare quantitative research.

qualitative variable

qualitative variable a descriptive characteristic or attribute, that is, one that cannot be numerically ordered. Examples are gender, eye color, and preferred sport. Compare quantitative variable.

quality

quality n. 1. a characteristic or feature of something, be it physical or abstract. See primary quality; secondary quality. See also qualia. 2. the essential character or nature of something.

quality adjusted life years (QALYs)

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quality adjusted survival analysis

quality adjusted survival analysis in controlled clinical trials, a type of survival analysis that not only predicts time to an event (e.g., number of years to death, time to relapse) but also recognizes aspects of the treatment that affect a patient’s quality of life. For example, the analysis would identify a treatment condition (e.g., introduction of a new drug) that might lead to longer but much lower quality of life for the patient.

quality assurance

quality assurance in health administration or other areas of service delivery, a systematic process that is used to monitor and provide continuous improvement in the quality of health care services. It involves not only evaluating the services in terms of effectiveness, appropriateness, and acceptability but also offering feedback and implementing solutions to correct any identified deficiencies and assessing the results.

quality circle

quality circle a form of participative management in which a small group of employees are given the task of improving the quality and reducing the costs of the goods or services produced in their jobs and resolving any other production and productivity problems. Employees in a quality circle are typically given autonomy in how they approach this task and may be trained in statistical process control. See also Scanlon plan.

quality control

quality control processes associated with research, production, or services that are designed to reduce the number of defective measurements and products.

quality of care

quality of care the extent to which health services are consistent with professional standards and increase the likelihood of desired outcomes.

quality of life

quality of life the extent to which a person obtains satisfaction from life. The following are important for a good quality of life: emotional, material, and physical well-being; engagement in interpersonal relations; opportunities for personal (e.g., skill) development; exercising rights and making self-determining lifestyle choices; and participation in society. Enhancing quality of life is a particular concern for those with chronic disease or developmental and other disabilities, for those undergoing medical or psychological treatment, and for the aged.

Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease Scale (QoL-AD)

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quality of worklife (QWL)

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quality weighting

quality weighting the weighting of each of the studies in a meta-analysis by the quality of its design, execution, and analysis.

quantal hypothesis (quantal theory)

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quantification

quantification n. the process of expressing a concept or variable in numerical form, which may aid in analysis and understanding.

quantifier

quantifier n. in linguistics, a determiner used to express the notion of quantity, such as many, most, some, or all.

quantile

quantile n. a value in a series of values in ascending order below which a given percentage of values lies; for example, a 50% quantile (also called a median) is the point at which 50% of the values fall below that value (and 50% above). Other types of quantile are quartiles, dividing the series into four equal-sized groups; deciles, dividing it into 10 groups; and percentiles (or centiles), dividing it into 100 groups. Also called fractile.

quantile–quantile plot (Q–Q plot)

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quantitative

quantitative adj. involving the use of a numerical measurement system to analyze data. Compare qualitative.

quantitative analysis

quantitative analysis the investigation of data empirically using numerical variables. Quantitative analysis includes both descriptive statistics—such as summaries of means and standard deviations of variables—and inferential statistics—such as analysis of variance, regression analysis, factor analysis, and hierarchical linear models. Compare qualitative analysis.

quantitative data

quantitative data information expressed numerically, such as test scores or measurements of length or width. These data may or may not have a real zero, but they have order and often equal intervals. Compare qualitative data.

quantitative electroencephalograph (qEEG)

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quantitative evaluation

quantitative evaluation an evaluation method that yields numerical indices gathered primarily from formal (objective) methods of data collection, systematic and controlled observation, and a prescribed research design. As a final or convergent phase of program evaluation, it seeks to provide precise answers to already defined evaluation objectives. This approach is usually associated with a goal-based evaluation rather than a goal-free evaluation. Compare qualitative evaluation.

quantitative psychology

quantitative psychology the study of methods and techniques for the measurement of human attributes, the statistical and mathematical modeling of psychological processes, the design of research studies, and the analysis of psychological data. Researchers in this area develop new methodologies and evaluate existing methodologies under particular conditions (e.g., with small samples).

quantitative research

quantitative research a method of research that relies on measuring variables using a numerical system, analyzing these measurements using any of a variety of statistical models, and reporting relationships and associations among the studied variables. For example, these variables may be test scores or measurements of reaction time. The goal of gathering this quantitative data is to understand, describe, and predict the nature of a phenomenon, particularly through the development of models and theories. Quantitative research techniques include experiments and surveys. Also called quantitative design; quantitative inquiry; quantitative method; quantitative study. Compare qualitative research.

quantitative score

quantitative score a number that represents the number of correctly fulfilled requirements for a given test or class.

quantitative semantics

quantitative semantics see content analysis.

quantitative trait loci (QTL)

