Unit 4: Research Problems, Questions and Hypotheses Flashcards
research problem
is perplexing or troubling condition- the purpose of disciplined research is to “solve” the problem-or contribute to the solution - by accumulating relevant information
problem statement
articulates the problem to be addressed
research questions
are specific queries researchers want to answer addressing a research problem
guide the types of data to be collected in the study
hypotheses
are tested empirically. - a predication usually a statement of predicted relationship between variables
statement of purpose
is the researchers summary of the overall goal
|»_space; identify several specific research aims or objectives
objectives include
obtaining answers to research questions but may also encompasses come broader aims
quantitative studies
usually involves concept that are well developed, about which there is an existing body of literature, and for which reliable methods of measurement have been developed
use some aspects of a phenomenon is poorly understood, and the researcher wants to develop a rich, comprehensive and context bound understanding of it
qualitative study
sources of research problems
clinical experiences nursing literature social issues theories ideas from external courses
development and refinement of research problems
is a creative process start with interesting of broad topic area, then develop the topic into a specific researchable problem
problem statement for quantitative study
is an expression of a dilemma of disturbing situation that need investigation
> identifies the nature of the problem that is being addressed
should be board enough to include central concerns but narrow enough in scope
problem statement qualitative study
expresses the nature of the problem, its context and significance
>are embedded in a particular research tradition generally generally incorporate terms and concepts int he problem statement that foreshadow their tradition if inquiry
examples problem statement for phenomenological study might note the need to know more about the people experience
ethnographer might indicate the desire to describe how cultural forces affect people behavior
statement of purpose
the purpose statement captures in a sentence or two essence of the study and establishes the general direction of the inquiry
» purpose or goal words such as “aim” or “objective”
statement of purpose in a quantitative study
well worded statement of purpose identifies the study and their possible interrelationship as well as the population interest
> suggest the nature of the inquiry through their selection of verbs
statement of purpose in a qualitative study
use verbs in their statement of purpose that suggest how they sought to solve the problem, or what the state of knowledge on a topic is
> may also imply flexible design through the use of verbs such as understand or discover
buzz words for grounded thoery
social structure, social interaction
phenomenological studies
experiences, lived experience, meaning, essence
ethnographic studies
culture roles, myths cultural behavior.
research question
usually are direct re-wording of statement purposes, that phrased in interrogatively rather than declarative
research question in a quantitative study
identify the key variables , the relationships among them, and the population under study
research question in a qualitative study
differ in the type of questions they believe to be important,
> grounded theory ask process question
> phenomenological tend to ask meaning questions
> ethnographers generally ask descriptive questions about culture
>evolve over the course of the study
>question is flexible
research hypothesis quantitative research
translate research question to a statement
hypothesis sometimes emerge from a theory
>t he availability of a theory can be evaluated through hypothesis testing
>theory gains support if hypotheses are confirmed
> the use of hypothesis in quantitative studies tends to induce critical thinking and, hence, to facilitate interpretation of the data
true or false hypothesis exist in a qualitative study
false
characteristics of testable hypothesis
testable research hypothesis state the expected relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable within a population
>should be based on justifiable rationale