Research Problems, Purposes, & Hypotheses The Pennsylvania state university college of nursing Nursing 200w

Research Objectives, Questions, & Hypotheses Research Purpose Research Problem Research Topic

Research Problems in Nursing A research problem in nursing is an area of concern where there is a gap in the knowledge needed for nursing practice.

Research Problems in Nursing How are they chosen? What factors may you consider? Any examples of research problems in nursing you can think of? Sources include all of the following: Experience Clinical practice Social issues Nursing theory Collaborations Funding priorities

Research Problems in Nursing Need to consider feasibility: Time Expertise Money Availability of subjects, facilities, and equipment Ethical considerations

Research Purposes in Nursing The purpose is a clear, concise statement of the research studies goal or focus.

Research Purposes in Nursing The research problem statement should look something like the following: To describe…. To determine differences between groups…. To examine relationships among…. To determine the effect of….

Research Purposes in Nursing Significant characteristics of both the problem and the purpose include: Building on previous research Influence on nursing practice Promoting theory testing or development Address research priorities

Critical Appraisal You can critically appraise the problems and purpose by asking yourself the following questions while reading a research study: Is the problem clear and concise? Is the problem limited in scope? Does the problem identify variables, population, and setting? Are the problem and purpose able to generate knowledge? Is the study feasible? Is the study ethical?

Research Objectives, Questions, & Hypotheses Research objectives, questions, and hypotheses all originate from the purpose, literature review, framework, and other steps of the research process. The research study will have an objective or aim, question, or hypothesis.

Research Objectives or Aims Clear, concise statement focusing on one or two variables and indicating whether they will be identified or described Focus on exploration, description, and determination of relationships Typically used in descriptive and correlational quantitative studies

Research Questions Clear, concise interrogative statement including one or more variables Focus on description, examination of relationships, prediction, and determining differences between groups Researcher preference on using objectives/aims or questions

Research Hypotheses Formal statement of an expected relationship between two or more variables in a specified population Translates the research problem and purpose into a clear statement explaining or predicting results Typically seen in quasi-experimental or experimental studies

Critical Appraisal You can critically appraise the objective, question, or hypotheses by asking yourself the following questions while reading a research study: Are they presented clearly and concisely? Do they go back to the overall purpose of the research? Do they guide the research? If using a hypothesis, are the variables clearly defined? Is the hypothesis type easily identifiable? Do the results and interpretation go back to the hypotheses?

Hypotheses in Detail X and y

Types of Hypotheses Associative versus Causal Simple versus Complex Nondirectional versus Directional Null versus Research

Associative versus Causal Associative simples says that there is a relationship X is related to Y Causal states that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between variables X is caused by Y

Simple versus Complex Simple is just two variables Complex is three or more variables!

Nondirectional versus Directional Non-directional states that a relationship exists but does not further describe the nature of the relationship X and Y will be related Directional hypothesis elucidates the interaction between two or more variables As X increases, Y will decrease

Null versus Research A null hypothesis states that there is no relationship between variables; also called a statistical hypothesis Can be simple or complex; associated or causative A research hypothesis states that there is a relationship between two or more variables

Testable Should be ‘testable’ in the real world Variable are clearly measured and able to be manipulated Relationship between variables is supported or not Causal link between the independent and dependent variable is evaluated using statistical tests

Test Your Knowledge Question What type of hypothesis is the following: There is a positive relationship between nurse attitudes towards AIDS patients and number of AIDS patients for whom they have cared for.

Test Your Knowledge Question: Answer What type of hypothesis is the following: There is a positive relationship between nurse attitudes towards AIDS patients and number of AIDS patients for whom they have cared for. DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS The researcher is looking for a positive outcome or relationships between the variables.

Variables in Detail

What are variables? Variables are qualities, properties, or characteristics of people, things, or situations that are manipulated or measured in research Variables are measured with instruments or intensity scales

Variable Examples Depression Age Gender Affect Hair Color Hunger

What are different types of variables? Independent Dependent Research Extraneous Demographic

Independent Variables The independent variable is the stimulus or activity manipulated or varied by the research to cause an effect on the dependent variable(s) such as: Causes change Controlled The independent variable may also be called the treatment or experimental variable

Dependent Variables The dependent variable is the outcome of response the research wants to predict or explain Changes in the dependent variable are assumed to be caused by the independent variable

Extraneous Variables These variables may interfere with obtaining an understanding of the relationship or cause in a study Extraneous variables can be recognized or controlled OR they may also be unrecognized or uncontrolled If the extraneous variable is not recognized or cannot be controlled then is called a confounding variable

Demographic Variables Contain sample characteristics of subjects May include age, education, gender, ethic origin, income, medical diagnoses, etc. Analyzed to develop sample characteristics

Critical Appraisal You can critically appraise study variables by asking yourself the following questions while reading a research study: Are the independent, dependent, or research variables clearly identified? Are the variables measured in the study consistent with variables identified in the purpose, questions or hypotheses? Are variables clearly defined and identified as the how they will be measured? Are demographic variables summarized? Are extraneous variables identified and controlled as needed? Or are there uncontrolled extraneous variables influencing the findings?

Questions? Comments? The end!