Core AQR Words

The words used across the whole course

Words that should become normal classroom language across the entire year.

Back to all vocabulary sections

Published vocabulary

22 terms in the standard AQR format.

Start with the plain-language meaning, then use the fuller definition and sentence stem as the term becomes familiar.

Core — must use repeatedly
Analyze
Full definition
To analyze means to break a situation, claim, dataset, model, or decision into meaningful parts and examine how those parts relate to one another.
Plain language
Look closely at the parts and how they work together.
How we use it in AQR
When a direction says analyze, you should do more than describe; you should examine relationships, patterns, causes, limits, or structure.
Example question or sentence stem
When I analyze this, I notice ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Assumption
Full definition
An assumption is something treated as true, stable, or reasonable so that thinking or modeling can continue, even though it may not be fully known or proven. Assumptions should be stated and tested when possible.
Plain language
Something we are treating as true for now.
How we use it in AQR
You will name assumptions behind surveys, models, decision rules, AI output, and recommendations instead of hiding them.
Example question or sentence stem
This recommendation assumes that ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Benefit
Full definition
A benefit is a useful, desirable, or positive result that may come from a choice, action, tool, or policy. Benefits may be immediate or long-term and may matter differently to different people.
Plain language
Something good you may gain from a choice.
How we use it in AQR
You will compare benefits with costs, risks, and constraints instead of assuming the option with the most benefits is automatically best.
Example question or sentence stem
The main benefit of this option is ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Claim
Full definition
A claim is a statement that says something is true, likely, important, better, worse, or worth doing. Claims should be clear enough that evidence can support, challenge, or revise them.
Plain language
A statement that someone says is true.
How we use it in AQR
You will identify claims in your own work, in graphs and media, and in AI output before deciding whether the evidence supports them.
Example question or sentence stem
The claim being made is ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Constraint
Full definition
A constraint is a requirement, boundary, limit, or condition that reduces the choices available or rules out options that do not fit. Constraints may involve time, money, access, rules, tools, location, or other resources.
Plain language
Something that limits what you can do or which choices will work.
How we use it in AQR
We identify constraints early so recommendations are realistic for the actual person and situation.
Example question or sentence stem
One constraint affecting this decision is ______ because ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Cost
Full definition
A cost is anything a choice requires, uses, or gives up. Costs can include money, time, effort, attention, materials, opportunity, stress, or consequences.
Plain language
What you have to spend, use, or give up.
How we use it in AQR
AQR treats cost broadly so a decision is not judged only by its price tag.
Example question or sentence stem
One cost of this option is ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Criterion
Full definition
A criterion is a standard, feature, or rule used to judge, compare, or score options. The plural is criteria. Good criteria are connected to the actual decision and can be explained clearly.
Plain language
Something you use to judge which option is better.
How we use it in AQR
In decision work, you identify criteria before choosing a winner so the comparison is visible and fair.
Example question or sentence stem
One important criterion for this decision is ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Data
Full definition
Data are recorded facts, measurements, observations, categories, or responses collected for analysis. Data may be numerical, categorical, self-reported, observed, or produced by a tool.
Plain language
Information that has been collected and recorded.
How we use it in AQR
We collect and organize real data, then ask what it shows, what it does not show, and whether it is good enough to support a claim.
Example question or sentence stem
The data we would need are ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Decision
Full definition
A decision is a choice among two or more possible actions, options, or responses. A strong decision considers goals, evidence, constraints, trade-offs, risk, and uncertainty before selecting what to do.
Plain language
A choice about what to do.
How we use it in AQR
Many AQR tasks ask you to compare options and make a supported choice instead of guessing or choosing only by feeling.
Example question or sentence stem
The decision I need to make is ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Evaluate
Full definition
To evaluate means to judge the quality, strength, usefulness, credibility, or reasonableness of something by using clear criteria and evidence.
Plain language
Decide how good or trustworthy something is, and explain why.
How we use it in AQR
You will evaluate sources, claims, models, data displays, AI output, and recommendations rather than accepting them automatically.
Example question or sentence stem
I would evaluate this as strong or weak because ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Evidence
Full definition
Evidence is relevant information used to support, challenge, or test a claim, explanation, conclusion, or recommendation. Evidence is stronger when it comes from appropriate data, reliable methods, and credible sources.
Plain language
Information that helps show whether a claim is believable.
How we use it in AQR
AQR requires you to point to the information behind your reasoning instead of relying only on confidence or opinion.
Example question or sentence stem
