SOCW 671 #2 Overview of SPSS Steps in Designing Research Hypotheses Research Questions

Steps in Designing Research Project Problem Formulation (research question) Study Design (comparing groups or looking for a relationship) Data Collection (existing or new data) Data Processing and Analysis Interpreting Findings Report Writing

Characteristics of Useful Questions Posed in terms of observables Expressed in terms for which nominal definitions are available Possible answers not arbitrarily limited Question should be testable in principle Answer should be important

Research Proposal Literature Review Subjects for Study Measurement Data Collection Methods Analysis Schedule Budget

Hypotheses and Research Questions Stating a concise hypothesis is initial step Selecting the hypothesis is often very difficult given the limitations of knowing the data available Keeping the hypothesis simple is often problematic

Statistical Hypotheses One-tailed (directional) Two-tailed (non-directional) Easier to find statistical significance if you are able to use a directional hypothesis

Hypothesis Testing  Research (scientific inquiry) is conservative by nature  Hypothesis testing - a technique in inferential statistics in which we make a decision about the state of reality in the population  Decision consists of either accepting the state of reality (null hypothesis) or rejecting the null hypothesis in favor of the research (alternative) hypothesis

Hypothesis Testing Usually postulated with a very specific set of conditions. A technique of inferential statistics that helps us decide whether research results are attributable to chance. Two types of errors often occur (Type I & Type II).

Normal Curve Symmetric distribution of data in which the two tails are alike and asymptotic to the x axis. Half area is below mean and half above it. However, most distributions do not meet this standard

Parametric versus Non- parametric Tests Parametric tests of significance assume a normal distribution Parametric tests usually more powerful (likely to reject a null hypothesis) and preferred if appropriate Parametric tests must have dependent variables that are interval or ratio scaled Assumes that subjects were independently selected and variances of the control and experimental groups are approximately equal.

Literature Reviews Begin with broad topic, then narrow it down. Think of it as a funnel. Try to identify trends, this will assist in formulating the hypothesis Select strong sources, such as:  academic journals  professional journals