Chapter 6

Question 1

What is a research problem?

Answer 1

Enigmatic or troubling condition

Question 2

What is the Goal in regards to a research problem?

Answer 2

to find a solution or to contribute to finding a solution.

Question 3

What is a “Problem Statement?”

Answer 3

Describes the problem and an argument or reason for why the study is needed.

Question 4

What is a “Statement of Purpose?”

Answer 4

A summary of an overall goal and will use the words “aim” or “objective”

Question 5

What is a “research question?”

Answer 5

The specific queries researchers want to answer

Examples:
PICO (quantitative studies)
Grounded theory, Phenomenology, Ethnography (qualitative studies)

Question 6

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 6

A prediction
The predictions researchers make about the study and its outcome
Based on something from previous literature to increase the likelihood the hypothesis is correct

Question 7

What type of study is more likely to use a Problem Statement?

Answer 7

Quantitative studies

Question 8

What would a Problem Statement look like in a Qualitative study?

Answer 8

Would express the nature of the problem, its context, its scope, and information needed to address it.

(Components 1-3, and 5)
Problem identification, Background, Scope of the problem, Knowledge gaps)

Question 9

What are the 6 Components of “Problem Statement?”

Answer 9

1) Problem identification
2) Background
3) Scope of the problem
4) Consequences of the problem
5) Knowledge gaps
6) Proposed solution

“PBS Could Go South”

Question 10

6 Components of “Problem Statement:”

1) Problem Identification

Answer 10

What is wrong with the current situation?

Question 11

6 Components of “Problem Statement:”

2) Background

Answer 11

What is the nature of the problem, or the context of the situation, that readers need to understand?

Question 12

6 Components of “Problem Statement:”

3) Scope of the problem

Answer 12

How big a problem is it, and how many people are affected?

Question 13

6 Components of “Problem Statement:”

4) Consequence of the problem

Answer 13

What is the cost of not fixing the problem?

Question 14

6 Components of “Problem Statement:”

5) Knowledge gaps

Answer 14

What information about the problem is lacking?

Question 15

6 Components of “Problem Statement:”

6) Proposed solution

Answer 15

How will the new study contribute to the solution of the problem?

Question 16

What type of Research Question is used in Quantitative studies?

Answer 16

PICO

Question 17

What does a Research question need to describe in Quantitative studies?

Answer 17

Variables in consideration for the study

May focus on trends rather than direct relationships
Example:
What is the frequency with which nurses use humor as a complementary therapy with hospitalized cancer patients?

Question 18

What are the types of Research Questions in Qualitative studies?

Answer 18

Grounded theory
Phenomenology
Ethnography

Question 19

Qualitative Research Questions:

Grounded theory

Answer 19

focuses on process

Question 20

Qualitative Research Questions:

Phenomenology

Answer 20

focuses on meaning

Question 21

Qualitative Research Questions:

Ethnography

Answer 21

ask descriptive questions about culture

Question 22

What makes a good hypothesis?

Answer 22

1) Need to make relational statements.
- The intervention needs to directly relate to the outcome in a hypothesis.
2) Statistical analysis
- A P-value goal of <0.05
3) One that is Supported rather than Proven

Question 23

What are the 4 Types of Hypotheses?

Answer 23

1) Directional
2) Nondirectional
3) Research
4) Null

Question 24

What is a Directional Hypothesis?

Answer 24

Will specify the direction between variables in a hypothesis.
Words like increase, decrease, more likely, and less likely are examples of what you may see to indicate a directional relationship

Question 25

What is a Nondirectional Hypothesis?

Answer 25

Does not specify a specific change between variables, rather that a relationship merely exists.

Question 26

What is a Research Hypothesis?

Answer 26

A statement of expected relationships between variables. Includes:
Directional and non-directional hypotheses.

Question 27

What is a Null Hypothesis?

Answer 27

The reverse of the hypothesis, or that there is not a relationship between the two variables.
Important for inferences (conclusions) made with statistical tests

Question 28

What p value indicates that the results can be replicated in a new sample 95% of the time?

Answer 28

p value <0.05

Question 29

How can a study be best supported rather than proven?

Answer 29

The best support for a hypothesis is to conduct multiple studies on the same hypothesis and get statistical results that support it from each study

Question 30

A study aims to determine if follow-up phone calls after discharge will reduce the incidence of readmissions related to congestive heart failure within 30 days. What is the research problem?
A) follow-up phone calls
B) readmissions within 30 days
C) discharge process
D) congestive heart failure disease process

Answer 30

B) readmissions within 30 days

Follow-up phone calls are the suggested intervention or independent variable. The discharge process is not being examined. Congestive heart failure is the reason for readmissions, but the disease process is not the problem. The problem are readmissions that occur within 30 days of discharge. Medicare imposes a penalty on the hospital that discharges a patient for congestive heart failure if they are readmitted within 30 days.

Question 31

Which type of research design would use a research question to find the meaning in something?
A) Clinical trial
B) Ethnographic
C) Phenomenological
D) Grounded Theory

Answer 31

C) Phenomenological
Phenomenological studies investigate the meaning of a lived experience. Grounded theory focuses on process. Ethnography ask descriptive questions about culture. A clinical trial is a type of quantitative article and would focus on the relationship between two variables.

Question 32

Which of the following are components of the Problem Statement? (Select all that apply).
A) Background
B) Scope of the problem
C) Knowledge gaps
D) Null hypothesis

Answer 32

A) Background
B) Scope of the problem
C) Knowledge gaps

The elements of a problem statement include: Problem identification, Background, Scope of the problem, Consequences of the problem, Knowledge gaps, and Proposed solution.

Question 33

Which type of hypothesis reflects the absence of a relationship between two variables?
A) Research
B) Directional
C) Nondirectional
D) Null

Answer 33

D) Null

The null hypothesis states there is no relationship between the variables being examined. It is used for statistical inferences.

Question 34

What p value would suggest that the hypothesis is not supported?
A) 0.01
B) 0.02
C) 0.04
D) 0.07

Answer 34

D) 0.07

The higher the p value –> the less reproducible it is.

The goal for a P value is < 0.05. This value demonstrates the probability that the same design of a study can be used with a new sample to get similar results. A higher p value indicates less of a chance the results can be duplicated. While 0.07 is not a high number, it is the highest one and above the 0.05 threshold.