Chapter 6 Flashcards
What is a research problem?
Enigmatic or troubling condition
What is the Goal in regards to a research problem?
to find a solution or to contribute to finding a solution.
What is a “Problem Statement?”
Describes the problem and an argument or reason for why the study is needed.
What is a “Statement of Purpose?”
A summary of an overall goal and will use the words “aim” or “objective”
What is a “research question?”
The specific queries researchers want to answer
Examples:
PICO (quantitative studies)
Grounded theory, Phenomenology, Ethnography (qualitative studies)
What is a hypothesis?
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
What type of study is more likely to use a Problem Statement?
Quantitative studies
What would a Problem Statement look like in a Qualitative study?
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)
What are the 6 Components of “Problem Statement?”
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”
6 Components of “Problem Statement:”
1) Problem Identification
What is wrong with the current situation?
6 Components of “Problem Statement:”
2) Background
What is the nature of the problem, or the context of the situation, that readers need to understand?
6 Components of “Problem Statement:”
3) Scope of the problem
How big a problem is it, and how many people are affected?
6 Components of “Problem Statement:”
4) Consequence of the problem
What is the cost of not fixing the problem?
6 Components of “Problem Statement:”
5) Knowledge gaps
What information about the problem is lacking?
6 Components of “Problem Statement:”
6) Proposed solution
How will the new study contribute to the solution of the problem?
What type of Research Question is used in Quantitative studies?
PICO
What does a Research question need to describe in Quantitative studies?
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?
What are the types of Research Questions in Qualitative studies?
Grounded theory
Phenomenology
Ethnography
Qualitative Research Questions:
Grounded theory
focuses on process
Qualitative Research Questions:
Phenomenology
focuses on meaning
Qualitative Research Questions:
Ethnography
ask descriptive questions about culture
What makes a good hypothesis?
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
What are the 4 Types of Hypotheses?
1) Directional
2) Nondirectional
3) Research
4) Null
What is a Directional Hypothesis?
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
What is a Nondirectional Hypothesis?
Does not specify a specific change between variables, rather that a relationship merely exists.
What is a Research Hypothesis?
A statement of expected relationships between variables. Includes:
Directional and non-directional hypotheses.
What is a Null Hypothesis?
The reverse of the hypothesis, or that there is not a relationship between the two variables.
Important for inferences (conclusions) made with statistical tests
What p value indicates that the results can be replicated in a new sample 95% of the time?
p value <0.05
How can a study be best supported rather than proven?
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Which type of hypothesis reflects the absence of a relationship between two variables? A) Research B) Directional C) Nondirectional D) Null
D) Null
The null hypothesis states there is no relationship between the variables being examined. It is used for statistical inferences.
What p value would suggest that the hypothesis is not supported? A) 0.01 B) 0.02 C) 0.04 D) 0.07
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.
