CH 5

Question 1

Research problem

Answer 1

an area of concern in which there is a gap in the knowledge needed for nursing practice

1. Indicates the significance of the problem
2. Provides background for the problem
3. Includes problem statement

Question 2

Purpose

Answer 2

a clear concise statement of the specific goal or focus of a study

Question 3

Feasibility of study

Answer 3

Determined by examining:

• the researcher’s expertise
• money commitment/funding source
• availability of subjects, facilities, and equipment
• ethnical considerations
• time commitment

Question 4

Types of Hypotheses

Answer 4

o directional vs. non-directional
o causal vs. associative
o null vs. research
o simple vs. complex

Question 5

Associative hypotheses

Answer 5

relationship between variables

Question 6

Casual hypotheses

Answer 6

cause and effect relations between variables

Question 7

Directional hypotheses

Answer 7

nature (positive or negative) of interaction between two or more variables is started

Question 8

Non-directional hypotheses

Answer 8

relationship exists between variables, but hypothesis does not predict nature of relationship

Question 9

Null hypotheses

Answer 9

States there is no difference or relationship between variables; also called statistical hypothesis

Question 10

Research hypotheses

Answer 10

States what researcher thinks is true; there is a relationship between two or more variables

Question 11

Simple hypotheses

Answer 11

relationship (causal or associative) between two variables

Question 12

Complex hypotheses

Answer 12

relationship (causal or associative) among three or more variables

Question 13

Independent variable

Answer 13

more frequently used to identify an intervention that is manipulated or varied by the researcher to create an effect on the dependent variable

Question 14

Dependent variable

Answer 14

the outcome that the researcher wants to predict or explain

Question 15

Conceptual definition

Answer 15

provides the theoretical meaning of a variable and is often deprived from a theorist’s definition of a related concept.

Question 16

Operational definition

Answer 16

deprived from a set of procedures or progressive acts that a researcher performs to receive sensory impression that indicate the existence or degree of existence of a variable.

Question 17

Demographic variables

Answer 17

Attributes of subjects that are collected to describe the sample These are identified by the researcher when a proposal is developed for conducting a study.