Academia Stack Exchange
Academia Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [terminology]

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

Use this tag for questions that ask about the meaning, usage, history, or similar of academic terminology, i.e., terminology that are tightly connected to academia due to their meaning or words that have a specific meaning in an academic setting.

This site is not the right place to ask about the terminology of a specific field – ask such questions on the sites pertaining to the respective disciplines. Also do not ask about general properties of the English language – ask on English Language & Usage or English Language Learners instead.

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Is there a name for the inverse of the impostor syndrome?

Question: The impostor syndrome seems to be common in academia and there are quite a few questions about it. I wonder if there is something like the inverse impostor syndrome. I'm not referring to the Dunning–Kruger effect, I don't feel particularly…
Trylks
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Undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate student — is that Bachelor/Master/PhD or Bachelor/Master+PhD/postdoc?

I received an invitation to nominate students for an award that could be for an undergraduate, a graduate or a post-graduate student. I've seen those terms used before, but never been sure what they mean. I know Bachelor student, Master student, PhD…
gerrit
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What does 'PI' mean?

I am a senior in undergrad who is a physics major applying to PhD programs. I keep on hearing people saying get rec letters from PIs or contact and have a good relationship with PIs.
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Meaning of undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate in US

Trying to figure out the difference between these. I've lost completely as different source/answers interpret it differently. Does anyone have clear understanding about what does undergraduate/graduate/post-graduate student mean in USA? I've seen…
peetonn
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Can a discoverer give the name he wants to his finding?

Let's assume that some scientist discovers a phenomenon that has never been noticed before. He wants to write a paper about it but he doesn't want to constantly write "effect of change of some properties blahblahblah". Can he therefore name this…
user46147
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What is the meaning of "in residence" at a university?

I'm applying for readmission to UC Berkeley after taking a semester off. In the Application for Readmission, one question asks, "Will you be in residence at Berkeley for the entire semester?" Does "in residence at Berkeley" mean "using on-campus…
abcd
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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 (and other things) in regards to books. From the…
StrongBad
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What to do if you don't know the terms you don't know?

If in a (mathematics) research paper, you cannot seem to find the term to describe something even after much digging and questioning, is it safe to assume that a word for it does not exist? This question becomes even more confounding the more…
Tejas Rao
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Are there any documented cases of meta-science or scientific meta-research? Does that have a name?

Research is an activity, a process to obtain knowledge, which has been greatly empowered by the scientific method. We can collect lots of information about research, consider impact factors, etc. There is data and information there, that data could…
Trylks
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Difference between running example and motivating example

I have observed two major terms used in academic papers/journals for citing examples : running example and motivating example. Are these interchangeable or they are to be used in a specific manner? In my thinking, I assume a motivating example’s…
SyCode
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The name of the document which prove my studies at the university

I am originally from one country but study at university in a different country. Now, my native country asked me to prove that I study at this university and I want to ask my university to bring me document for that. What is this document used to be…
Ubiquitous Student
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Questions about termination

What is the difference between termination and suspension? Are there "neutral" ways for a graduate student leaving his graduate school without completing a degree? Is a student voluntarily leaving his graduate school called termination? When…
Tim
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Is the name of this institute acceptable?

Perhaps it is more a question of translation than an academic one, but I think it cannot be wrong to get opinions from people here because the question has a relation with higher education anyway. A China-based college is officially named…
NanningYouth
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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 PhD studies. Per definition, I would say that…
Trylks
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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 how to interpret these 4 pieces of information…
RoryHector
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