Specifying Purpose, Research Questions, and Hypotheses in Research

1. Chapter 5 Specifying a Purpose, Research Questions or Hypothesis Dr. William M. Bauer l

2. Key Ideas • The difference between purpose statements, hypotheses, and research questions • Variables in quantitative research • Qualitative research considerations l

3. Purpose Statements, Research Questions, Research Hypotheses, Research Objectives • Purpose statements: a declarative statement that advances the overall direction or focus for the study. • Research Questions: Interrogative statements that narrow the purpose statement to specific questions that researchers seek to answer in their study. l

4. Purpose Statements, Research Questions, Research Hypotheses, Research Objectives • Research Hypotheses: Declarative statements in quantitative research in which the investigator makes a prediction or conjecture about the outcomes relationship. • Research Objective: A statement of intent for the study that specifies specific goals that the investigator plans to achieve in a study. l

5. Distinguishing among various forms of direction in research Purpose Statement Research Questions Hypothesis Research Objectives Overall Direction Make predictions about expectations Raise questions to be answered State Goals Intent One or More Objectives Form One or more sentences One or more questions One or more questions Use Quantitative and Qualitative Research Quantitative and Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Typically Quantitative Research End of the introduction, after the literature review, or in a separate section of the study End of Introduction Placement l

6. Definition of a Variable A Variable (A Characteristic or Attribute) Can be and Measured Varies (Can be assessed on an instrument and recorded on an instrument) (Can assume different values or scores for different individuals) l

7. Variables and Constructs • A Variable is an attribute or characteristic stated in a specific or applied way • A Construct is an attribute or characteristic expressed in an abstract, general way. Construct Student Achievement Variable Grade Point Average l

8. Categorical and Continuous Scores • A categorical score is a value of a variable assigned by the researcher into a small number of categories. (e.g. Gender) • A continuous variable is the value of a variable assigned by the researcher to a point along a continuum of scores, from low to high. (e.g. Age) l

9. Families of Variables • Independent Variable: An attribute or characteristic that influences or effects an outcome of the independent variable. • Treatment Variable • Measured Variable • Control Variables • Moderating Variables l

10. Families of Variables • Intervening Variables (Mediating Variables): An attribute or characteristic that “stands between” the dependent and independent variables. • Dependent Variables: An attribute or characteristic influenced by the independent variable. l

11. Families of Variables • Confounding Variables (Spurious Variables): Attributes or characteristics that the researcher cannot directly measure because their effects cannot be easily separated from the other variables, even though they may influence the relationship between the independent and the independent variable. l

12. The Family of Variables in Quantitative Studies Probable Cause Effect • Independent • Variables • Treatment • Measured Intervening Variables Dependent Variables Control Variables Confounding Variables Moderating Variables l

13. Intervening Variables “Stand Between” Independent and Dependent Variables Independent Variable Dependent Variable Step 1 Convenient office hours for students Student seeks help from faculty Example Independent Variable Intervening Variable Independent Variable Step 2 Student becomes willing to take risks Convenient office hours for students Example Independent Variable Intervening Variable Dependent Variable Step 3 Convenient office hours for students Student becomes willing to take risks Student seeks help from faculty Example l

14. Theories as Bridges Between Independent and Dependent Variables Independent Variables Dependent Variables l

15. Different Types of Explanations in Quantitative Research Extensive Tests by other researchers Broad Abstractions As a formal theory that is expressed by connected hypotheses and variables identified by authors As a conceptual framework often expressed as a visual model by other authors for relationship As a theoretical rationale posed by other authors based on studies for relationship As explanation posed by the author as a hunch for why the independent variable relates to the dependent variable Narrow Application No Test l

16. Whether Variables Prove Probable Cause • Probable causation: The researchers attempt to establish a likely cause/effect relationship between variables rather than prove the relationship. • Control is vital: Control means that the researcher attempts to study all factors that might help explain the relationship between an independent and dependent variable. l

17. Four Types of Probable Causality X = independent variable Y = dependent variable 1. Time: Close in time, not distant X-Y, not X Y 2. Space: Close in distance, not distant X-Y, not X Y 3. Variation: One goes up, the other down X Y, not X Y 3. Multiple Causes: Multiple independent variables influence the dependent variable X X X Y l

18. Quantitative - more closed 1. Probable cause/Effect (“Why did it happen?”) 2. Use of theories (Why did it happen in view of an explanation or theory?” 3. Assessing differences and magnitude “How much happened?” “How many times did it happen? What were the differences among groups in what happened? Qualitative - more open-ended 1. Descriptive (“What happened?”) 2. Interpretive (“What was the meaning to people of what happened?”) 3. Process-oriented (“What happened over time?”) Differences between quantitative and qualitative purpose statements and research questions l

19. Quantitative Explaining or Predicting Variables Qualitative Understanding or exploring a Central Phenomenon How researchers explain or predict variables versus exploring or understanding a Central Phenomenon X Y Y The independent variable (X) influences a dependent variable (Y) In-depth understanding of Y; external forces shape and are shaped by Y l

20. Qualitative Research Considerations • More open-ended • The direction of the study is focused on how to best learn from the participants • The focus of the research is around a Central Phenomenon which is an issue or a process the researcher would like to study. • Qualitative research is built on an emerging design l