Research Problems, Purposes, and Hypotheses – Flashcards
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Research Problem
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area of concern; gap in knowledge needed for practice
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Problem Statement
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Justification of need Current Significance for nursing Need significant and current references for nursing research.
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Purpose Statement
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Clear, concise statement Goal, aim, focus, or objective of study Includes variables, population, and setting
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Examine Study Feasibility
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Time commitment Money commitment Researchers' expertise Availability of subjects, facility, and equipment Ethical considerations
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Qualitative Study Purpose
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Identifies areas of concern Gains new insights Is focus of study Identifies qualitative approach and assumptions Differs among each qualitative methodology because of philosophical orientations
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Significance of a study problem and purpose
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Should build on previous research Should influence nursing practice Promotes theory testing or development Addresses nursing research priorities
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Critiquing Guidelines for problems and purposes
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Is problem clear and concise? Is problem limited in scope? Is problem narrow to focus study? Does problem identify variables, population, and setting? Are problem and purpose able to generate knowledge? Is study feasible? Is study ethical?
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Research Question
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interrogative statements that focus on what variables or concepts are to be described and what relationships might exist among them
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Hypotheses
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Formal statements of expected relationships among variables
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Types of Hypotheses
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Associative vs. causal Simple vs. complex Nondirectional vs. directional Null vs. research
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Associative hypothesis
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Relationships between variables examples: An increase in variable X is associated with an increase in variable Y in a specified population An increase in variable X is associated with a decrease in variable Y in a specified population
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Causal hypothesis
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Cause-and-effect relationship between variables. In a true experimental design example: Persons who participate in nurse-managed home telemonitoring (HT) plus usual care or who participate in nurse-managed community-based monitoring (CBM) plus usual care will have greater improvement in blood pressure (BP) from baseline to 3 months' follow-up than will persons who receive usual care onl
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Simple Hypothesis
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2 variables (one independent and the other dependent examples: Higher levels of perceived control would be associated with less emotional distress in spouses of patients recovering from cardiac disease Perceived control could be enhanced in spouses of cardiac patients by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training
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Complex Hypothesis
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more than 2 variables example: Both men and women who participated in the CHIP (Cardiac Home Information Program) intervention would have lower levels of psychological distress, higher levels of physical functioning, and fewer adverse symptoms than would women and men who did not participate in such a program
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Non directional hypothesis
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Relationship exists between variables, but hypothesis does not predict nature of relationship Ex. Early nursing home residents self appraisal are r/t their conditioning factors between the elder nsg home residents and self appraisal. But no direction.
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directional hypothesis
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Nature (positive or negative) of interaction between two or more variables is stated These are developed from theoretical framework, literature, or clinical practice example: Attitudes of pediatric nurses toward mentally retarded clients are more favorable than those of medical surgical nurses
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Null hypothesis
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States there is no difference or relationship between variables Is also called statistical hypothesis can also be associative hypothesis, also simple/complex hypothesis too. example: There is no difference in reported pain experienced by cancer patients with chronic pain who listen to music with positive suggestion of pain reduction and those who do not
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Research hypothesis
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States what researcher thinks is true There is a relationship between two or more variables example: Cancer patients with chronic pain who listen to music with positive suggestions of pain reduction have less reported pain than those who do not listen to music
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Variable
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Qualities, properties, or characteristics of people, things, or situations that are manipulated or measured in research
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Characteristics of variables
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Are at a more concrete level than concepts Represent only a portion of the concept Several variables may be used to represent one concept
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Types of variables
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Independent variables Dependent variables Research variables or concepts Extraneous variables Demographic variables
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Independent variable
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the stimulus or activity manipulated or varied by the research to cause an effect on dependent variables It is also called the treatment or experimental variables
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Dependent variable
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the outcome or response the researcher wants to predict or explain Changes in the dependent variable are presumed to be caused by the independent variable
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Research variable or concept
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These are the qualities, properties, or characteristics identified in the research purpose and objectives or questions that are observed or measured in a study They are used when the intent is to observe or measure variables as they exist in a natural setting without manipulation
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Extraneous variables
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They can interfere with obtaining clear understanding of relational or causal dynamics in the study They can be recognized or unrecognized and controlled or uncontrolled If the variable is not recognized until the study is in process or cannot be controlled, it is called a confounding variable An environmental variable is an uncontrolled variable relating to the setting
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Demographic variable
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Contain sample characteristics of subjects May include age, education, gender, ethnic origin, income, medical diagnosis, etc. Demographic data are analyzed to develop sample characteristics Are found in both Quantitative and Qualitative research studies.
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Operationalization
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translating downward to more concrete level Moves from concept to variable to measures
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Conceptual definition
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Abstract meaning of a variable that usually is based on theory
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Operational definition
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Way of defining a variable that makes it measurable or manipulable in real world example: Smoking rates that were monitored through use of self-report data and validated by corroborating reports from friends and family members. Participants who varied in their answers from their significant contacts or could not be reached by telephone were considered ongoing smokers and were included in the resulting relapse rates.