The strongest evidence for this claim is ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Interpret
Full definition
To interpret means to explain the meaning of information in its context. Interpretation connects numbers, words, graphs, or results to the real situation they represent.
Plain language
Explain what the information means.
How we use it in AQR
You will interpret data and tool outputs instead of only reporting numbers or copying what a graph says.
Example question or sentence stem
I interpret this result to mean ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Justify
Full definition
To justify means to support a claim, choice, method, or recommendation with relevant evidence and clear reasoning. A justification answers the question, 'How do you know?'
Plain language
Give reasons and evidence that show why your answer makes sense.
How we use it in AQR
AQR expects you to explain the why behind your work, especially during oral questions and project defenses.
Example question or sentence stem
I can justify my choice by pointing to ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Limitation
Full definition
A limitation is a boundary, weakness, missing piece, or condition that restricts what data, a method, a model, a source, or a conclusion can show. A limitation is not always a mistake; sometimes it is an unavoidable boundary.
Plain language
Something that keeps the result from telling the whole story.
How we use it in AQR
Every major AQR product should name what it cannot prove, predict, or handle well.
Example question or sentence stem
One limitation of this result is ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Model
Full definition
A model is a simplified representation of a real situation, relationship, system, or decision. Models may use words, diagrams, tables, graphs, formulas, rules, or digital tools to help explain, compare, predict, or decide.
Plain language
A useful simplified version of something real.
How we use it in AQR
We build and critique models while remembering that every model includes some features and leaves others out.
Example question or sentence stem
This model includes ______ but leaves out ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Reasoning
Full definition
Reasoning is the logical connection between information and a conclusion. It explains why the evidence matters, how ideas are connected, and why a decision or claim makes sense.
Plain language
The thinking that connects evidence to an answer.
How we use it in AQR
You will make your reasoning visible in writing, speaking, models, tables, graphs, and tool outputs so another person can follow it.
Example question or sentence stem
This evidence supports my conclusion because ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Recommendation
Full definition
A recommendation is a supported judgment about what a person, group, or organization should choose or do. A responsible recommendation explains its criteria, evidence, assumptions, trade-offs, risks, and limitations.
Plain language
Advice that is backed by reasons and evidence.
How we use it in AQR
Your recommendation should help a real person make a clearer decision, not claim to be a perfect answer for everyone.
Example question or sentence stem
Based on the evidence, I recommend ______ because ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Revision
Full definition
Revision is a purposeful change made after feedback, testing, new evidence, reflection, or recognition of a problem. Revision improves the quality, accuracy, clarity, or usefulness of work.
Plain language
Changing your work to make it better after learning something.
How we use it in AQR
Testing and revision are part of the work, not punishment for getting the first version wrong.
Example question or sentence stem
I revised ______ because ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Risk
Full definition
Risk is the possibility that an unwanted event, loss, failure, or harmful outcome may occur. Risk includes both the chance of the outcome and how serious its consequences would be.
Plain language
What could go wrong and how much it could matter.
How we use it in AQR
We identify risks before making recommendations and consider whether they can be reduced, accepted, or avoided.
Example question or sentence stem
One important risk is ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Trade-off
Full definition
A trade-off occurs when improving or gaining one thing requires accepting less of something else. Trade-offs are common when time, money, attention, or other resources are limited.
Plain language
Getting one thing means giving up or accepting less of another.
How we use it in AQR
AQR makes trade-offs visible so recommendations do not pretend that a choice gives every benefit with no loss.
Example question or sentence stem
The main trade-off is ______ in exchange for ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Uncertainty
Full definition
Uncertainty is the part of a situation that is unknown, difficult to measure, unpredictable, or likely to change. Uncertainty limits how confident a conclusion or recommendation should be.
Plain language
What we do not know or cannot predict exactly.
How we use it in AQR
You will use honest confidence language and avoid pretending that incomplete evidence gives a certain answer.
Example question or sentence stem
We are uncertain about ______, so ______.
Core — must use repeatedly
Variable
Full definition
A variable is a quantity, category, feature, condition, or input that can take different values. Variables may be measured, changed, compared, or used in a model.
Plain language
Something that can change or have different values.
How we use it in AQR
You will identify variables in learner profiles, datasets, surveys, decision tools, and claims about relationships.
Example question or sentence stem
The variable that may affect the result is ______.

The words used across the whole course

22 terms in the standard AQR format.

Analyze

Assumption

Benefit

Claim

Constraint

Cost

Criterion

Data

Decision

Evaluate

Evidence

Interpret

Justify

Limitation

Model

Reasoning

Recommendation

Revision

Risk

Trade-off

Uncertainty

Variable