Data gathered directly by the individual using it to answer a specified research question or to gather information on a specific population or health problem

1. Primary data

Data gathered directly by the individual using it to answer a specified research question or to gather information on a specific population or health problem. This includes data collected first-hand through survey research, focus groups, interviews, etc.

2. Primary prevention

Refers to preventive measures that are intended to prevent or put off the onset of injury or disease. Vaccinations, abstinence, and exercise are examples of primary prevention.

3. Process evaluation

Any combination of measurements obtained during the implementation of program activities to control, assure, or improve the quality of performance or delivery

4. Processes of change

Covert and overt activities that people use to progress through the stages" of change in the transtheoretical model (TTM). There are ten processes of change that have been identified in conjunction with the development of the TTM: consciousness raising, dramatic relief, self-reevaluation, environmental reevaluation, self-liberation, helping relationships, counter-conditioning, contingency management, stimulus control, and social liberation. Different processes of change are used by individuals in different stages of change to progress towards action and maintenance. In the early stages, people tend to rely more on the cognitive, affective and evaluative processes (consciousness raising, dramatic relief, environmental reevaluation and self-reevaluation) while in the later stages the emphasized processes of change focus on making commitments, seeking support, contingency planning and other behavioral processes (counter-conditioning, helping relationship, stimulus control, reinforcement management).

5. Protective factors

Factors that decrease the likelihood of negative health outcomes and risk behaviors

6. Psychosocial determinants

Determinants of health that reflect the interaction between the social environment and an individual's development, beliefs and behaviors. Psychosocial factors are thought to not only mediate the effects of social and structural factors on individual health outcomes, but also to be influenced by the social structures and contexts in which they develop. Coping skills or social support following a stressful experience are examples of psychosocial determinants.

7. Qualitative research

Utilizes methods that results in the collection of non-numeric data that are not highly categorized or defined prior to data collection. Open-ended surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, observational and case studies typically result in qualitative data.

8. Quality of life

Perception of individuals or groups that their needs are being satisfied and that they are not being denied opportunities to achieve happiness and fulfillment

9. Quantitative research

Utilizes methods that result in the collection of numerical and typically predefined data. Statistical methods are employed to analyze and interpret quantitative data. Closed-ended surveys are an example of quantitative research.

10. Quasi-experimental design

Research design that does not use randomization in assigning units (individuals) to conditions or treatments. Quasi-experiments depend on self-selection or administrator selection to assign individuals to conditions but they are otherwise structurally similar to a randomized experimental design.