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Questions tagged [terminology]

On words that have a meaning, usage, or similar specific to academia.

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33 votes
4 answers
14k views

Is it "vita" or "vitae"? Why?

I recently attended a "preparing for the job market" workshop for PhD students where the speaker instructed us in no uncertain terms that we should always refer to a "curriculum vitae" and never a "...
user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
227 views

Proper name for a new method

We developed a new method to calculate a characteristic value from measurement data. In my thesis I call the existing method 'Original Method'. However, I am not sure how to name our new method. '...
Dave's user avatar
  • 121
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

Should one cite a dictionary for every technical term?

The paper I am working on contains many medical terms -- particularly pathologies -- to which I write the description of each one along with related literature for their causes in a table. For this ...
Ébe Isaac's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
755 views

Is there a standard mapping between "English" and "Latin" honors?

I know of (at least) two sets of phrases used to indicate a degree awarded with honors: English: With distinction / High distinction / Highest distinction Latin: Cum laude / Magna cum laude / Summa ...
Nate Eldredge's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
836 views

What is the English term for a Belgian non-university higher education institution?

I graduated from what is known as a "Hogeschool" in Belgium. When trying to explain this term on English websites, I've always used the term "University College" or "College", However, I'm not sure ...
Nzall's user avatar
  • 2,126
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is a “service lecture”?

On a form for a job application, I am being asked to list, among others, what “service lectures” I have given. What exactly is meant by that? What does, or does not, count as a service lecture?
asker1's user avatar
  • 91
3 votes
6 answers
62k views

Are PhD Students and PhD Researchers the same thing?

Similarly to how a Postdoc researcher is a researcher, I think that a PhD student should be considered a researcher. Especially when: A salary is obtained for the research that is done as part of the ...
Trylks's user avatar
  • 4,258
31 votes
7 answers
6k views

Does "Science" encompass Mathematics?

Inspired by the question Does the term “science” encompass humanities and the social sciences?, I would like to ask a question that has been in my mind for decades. Does "Science" include Mathematics?...
Nobody's user avatar
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19 votes
4 answers
3k views

Does the term “science” encompass humanities and the social sciences?

I’m not a native English speaker and want to get a better grip on the nuances of the term science. In my native tongue, the word I’d use for science also refers to humanities and the social sciences. ...
Vincent's user avatar
  • 1,819
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is an “synthetic paper”

The Wikipedia page for “Curry–Howard correspondence” has a section on ”Synthetic papers”. What precisely is a synthetic paper?
Joachim Breitner's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
83 views

Fun experiment on memory: for data of one subject (myself), is there a name for it?

I'm doing a year experiment on memory and I'm the only subject. I will be done collecting data in 2 months. I've been using software to evaluate myself daily as I collect data. Is there a name in ...
Andru's user avatar
  • 11
11 votes
5 answers
43k views

What does "masters 2 level" mean?

I saw an offer in a research group described as 'Research position at master 2 level'. Can anyone clarify for me what that means? Is it a 2nd masters or anything else? Does it always need a masters ...
Black Sheep's user avatar
  • 1,996
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Difference between bursary, scholarship and fellowship

What is the difference between bursary, scholarship and fellowship funding? Is a fellowship more prestigious than a scholarship which in turn is more prestigious than a bursary?
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
690 views

Why do we call a research paper, a "paper"? [closed]

I am curious to know why we call a research paper, a "paper" in the singular form...? People put a huge effort in writing this "paper" ... when you talk to an outsider (non-academic) about a "paper" ...
HappyBee's user avatar
  • 171
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Alma mater and alumnus status when dropping out

Do dropouts have an alma mater and are alumni of the institution where they dropped out in the respective phase of their studies (undergraduate, master or doctorate)? Or are these terms only meant for ...
Lucas's user avatar
  • 667
4 votes
1 answer
13k views

What does "pers. commun" stand for in academic papers?

I have encountered "pers. commun." in some academic papers when referring to a source or reference . Like in : Authors also made sure that they covered the range of self-focused and symptom-...
Soudabeh's user avatar
  • 143
3 votes
2 answers
5k views

What is the difference between credit hours carried and hours earned?