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quantitative variable

quantitative variable a characteristic or attribute that can be measured numerically using a score obtained from any of a variety of data sources. Examples are age, height, and weight. Compare qualitative variable.

quantum

quantum n. (pl. quanta) 1. in physics, a unit of radiant energy. 2. in neuroscience, the minimal amount of neurotransmitter released by a neuron at a given time.

quantum mind

quantum mind an extension of neural quantum theory proposing that quantum-level neuronal events are a basic mechanism of consciousness. Also called quantum hypothesis of consciousness.

quantum theory

quantum theory see neural quantum theory.

quartile

quartile n. one of the three values in a series of values that divide it into equal-sized fourths. For example, the first (or lower) quartile of a distribution is the data value below which are the lowest 25% of scores, the second quartile is the data value below which are 50% of scores, and the third (or upper) quartile is the data value below which are 75% of scores (or, conversely, above which are 25% of scores). These values provide information to researchers about the relative spread of the distribution. See Q; quantile.

quartile deviation

quartile deviation a measure of dispersion that is defined as the value halfway between the first and third quartiles (i.e., half the interquartile range). Also called semi-interquartile range.

quartimax rotation

quartimax rotation in factor analysis, an orthogonal rotation that maximizes the variance across the rows of the factor matrix by raising the loadings to the fourth power; the effect is to make large loadings especially large and small loadings especially small. The objective is to increase the interpretability of a factor solution by satisfying the simple structure ideal.

quasi-experimental control group

quasi-experimental control group in a quasi-experimental design, any group of participants who are assigned to a condition in which the treatment is not introduced. These individuals will receive the standard of care, receive a placebo, or participate in an activity that involves them in the study but does not include the treatment in any way.

quasi-experimental design

quasi-experimental design an experimental design in which assignment of participants to an experimental group or to a control group cannot be made at random for either practical or ethical reasons; this is usually the case in field research. Assignment of participants to conditions is usually based on self-selection (e.g., employees who have chosen to work at a particular plant) or selection by an administrator (e.g., children are assigned to particular classrooms by a superintendent of schools). Such designs introduce a set of assumptions or threats to internal validity that must be acknowledged by the researcher when interpreting study findings. A study using this design is called a quasi-experiment. Examples include studies that investigate the responses of large groups to natural disasters or widespread changes in social policy.

quasi-experimental research

quasi-experimental research research in which the investigator cannot randomly assign units or participants to conditions, cannot generally control or manipulate the independent variable, and cannot limit the influence of extraneous variables. Field research typically takes the form of quasi-experimental research. Also called nonexperimental research. See quasi-experimental design.

quasi-independence

quasi-independence n. in a contingency table, the situation in which only a subset of entries or frequencies are independent or uninfluenced by one another. Entries may not be independent for a variety of reasons: They may be invalid, missing, or not counted in the analysis.

quasi-independent variable

quasi-independent variable in experimental design, any of the personal attributes, traits, or behaviors that are inseparable from an individual and cannot reasonably be manipulated. These include gender, age, and ethnicity. Such attributes may be modeled and treated as statistically independent but are not subject to random assignment, as are independent variables.

quasi-interval scale

quasi-interval scale a rating scale that classifies responses by using ordered options but that lacks equal distances between all scale points. For example, some response items could show equal distances between scale points, whereas for other items respondents could have a difficult time differentiating among options, leading to compression or stretching between scale points. See interval scale.

quasi-likelihood function

quasi-likelihood function a formula used to obtain estimates for count or binary data that show more dispersion than the statistical model can handle. An advantage of quasi-likelihood models is that they permit an increased flexibility in the data types and research situations to which they may be applied. A limitation is that the function does not derive from a known population distribution.

quasi-observation

quasi-observation n. 1. the process of collecting data about a person from a close source, rather than directly from the subject. An example is asking an individual to report on the job satisfaction of his or her partner. 2. the use of mechanical means, such as video surveillance or audiotaping, to record behaviors as a substitute for real-time observation and questioning by a researcher. In marketing research, an example would be the use of surveillance cameras to monitor shopper behavior in stores. This would cost less than paying a trained researcher to observe and interview shoppers in situ. There is also the advantage that such data can be viewed, stored, and analyzed at the researcher’s convenience.

quasi-vegetative state

quasi-vegetative state see minimally conscious state.

quasi– F ratio

quasi– F ratio in analysis of variance and regression analysis, a substitute for the F ratiof-ratio that can sometimes be obtained when the denominators for an exact F ratio cannot be completed. The quasi–F ratio is obtained by determining the mean squared error using certain estimated components of variation when these cannot be calculated directly.

quasigroup

quasigroup n. a collective with some, but not all, of the defining features of a true group.

quasineed

quasineed n. in the social psychology of Kurt Lewin, a tension state that initiates goal-directed activity and that has an origin in intent or purpose rather than in a biological deficit.

