innovation - ANSsomething newly introduced, such as a new method or device
abstract - ANSa written summary of key points, especially of a scientific paper
triage - ANSthe sorting of patients (as in an emergency room) according to the urgency of their
need for care
gantt chart - ANSa chart that depicts progress in relation to time, often used in planning and
tracking a project
alternative hypothesis - ANSwhat the experimenter thinks may be true or wishes to be true
before he or she begins an experiment; also called the research hypothesis
causal relationship - ANSa relationship in which one factor can be said to be the cause of
another; this relationship can be tested with controlled experiments
correlation - ANSthe degree of relationship between two variables
cross sectional study - ANSa research study that involves a single observation (such as an
interview or questionnaire), which may be useful to determine how variables affect each other at
the same time and period
experimental study - ANSa type of study in which all variable measurements and manipulations
are under research control; the goal of an experiment is to control the environment in such a
way that manipulation of the independent variable yields a direct, corresponding change in the
dependent variable
null hypothesis - ANSthe starting point in scientific research where the experimenter assumes
there is no effect of the treatment or no relationship between the two variables
observational study - ANSa type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes
are measured; no attempt is made to affect the outcome (for example, no treatment is given)
p value - ANSthe probability of results of the experiment being attributed to chance
paired t-test - ANSa test designed to determine the statistical difference between two groups'
means where the participants in each group are either the same or matched pairs
prospective cohort study - ANSa research study that follows over time groups of individuals who
are alike in many ways but differ by a certain characteristic (for example, female nurses who