Research Questions & Hypotheses Flashcards
When are hypotheses and research questions developed?
After a thorough and critical review of the literature
What is a problem statement?
- An expression of a dilemma or disturbing situation that needs to be investigated (e.g. Gabe studying ageism and elderspeak)
- Problem statement identifies the nature of the problem that is being addressed in the study, and usually its context and significance (e.g. nursing and discrimination in geriatric homes)
What does context refer to?
Context can be physical, political, social, etc.
Describe purpose statements, aims and objectives:
- Many researchers articulate their goals as broad statements of purpose; purpose statement captures in a sentence or two, the essence of the study and establishes the general direction of inquiry
- Word “purpose goal, aim, intent or objective” appears in purpose statement- Includes variables, population and setting (what, who and where)
- Explore, Explain, Describe and Predict
What do we evaluate in a purpose statement?
- What is it?
- What are the components?
- How does it relate to problem statement?
How do we critique the problem and purpose?
- Does the purpose narrow and clarify the focus of the problem to be studied?
- Are the problem and purpose of the study clearly and concisely expressed?
- Does the problem or purpose statement express a relationship between two or more variables?
- Are the problem and purpose significant to generate nursing knowledge?
What is a researchable question?
- Helps solve a problem, add to theory or improve nursing practice
- Needs to be usable, current and clear
- Provides answer to who, what, where when
What are some guidelines for writing research questions?
- Start with a simple question (has one stem and one topic)
- Action-oriented
- The way you ask a question determines how you will answer it
What are some examples of research question examples?
- What is the frequency with which nurses use humor as an integrative therapy with hospitalized cancer patients? (variable is humor, frequency indicates measurability, nurses are measured and context is in a hospital)
- What is the relationship between length of stay (LOS) and RN staffing levels, skill mix, and experience on the night shift?
- What is the lived experience of mothers of children with a rare disease in using online health communications to manage their chronic sorrow?
What must a hypothesis be?
- Predict a relationship between two or more variables
- Be testable
- Be justifiable (based on rationale/theory)
- Written in present tense
- Not include statistical jargon (e.g. “stat significant”, “controls”)
- Allude to the target population to which the knowledge would apply
- Be simple and concise
What is a hypothesis?
- A tentative prediction about the relationship between 2 or more variables in the population under study
- Present ONLY in quantitative studies!
What is the difference between causal vs. associative hypotheses?
ASSOCIATIVE: there is a relationship between amount of exercise and weight loss among dieting women
CAUSAL: there definitely is a link between exercise and weight loss among dieting women
What is the difference between simple vs complex hypotheses?
SIMPLE: (two variables) Infants born to heroin-addicted mothers have lower birth-weight than infants of non-addicted mothers
COMPLEX: (complex, >2 variables) infants born to heroin-addicted mothers have lower birth-weight, more neurological complications and higher mortality than infants of non-addicted mothers
What is the difference between non-directional vs directional?
- Prediction of whether the researchers think the research will go
NON: Incidence of pressure ulcers is related to frequency of turning patients (not saying how, just that there will be a relationship)
DIRECTIONAL: Pt’s turned at least q2h have a lower incidence of p ulcers than pt’s turned less frequently (lower incidence indicates this is directional)
What is the difference between null vs. research hypotheses?
NULL: there is no relationship between gender and knowledge of STD’s among teenagers (might be a more unbiased approach to research, non-directional, lets data speak for itself)
RESEARCH: teenage boys are better informed about STD’s than teenage girls (research hypotheses more common)
