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

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

3. 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.

4. 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

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

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

7. 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….

8. 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

9. 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?

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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?

15. Hypotheses in Detail
X and y

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

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. Variables in Detail

25. 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

26. Variable Examples
Depression
Age
Gender
Affect
Hair Color
Hunger

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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

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

32. 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?

33. Questions? Comments?
The end!