quasirandom

quasirandom adj. see pseudorandom.

quasirandom sampling

quasirandom sampling see systematic sampling.

quaternity

quaternity n. Carl Jung’s fourfold concept of personality, in which there are four functions of the ego: feeling, thinking, intuiting, and sensing (see functional types). For Jung, the quaternity is an archetype exemplified in myriad ways, such as the four points of a compass and the four points of a cross.

quazepam

quazepam n. a benzodiazepine used as a hypnotic agent. It is of medium potency and is highly lipid soluble, enabling rapid penetration of the blood–brain barrier and resulting in rapid onset of effects. Because its metabolic products are eliminated slowly, quazepam may accumulate in the body, leading to unwanted daytime sedation. U.S. trade name: Doral.

queer

queer adj., n. controversial slang, in the main pejorative, referring to gays and lesbians or relating to homosexual orientation. The original and still common use of the word, to describe anything that is odd or strange, was extended to refer to gays in the late 19th and throughout much of the 20th century, when it acquired a predominantly negative connotation. During the late 1960s and onward (see sexual revolution), it was appropriated by some members within the gay community as a term of identification that carried no negative connotation and, indeed, became a label of pride and self-respect. This usage is not embraced, however, by all members of the gay community.

queer rights movement

queer rights movement see gay liberation.

querulent

querulent adj. quarrelsome, complaining, irritable, and suspicious.

questionnaire

questionnaire n. a set of questions or other prompts used to obtain information from a respondent about a topic of interest, such as background characteristics, attitudes, behaviors, personality, ability, or other attributes. A questionnaire may be administered with pen and paper, in a face-to-face interview, or via interaction between the respondent and a computer or website.

quetiapine

quetiapine n. an atypical antipsychotic used for the management of psychosis and schizophrenia. As with conventional antipsychotics, its therapeutic effects are in part related to its ability to block D2 dopamine receptors (see dopamine-receptor antagonist); however, it differs from the older agents in its ability to also block 5-HT2 serotonin receptors. It is also approved for treatment of bipolar disorder and (in its extended-release formulation) as an adjunct to antidepressant drugs for unipolar depression. Sedation is a common adverse effect; thyroid dysfunction, weight gain, and electrocardiographic effects are more rarely observed. U.S. trade name: Seroquel.

queue

queue n. a file of people who are waiting for some service, commodity, or opportunity. Although the members of the queue are often strangers who will likely not meet again, they nonetheless comply with social norms that determine the order in which members will receive service.

Quick Test (QT)

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quick trajectory

quick trajectory see trajectories of dying.

quick-and-dirty

quick-and-dirty adj. describing a research design or data analysis that is admitted to be informal and imperfect. The researcher who adopts such an approach recognizes that there is a more refined way to set up the experiment or to analyze the findings. In research, a quick-and-dirty approach is more informal than a pilot study; in data analysis, it is regarded as a first peek at data from a specific analysis.

quid pro quo

quid pro quo an advantage given in return for something done or promised (from Latin, literally: “one thing for another”). The phrase has come to be associated with a form of sexual harassment in which sexual demands are made with the explicit or implicit suggestion that compliance will have positive consequences (e.g., a job promotion), whereas failure to comply could have the opposite effect (e.g., termination of employment).

Quincke’s disease (Quincke’s edema)

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Quinian bootstrapping (Quinean bootstrapping)

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quintile

quintile n. one of four values in a score distribution that divides it into five equal parts. For example, the first quintile of a distribution is the value below which are the lowest 20% of scores. See quantile.

quota control

quota control in survey methodology, an approach that imposes a limit on the number of respondents that are obtained either in the total sample or in substantively meaningful subgroups, such as those defined by gender or ethnicity. The approach is efficient because it does not overuse resources, such as respondent time or good will, by obtaining more individuals than are needed for a study. It also allows a researcher to obtain a desired balance of sample sizes across groups for statistical testing. Most computerized surveys include an automatic quota control function.

quota sampling

quota sampling a method of forming a sample in which a prespecified number of individuals with certain background characteristics, such as a particular age, race, ethnicity, sex, or education, are selected for inclusion. Often, participants are recruited as they arrive; once the quota for a given demographic group is filled, the researcher stops recruiting subjects from that group. A researcher who uses this approach can obtain a final study sample that has the same proportional characteristics as the target population, enabling statistical testing to be performed on a subset of cases that is appropriately representative of the larger group of interest. See deliberate sampling. See also quota control.

quotient hypothesis

quotient hypothesis an adaptation of Weber’s law suggesting that the quotients or ratios of two successive difference thresholds in a given sensory series are equal.

QWL

QWL abbreviation for quality of worklife.

Psychology Terms Starting With 'Q'