24.9 Research questions and hypotheses

Question 1

Research Question

Answer 1

Most of the time includes 2 or more variables
Stated in question form
Implies possibilities for empirical testing

Question 2

Hypothesis

Answer 2

• A proposition that is to be, and can be, tested by research. (Bauman)
• An expected but unconfirmed relationship between two or more variables (S & S)

Question 3

Research Question ex

Answer 3

• Are social network characteristics related to drug use among runaway youth?
• Do neighborhood characteristics influence physical exercise among senior citizens?
• How does social support influence depression among the elderly?

Question 4

Types of Hypotheses

Answer 4

1. If - then conditional statements
2. Mathematical statements
3. Continuous statements
4. Difference statements (practice this kind of hypothesis)

Question 5

Types of Hypotheses EX:If - then conditional statements

Answer 5

If a person has worse health then he or she will be more likely to get a flu shot.

Question 6

Types of Hypotheses EX:Mathematical statements

Answer 6

Probability of Adolescent smoking = (Parent smoking + 0.9age)/100

Question 7

Types of Hypotheses EX:Continuous statements

Answer 7

The worse the health, the greater the probability of having a flu shot.

Question 8

Types of Hypotheses EX:Difference statements (practice this kind of hypothesis)

Answer 8

People with worse health are more likely to get a flu shot than people with better health.

Question 9

What’s Wrong?

Answer 9

• Diet can be protective against cardiovascular disease?
• Social support is associated with depression.
• Young Chinese women are less likely to use contraceptives.

Question 10

Null Hypothesis

Answer 10

Hypotheses may be stated as null hypotheses. The assumption with a null hypothesis is that there is no relationship between two variables.

Question 11

Null Hypothesis EX

Answer 11

There is no relationship between academic achievement and adolescent cigarette smoking.

Question 12

A Hypothesis Is NOT a Value Statement EX

Answer 12

Value Statements:

• Women who do not receive prenatal care are irresponsible.
• Cigarette smoking is wrong.

Question 13

A Hypothesis Is NOT a Value Statement EX 1

Answer 13

• Women who do not receive prenatal care have lower birth weight babies than women who do receive prenatal care.
• Smokers are more likely to have respiratory disease than nonsmokers.

Question 14

Hypotheses Involving a Third Variable: Modifying Variable

Answer 14

The relationship between social isolation and aggression varies by gender, such that males who are social isolates are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior than are female social isolates.

Question 15

Hypotheses Involving a Third Variable: Modifying Variable

Answer 15

Social Isolation ->Aggression

Gender:Modifying Variable

Question 16

Third Variable:Intervening Variable

Answer 16

Parent smoking -> cigarettes at home -> adolescent smoking
-Hypotheses:
Adolescents with smoking parents are more likely to access to cigarettes and , in turn, are more likely to smoke.

Question 17

Formulating a Research Study

Answer 17

Research Area->
Research Question-> Hypotheses->
Variables

Question 18

Formulating a Research Study Example

Answer 18

Research Area:HIV risk in homeless and runaway youth (HRY)
Research Question: Is day-to-day homelessness experience related to engaging in risky sexual behavior?
Hypotheses: Compared to adolescents who have shorter duration of homelessness, adolescents who have longer during of homelessness are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior
Variables:
+Day-to-day homelessness experience: Duration of homelessness
+Risky sexual behavior: Condom use

Question 19

Definitions of Theory

Answer 19

• One or more general and logically interrelated propositions offered to explain a class of phenomena.(Bauman, 1980)
• A systematic explanation for the observed facts and laws that relate to a particular aspect of life. (Babbie, 1989)
• Knowledge writ large in the form of generalized abstractions applicable to a wide range of experiences. (McGuire, 1983)

Question 20

Some Commonly Used Theories in Health Behavior and Health Education

Answer 20

• Health Belief Model
• Stages of Change/Transtheoretical Model
• Social Control Theory
• Social Cognitive/Social Learning Theory
• Diffusion of Innovations Theory

Question 21

Application of Theory to Health Problem

Answer 21

• Helps identify and describe factors influencing a behavior (e.g., smoking) or situation (e.g., health disparities)
• Helps identify WHY a problem exists
• Helps direct the research strategy (what is studied)
• Helps in setting intervention goals and objectives (what to achieve)

Question 22

Adding Practice to the Theory/Research Continuum

Answer 22

Theory Research Practice Theory

Question 23

Social Control Theory

Answer 23

Assumption: individuals are constrained from committing deviant behaviors by their social bonds to conventional aspects of society

• Attachment
• Commitment
• Belief

Question 24

Hypotheses informed by Social Control Theory

Answer 24

Family violence -> social bonding -> violent behaviors
-Hypothesis 1:
Social bonding-defined as parental attachment, belief in the conventional rules of society, and commitment to conventional activities-will be weaker among adolescents exposed to family violence than among those not exposed to family violence
-Hypothesis 2:
Social bonding will be negatively related to adolescent violent behaviors
-Hypothesis 3:
Social bonding will be mediate the relationship between exposure to family violence and adolescent violent behaviors

Question 25

Conceptual Model

Answer 25

-Definition: A diagram of proposed causal linkages among a set of concepts believed to be related to a specific public health problem.
-Purpose: To lay out a visual representation of a research problem so as to:
+guide a research study
+guide the development of an intervention

Question 26

How Do Conceptual Models differ from Theory?

Answer 26

• Conceptual models draw on both theories and empirical findings
• A conceptual model is the visual representation of the set of relationships and associated hypotheses
• Conceptual models provide specific rather than general explanations for a behavior or situation

Question 27

Conceptual Models Follow Conventions for Depicting Relationships

Answer 27

• Boxes and arrows
• Standard forms for depicting relationships among 3 variables (intervening, moderator, confounder, antecedent)
• Read left to right or top to bottom
• Use variable names not selected values
• Only variables that will be measured are included
• All relationships between variables are shown

Question 28

Questions to Ask When Building a Conceptual Model

Answer 28

• What is the outcome of interest?
• What are the determinants of this outcome?
• What to include? What to exclude?
• How are these determinants related to each other and to the outcome?
• Does the model ‘hang together’? Is it conceptually coherent? Will it help guide my research?