Chapter 5 - PURPOSE STATEMENTS, RESEARCH QUESTIONS, AND HYPOTHESES: IDENTIFYING THE INTENT OF A STUDY

Question 1

________ is a major aspect of all research studies because it connects all of the steps in the research process.

Answer 1

the study’s purpose

Question 2

a statement that advances the overall direction for a study.

Answer 2

The purpose statement

Question 3

statements used to narrow the purpose statement to specific questions that the researcher seeks to answer by conducting a study.

Answer 3

Research questions

Question 4

statements in which the investigator makes a prediction or conjecture about the relationship that exists among two or more attributes or characteristics (i.e., variables).

Answer 4

hypotheses

Question 5

Quantitative Researchers Specify Purposes That Are ____ and ____

Answer 5

Specific

Narrow

Question 6

Qualitative Researchers Specify Purposes That Are ____ and _____

Answer 6

Broad

General

Question 7

an indicator of a characteristic or attribute of individuals or organizations that researchers measure and that varies among the individuals or organizations studied.

Answer 7

a variable

Question 8

3 aspects of definition of variables:

Answer 8

Variables are indicators of characteristics and attributes
Variables can be measured
The scores measured for a variable vary for the participants in the study

Question 9

a type of variable that occurs when researchers measure the variable by grouping the scores into a limited number of groups (or categories)

Answer 9

Categorical variables

Question 10

types of categorical variables:

Answer 10

nominal

ordinal

Question 11

A nominal categorical variable example:

Answer 11

political status. Categories: Democratic = 1, Republican = 2, Independent = 3.

Question 12

An ordinal categorical variable example:

Answer 12

grade level. Categories: Freshman = 1, Sophomore = 2, Junior = 3, Senior = 4.

Question 13

a type of variable that occurs when researchers measure scores along a continuum of possible scores, from low to high scores and anywhere in between.

Answer 13

Continuous variables

Question 14

Two examples of continuous variables are:

Answer 14

■ A continuous variable: test performance. Varies: from low of 0% to high of 100%.
■ A continuous variable: level of satisfaction. Varies: from low of 10 to high of 50.

Question 15

independent variable is AKA?

Answer 15

predictor variable

Question 16

dependent variable is AKA?

Answer 16

outcome variable

Question 17

What are the outcomes that the researcher is trying to explain or predict?

Answer 17

(the dependent or outcome variables)

Question 18

What are the factors that the researcher expects to influence the outcomes?

Answer 18

(the independent or predictor variables)

Question 19

What other variables does the researcher measure (or control) that might also influence the outcomes?

Answer 19

(the control variables)

Question 20

What variables might influence the outcomes that the researcher cannot or does not measure in the study?

Answer 20

(the confounding variables)

Question 21

Researchers also refer to their dependent variables as the: (3)

Answer 21

outcome variables, effect variables, or criterion variables

Question 22

Researchers also refer to their independent variables as : (4)

Answer 22

treatment variables, manipulated variables, predictor variables, or factors

Question 23

There are two main types of independent variables:

Answer 23

treatment variables and measured variables

Question 24

researchers often refer to measured variables as:

Answer 24

factors or predictors instead of as independent variables

Question 25

When researchers use measured variables as the independent variables in their studies, it also limits their ability to:

Answer 25

make claims of probable cause and effect

Question 26

There are two types of hypotheses you may read in quantitative reports:

Answer 26

null hypotheses and alternative hypotheses.

Question 27

the concept, activity, or process explored in a qualitative research study

Answer 27

central phenomenon

Question 28

There are two types of research questions found in qualitative research reports:

Answer 28

central research questions and subquestions