Glossary of Terms

We know that many of the concepts used on this site can be difficult to understand. For that reason, we have provided you with a glossary to help you make sense of the terms used in Comparative Effectiveness Research. Every word that is defined in this glossary should appear highlighted throughout the Web site. When you come upon a highlighted term and would like to read the full definition, you can either click on the word to visit the glossary or roll your mouse over the word for a pop-up definition.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Validity

Whether a test or technique actually measures what it is intended to measure. Validity can refer to an individual measurement or to the design and approach taken in a clinical research study. When referring to a single measurement, validity means the accuracy of the measurement. detail

Variable

Any characteristic that can be measured in different individuals. A variable is also any factor that can affect the outcome of an experiment or study. detail