What is the difference between hours carried and hours earned on a college degree audit. For example, I have this: LSU Totals: 68 carr, 60 earn Cum Totals: 77 carr, 69 earn Can anyone explain to me ...
RoryHector's user avatar
27 votes
3 answers
11k views

What is 'Diamond' Open Access?

I have heard of 'green' (self-archiving in a repository) and 'gold' open access (immediate open access in a journal), but what is 'diamond' open access? How does this differ from green or gold open ...
Ahmed Hazan's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
86 views

“Areas” vs. “Themes” in the classification of a university’s topics

I am applying for a university, and on their website they have divided topics in “Areas” and “Themes”. For example, Areas contains Information Systems and Computer Science and Themes contains Big Data ...
sitilge's user avatar
  • 519
12 votes
2 answers
1k views

What do researchers mean by the "priority" of an idea?

I have heard the term "priority" used in regards to research ideas. For example, How does one determine priority, prominence, and impact with regard to books, rather than articles? asks about priority ...
StrongBad's user avatar
  • 105k
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Doctorant (PhD student) vs doctorant contractuel (contractual PhD Student)

In the French education system, what is the difference between doctorant ("PhD student") and doctorant contractuel ("contractual PhD Student")?
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
73 votes
10 answers
27k views

Is it plagiarism to reference a fictitious source?

I'm dealing with a student essay that references three books in support of a claim. None of the books referenced have authors listed, and, based on the contents of the student's essay, I can't find ...
tylerharms's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
137 views

Terms for an PhD grant that covers everything

I am looking for the proper adjective that would carry the meaning that a grant for a PhD student covers everything (tuition fees, stipends, etc.). I believe one can use the expression "full grant", ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
5k views

What does "activated" DOI number mean?

I would like to know what the difference is between a DOI number and an activated DOI number. Additionally, I have a DOI number for an article of mine to be published in a TUBITAK journal in Turkey. ...
Melike Ekizoglu's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
229 views

How do I explain to a student why departments that do similar things have seemingly different names?

I was asked by a potential PhD student why departments that do similar things as my department have different names. For example, some of the researchers who work in research areas that are similar to ...
I Like to Code's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
548 views

Why are some journals for research papers called “review”?

There are many journals from different fields feature the word review in their name even though they are mostly featuring research articles – and not review articles, book reviews or similar. Some do ...
Wrzlprmft's user avatar
  • 65k
1 vote
1 answer
9k views

What is the difference between cumulative dissertation and regular dissertation?

The university is asking me whether or not my PhD thesis is a “cumulative dissertation”. I’m wondering what the difference would be for the university. By cumulative, do they mean stacking the ...
Ehsan 's user avatar
  • 447
3 votes
1 answer
407 views

What is expected from a graduate-level term paper?

From what I have seen, many graduate level courses (in physics) in the US involve the submission of a term paper for a large percentage of the overall grade. Wikipedia talks about term papers as: ...
typesanitizer's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
2k views

Does a preprint include revisions made in response to peer review?

This is related to but not answered in this question about the difference between various stages of a manuscript in the publication process. After an author has submitted a manuscript to a journal ...
henning no longer feeds AI's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
157 views

Comparing results of the same survey administered to two different populations. How to call it?

For part of my master thesis, I need to conduct a survey targeting academic experts. After evaluating the outcome of the survey, I need to compare the outcome to the outcome of another finished thesis ...
aha's user avatar
  • 79
18 votes
8 answers
3k views

What English expression resembles the German "Tutor"?

In Germany, it is common for students to hold “Tutor” positions, which entail a weekly teaching class (e.g., 90 minutes) and the correction of exercise sheets handed in by students. I would like to ...
Vladimir Nabokov's user avatar
-5 votes
4 answers
1k views

Is there a concept of qualification examination in U.S. Ph.D. programs and how does it relate to credit counting? [closed]

So far as I understand, Ph.D. programs in the United States have entrance requirements and exams, but when you enroll in one, you start process of becoming a "Ph.D. candidate" first, which in the end ...
SSimon's user avatar
  • 3,699
3 votes
2 answers
4k views

How do I express a degree on my CV that I have completed but have not been awarded?

