developing oneself Engaging in activities that
promote long-term professional growth and
development
dichotomous Nominal measurement when only
two possible fixed responses exist such as yes or no
direct observation Observing phenomena using
the five senses; capturing information by watching
participants
direction The way two variables covary
directional hypothesis Statement describing the
direction of a relationship among two or more
variables
discussion section Portion of a research article
where interpretation of the results and how the find-
ings extend the body of knowledge are discussed
dissemination Communication of clinical
research and theoretical findings to transition
new knowledge to the point of care
distribution The pattern of disease occurrence
in and among populations or subgroups
divergent testing A test for construct validity in
which new instruments are administered at the
same time as an instrument measuring the oppo-
site of the concept; scores of the two instruments
are compared, and strong negative correlations
indicate good validity
double-blind experimental designs Studies
in which subjects and researchers do not know
whether subjects are receiving experimental inter-
ventions or standard of care
early adopters Individuals who are the first to
embrace an innovation
ecologic fallacy When false assumptions are
made about individuals based on aggregated data
and associations from populations
ecologic studies Correlational studies that are
population-based rather than individual-based
effect size An estimate of how large a difference
will be observed between the groups
effects of selection Threats to external valid-
ity when the sample does not represent the
population
electronic indexes Electronic listings of elec-
tronic or print resources
elements Basic unit of the population such as
individuals, events, experiences, or behaviors
emic The insider’s or participant’s perspective
empirical evidence Evidence that is verifiable by
experience through the five senses or experiment
empirical indicators Measures of the variables
being studied
empirical testing Collection of objectively mea-
surable data that are gathered through the five
senses to confirm or refute a hypothesis; hypoth-
esis testing
endemic The expected occurrence of a particu-
lar disease within a community or population
epidemic A widespread occurrence of a disease
in a community or population that is in excess of
what is expected
epidemiology The study of distribution and
determinants of disease in human populations
equivalence An attribute of reliability in which
there is agreement between alternate forms of an
instrument or alternate raters
ethnography A type of qualitative research that
describes a culture
ethnonursing Systematic study and classification
of nursing care beliefs, values, and practices in a
particular culture
ethnoscience A method used in anthropology to
discover new knowledge
etic The outsider’s perspective; the perspective
of the researcher
etiology The cause of disease
evidence-based practice (EBP) Practice based
on the best available evidence, patient preferences,
and clinical judgment
evidence hierarchies Predetermined scales that
guide decisions for ranking evidence; levels of
evidence
exclusion criteria Characteristics of elements
that will not be included in the sample518 GLOSSARY