Master of Wine key terms

A focused, answerable statement of what a study sets out to establish, narrow enough to be investigated with available evidence and specific enough to rule some outcomes out.

The broad purpose or intended contribution of a study, stated before objectives are set; it explains why the work matters rather than what will be measured.

A discrete, measurable step that must be completed to answer the research question, usually phrased with an action verb and tied to a method and a deliverable.

A testable proposition about the relationship between variables, stated in advance so that data can confirm or refute it rather than being interpreted after the fact.

The default proposition that no effect or no difference exists between groups or variables; statistical tests assess how likely the observed data would be if it were true.

A structured, critical synthesis of prior published work that establishes what is known, identifies gaps and contradictions, and positions the new study within existing scholarship.

A specific shortfall in existing knowledge, method, population, or context that justifies a new study; it must be demonstrated from the literature, not merely asserted.

A diagram or narrative showing the concepts under study and their presumed relationships, guiding which variables are measured and how findings will be interpreted.

The reasoned justification for the overall research design, including the paradigm, strategy and logic linking question to evidence; distinct from the mere listing of techniques used.

A specific technique for collecting or analysing data, such as a sensory panel, a survey instrument or a regression model, chosen to serve the wider methodology.

The overall plan coordinating sampling, data collection, analysis and inference so the evidence generated can actually address the stated question within time and resource limits.

An approach that measures variables numerically and uses statistical inference to generalise, test hypotheses or estimate effects across a defined population.

An interpretive approach using interviews, observation or text to explore meanings, experiences and processes in depth, producing rich description rather than numerical generalisation.

A design that combines quantitative and qualitative strands, integrating them at the level of question, sampling or interpretation to offset the weaknesses of either approach alone.

Using multiple methods, data sources, investigators or theories to examine the same phenomenon, strengthening confidence in findings when the different lines converge.

The process of selecting units for study from a wider population, whether probabilistically for generalisation or purposively for theoretical relevance and depth.

The concrete list or register from which sample units are drawn, such as a producer directory or cellar inventory; its completeness determines how far results can be generalised.

The degree to which a sample mirrors the characteristics of the target population, allowing findings to be extended beyond the studied cases with justified confidence.

The extent to which conclusions drawn from a sample or setting can reasonably be applied to other populations, times or contexts, bounded by design and sampling choices.

The extent to which a study measures or explains what it claims to, covering construct, internal, external and content dimensions, each threatened by different sources of error.

The consistency of a measurement or procedure when repeated under the same conditions; necessary but not sufficient for validity, since a scale can be consistently wrong.

The degree of agreement between different assessors scoring the same items, critical in sensory and quality judging where subjective impressions must be shown to be consistent.

An unmeasured factor associated with both the presumed cause and the outcome, creating a spurious association that can be mistaken for a genuine causal effect.

Any characteristic that can take different values across cases, classified as independent, dependent or control depending on its role in the hypothesised relationship.

Translating an abstract concept into concrete, measurable indicators, such as defining quality through specified sensory attributes scored on a validated scale.

The tool used to collect data, such as a questionnaire, tasting sheet or laboratory protocol; its design and pre-testing determine the quality of the resulting evidence.

A small-scale trial run of procedures and instruments before the main study, used to test feasibility, refine wording and estimate variability or sample size.

The probability that an observed result would arise by chance if the null hypothesis were true, conventionally judged against a pre-specified threshold such as 0.05.

The probability of obtaining data at least as extreme as those observed, assuming the null hypothesis holds; it is not the probability that the hypothesis is true.

A range around an estimate within which the true population value is expected to fall with a stated probability, conveying precision as well as magnitude.

A standardised measure of the magnitude of a difference or association, allowing comparison across studies and distinguishing practical importance from mere statistical significance.

A relationship in which a change in one factor produces a change in another; establishing it requires ruling out confounding, reverse causation and chance.

A statistical association between two variables in which they vary together; it does not by itself establish which variable influences the other, or that either does.

The systematic process of labelling segments of qualitative data with categories so patterns can be compared, refined and built into themes or explanations.

A qualitative analytic method that identifies, develops and interprets recurring patterns across a dataset, moving from open codes to organised, evidence-backed themes.

A group of trained or consumer assessors used to evaluate wine attributes under controlled conditions, with panel size, training and protocol affecting the reliability of results.

Independent scrutiny of a manuscript by experts in the field before publication, intended to test rigour, originality and clarity, though it cannot guarantee correctness.

A formal reference acknowledging the source of an idea, quotation or dataset, enabling verification and avoiding plagiarism; style must be consistent throughout the dissertation.

Presenting another person's words, data or ideas as one's own, whether by copying, inadequate paraphrasing or omitted attribution, and treated as serious academic misconduct.

The tendency for studies with positive or striking results to be published and cited more than null findings, distorting apparent consensus in a literature review.