TODAY Research

Problems &
n Inyourownstudy
n theresearchproblem?
Hypothesis
n Populationofinterest?
M.E.F.Highfield
n hypothesis/questions?
CSU/Northridge

Why do I need to know

this stuff about research
problems & hypotheses?
Research problem:
To Judge the Quality of your study Perplexing issue about which
(To critique)! one is curious
nRelationship between variables?
nPopulation?
nTestability?
nSignificance & Feasibility?

Source of Research Problems Choosingtypeofstudy

n Practical experience? n Ifwellunderstood n Ifpoorlyunderstood
Lotsofinfo,then.? Littleinfo,then..?
n Social issues?
n Inconsistent or conflicting literature?
n QUANTITATIVE n QUALITATIVECan
n Gaps in literature? Maybeeven askonlyquestionsno
n Untested theory/framework? hypothesize hypothesis
n Brainstorming?
n Deductivelogic n Inductivelogic

1
ResearchQuestion 3Levelsofresearchquestions
n Thespecificthingonehopestofindout. 1. Descriptive: Have only one variable.
(What is.?)
n Canbewordedas 2. Exploratory: Minimum of 2 variables.
n Aquestion (What is/are the relationships?)
n Ananswer(hypothesis)
3. Explanatory: Minimum 2 variables that
specify a cause & an effect. A
hypothesis!! (Why.?).

Whatisahypothesis? Typesofhypotheses
n Expected outcome! n ResearchversusNull/statistical
n Only in quantitative studies
n Not in qualitative study
n SimpleversusComplex

n 3 parts: IV, DV, population

n DirectionalversusNondirectional

n Derived from theory

Practice#1: Generate a Hypothesis

Practice Point #2
Orem values individuals' abilities to care for themselves,
without intervention from health care professionals, n Identify a focus or broad area for research
except when actual or potential self-care deficits (e.g., pediatric meds, infection prevention)
arise. Further Orem expects people to be self-reliant
and responsible for themselves and to seek help when n Identify a research problem
they cannot maintain therapeutic self-care or
dependent care. Orem does not expect nursing care to n Formulate research questions or hypotheses
be based solely on the nurse's view of the patient's at 3 levels of investigation:
situation.Although Orem emphasized that nursing 1. descriptive (level 1), What exists
care is appropriate especially when the person
2. exploratory (level 2), What is the
experiences a self-care deficit, she did note that
primary prevention is also appropriate, to help the
relationship
person maintain self-care agency. (Fawcett, 1984, p. 190-191). 3. explanatory (level 3 hypothesis) Why
(if variable A occurs, then we can
expect variable B to follow)

2
Stetler5StepModelofEBP
PhaseI:Identifytheproblem/question(Preparation)
PhaseII:Find&Critiquethemostusefulresearchto
addressproblem/question(Validation)
PhaseIII:
Identifywhetherfitsthesetting&
MakeaRecommendationforpractice (Comparative
evaluation&decision)

PhaseIV:Howdoesitapplytoyoursetting(Translation)
PhaseV:Evaluatetheoutcomes(Evaluation)

10/14/08only 10/14/08only

Rules for Questions & Hypotheses 5. If you have a cause or effect in your
(Brink & Wood, p. 22) question, rewrite the question as
Exploratory or Explanatory.
1. All variables must be written so
that they vary. 6. If the words "cause," "effect," or any of
2. Descriptive: Have only one variable their synonyms appear in your question,
in the topic and be sure it varies. either eliminate those words or specify
what they are and how they vary.
3. Exploratory: Have a minimum of 2 (Explanatory).
variables
7. If you have written an Explanatory "why"
4. Explanatory: there must be two question, make sure that it is both ethical
variables that specify a cause and an and possible to manipulate the causal
effect. variable. (If not, rewrite the question as
Descriptive or Exploratory.)