I have completed all the requirements for an M.S. degree and have filed the appropriate paperwork. All I have left to do is walk at the end of this semester. I want to put this on my CV, but it seems ...
jvriesem's user avatar
  • 5,147
4 votes
1 answer
441 views

Teaching load and hired by the hour in the Swedish academic system

I've been offered a teaching position for the Spring semester at a Swedish University. The teaching load is 220 hours and they suggested that I should be hired by the hour. Does any of you know how ...
Marius's user avatar
  • 59
15 votes
7 answers
62k views

What is a final undergraduate paper called in English?

Here in Croatia, when students are finishing their 3rd year of undergraduate courses, they usually write a paper called "Završni rad" (eng. Final Work/Project). I'm trying to communicate some things ...
Mislav Javor's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
147 views

Term for reverse lookup of concepts

Suppose I have envisioned a concept that I am fairly certain has been explored before. I can describe its nature and its characteristics, but I do not know the formal name of the concept, nor its ...
tgwdnghn's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
3k views

What does "archival quality" mean in the context of journal aims and scope?

What does "archival quality" mean in this context? Is it just a posh way of saying they only want a paper if it describes an important breakthrough? IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation ...
mhwombat's user avatar
  • 11.6k
7 votes
1 answer
5k views

What are “ad hoc” reviewers/referees for journals?

What are “ad hoc” reviewers/referees for journals? Is this a different role from (regular) reviewers/referees? If yes, how are they different? I see some people use the term ad hoc somewhere in the ...
tvk's user avatar
  • 173
6 votes
1 answer
199 views

What is a "trade journal"?

I often encounter the expression "trade journal", but what is it exactly, and how does it differ from "academic journal" or "scholarly journal" or "scientific journal"?
FraEnrico's user avatar
  • 545
-1 votes
1 answer
494 views

What is the difference between “methodology” vs. “originality of approach” when reviewing a paper

I was asked to review a paper with many attributes I should consider. More specifically, I was asked to review the “methodology” and “originality of approach and presentation”. What is the difference ...
Minions's user avatar
  • 397
4 votes
1 answer
5k views

What is a "residency requirement" in the context of Canadian and US PhD programs?

An acquaintance is planning to apply to law schools for a Ph.D in Canada. She is reading about the residency requirement and is sure that it means that she would have to live on-campus, possibly even ...
mkennedy's user avatar
  • 2,603
3 votes
1 answer
6k views

What does the term POI mean in the context of graduate admissions?

I hear the term POI used in graduate admissions. What does it mean?
RoboKaren's user avatar
  • 40.6k
3 votes
1 answer
4k views

What does "external reviewer" mean for a computer science conference?

I've seen the term "external reviewer" used in someone's CV for conference reviewing in computer science. Does this mean the person officially reviews the paper for the conference, or he/she gets a ...
colin's user avatar
  • 171
8 votes
5 answers
37k views

What are the differences between these kinds of articles: original, review, letter, and short communication?

I am interested in knowing, what are the differences between Original Paper, Review Paper, Letter and Short/ Rapid/ Brief Communication paper? Thanks to everyone for reading and taking the time for ...
user62498's user avatar
  • 221
1 vote
1 answer
375 views

Biographical record...? What is it [closed]

"give a solid overall biographical record of your subject based on the book you have read. Be sure to include a brief synopsis of all of the high and low points and successes and failures of your ...
windy401's user avatar
  • 115
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

What are unique job titles in academia called?

Occasionally a university gives a famous professor a job title individually designed for that one person only. Thus: Donald Knuth is "Professor Emeritus of the Art of Computer Programming" at ...
Michael Hardy's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
15k views

What is the difference between a literature survey and a conceptual paper?

What is the difference between a literature survey and a conceptual paper?
Will's user avatar
  • 397
1 vote
2 answers
269 views

What is the difference between "enabling", "remedial", and "developmental" courses? [closed]

In particular, what differences are there in how these three things are taught? Is the terminology regional?
Anonymous Physicist's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
94 views

Meaning of "graduate" [duplicate]

I am currently a student in a European university in the fourth year (first year of which is called "master"). On the Internet, it is said undergraduate students to refer to students in a bachelor. ...
MoebiusCorzer's user avatar
8 votes
7 answers
20k views

What is the scientific term for a “research gap”?

After I read about 40 papers in my research topic, I summarized 25 of them in my thesis, explaining methods used and solutions provided in the literature survey and literature-review sections. I found ...
Jubba Smail's user avatar