Research Problems

and Hypotheses
-By Siddharth
Karakoti
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Research Process
1. Formulating the
problem
2. Reviewing related
literature
3. Developing/utilizing a
theoretical framework
4. Identifying research
variables
5. Formulating hypotheses
6. Selecting a research
design
7. Specifying the
population
8. Operationalizing &

9. Conducting pilot study

& making revisions
10. Selecting the sample
11. Collecting the data
12. Organizing the data
for analysis
13. Analyzing the data
14. Interpreting the
results
15. Communicating the
findings
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Developing &
Refining a
Research Problem

A researcher spends a great deal of time

refining a
research idea into a testable research
problem
The process of defining a research
problem:
1. Define a specific problem area
2. Review relevant scientific literature
3. Examine the problems potential
significance to nursing

1. Defining the
Problem Area

Researchers generally begin with an

interest in some broad topic area

Usually the research focuses on the

dependent variable of the study, the
variable that will be predicted or
explained through its relationship to
the independent variable.
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2. Beginning the
Literature Review

The literature review should reveal

that the scientific literature relevant to
the problem area has been critically
examined. Often concluding sections
on recommendations and implications
for practice identifying remaining gaps
in the literature, the need for
replication, or the need for extension
of the knowledge base about a
particular research focus
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3. Significance
Before proceeding to a final
formulation of the problem
statement, it is crucial for the
researcher to examine the
problems potential significance
to nursing.

The problem should have the

following criteria:

Patients, nurses, the medical community in

general, and society will potentially benefit
from the knowledge derived from this study

Results will be applicable for nursing

practice, education, or administration

Results will be theoretically relevant

Findings will lend support to untested

theoretical assumptions, extend or
challenge an existing theory, or clarify a
conflict in the literature

Findings will potentially formulate or alter

nursing practice or policies
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4. Feasibility

Feasibility of a research problem

includes considerations such as time,
availability of subjects, facilities,
equipment and money.

The experience of the researcher,

and any ethical considerations may
cause the researcher to decide that
the problem in inappropriate because
it lack feasibility
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11

Development
of a Research
problem
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Idea emerges
Brainstorming
Review of the
Literature
Identify Variables
Research Problem is Formulated
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The Variables

A variable is something that varies.

Researchers attempt to understand how and
why differences in one variable are related to
differences in another variable.
The researcher is asking a question about
the relationship between one or more
independent variables and a dependent
variable.
Independent variable is the variable that has
the presumed effect on the dependent
variable is manipulated by the researcher. 14

The Variables

In nonexperimental research the independent

variable is not manipulated and is assumed to
have occurred naturally before or during the
study.
Dependent variable is the consequence or
the presumed effect that varies with a change
in the independent variable.
The dependent variable is not
manipulated, it is observed and assumed to
vary with changes in the independent variable.
Predictions are made from the independent
variable to the dependent variable.
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The Variables

It is the dependent variable that the researcher

is interested in understanding, explaining and
predicting.

Although variability in the dependent variable is

assumed to depend on changes in the
independent variable, that doesnt imply that
there is a casual relationship.

There is no restriction on the number of

variables that can be included in a problem
statement.
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The Variables

Problem statements that include more

than one independent or dependent
variables may be broken down into
subproblems that are not concise.

Variables are not inherently

independent or dependent.
A variable that is classified as
independent in one study may be
considered dependent in another
study.

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Population

The term population refers to the

aggregate or totality of all the objects
or subjects or members which
conform to a designated set of
specifications

The nature of the population being

studied needs to be specified in the
problem statement.
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The Final Problem

Statement
A problem statement can be:
Declarative
Both are
Interrogative
acceptable

A good problem statement exhibits the

following:

It clearly and unambiguously identifies the

study variables
It clearly expresses the variables
relationship to each other
It specifies the nature of the population
being studied

It implies the possibility of empirical testing19

The Final Problem

Statement
The problem is associated
with the purpose of the study,
but it is not identical.
The purpose of the study
encompasses the aims or goals
the investigator hopes to
achieve with the research,
not the problem to be solved
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Testability

The statement of the research

problem must imply that the problem
is testable, i.e. measurable by either
quantitative or qualitative methods

A research problem must propose a

relationship between at least one
independent and one dependent
variable indicating that these
variables can be measured
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Developing the
Research
Hypotheses
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Hypotheses: intelligent hunches,

guesses, or predictions that assist the
researcher in seeking the solution or
answer to the research question.

A theorys validity is not directly

examined. Instead, it is through the
hypotheses that the merit of a theory
can be evaluated
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Hypotheses are often not stated

explicitly in a research article
Hypotheses flow from the problem
statement, literature review, and
theoretical framework

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Each hypothesis represents a unit or

subset of the research problem

Hypotheses are formulated before the

study is conducted because they
provide direction for the collection,
analysis, and interpretation of data

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Interrelationship of
Problem
Statement,
Literature Review,
Theoretical
Framework, and
Hypothesis
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Hypothesis

Problem
Statement

Theoretical
Framework

Literatur
e Review

Hypotheses
1. Provide a bridge between theory and
reality
2. Enable researcher to objectively
enter new areas of discovery
3. Provide direction for any research
endeavor by tentatively identifying
the anticipated outcome

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Criteria for
Formulating/Eval
uating
Hypotheses
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Statement
A declarative statement that identifies
the predicted relationship between
two or more variables

The direction of the relationship is

also specified in this statement e.g.
greater than, less than, negatively,
positively .
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The nature of the relationship, either causal or

associative, is also implied by the hypothesis

A causal relationship is one where the

researcher is able to predict that the
independent variable causes a change in
the dependent variable

It is rare in research that one is in a firm

enough position to take a definitive stand
about a cause-and effect relationship so,
One can only say that there is an associative
relationship between the variables
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Testability

Means that the variables of the study

must lend themselves to observation,
measurement, and analysis

The hypothesis is either supported or

not supported after the data have
been collected and analyzed

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Theory Base

A sound hypothesis is consistent with

an existing body of theory and
research findings

Regardless of whether or not a

hypothesis is arrived at inductively or
deductively, it must be based on a
sound scientific rationale
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Hypothesis
Hypothesis should be worded in clear, simple and
concise terms

Directional Vs Nondirectional
hypotheses:

Directional hypothesis: specifies the expected

direction of the relationship between the

independent and dependent variables

Nondirectional hypothesis: indicates the existence

of a relationship between the variables but does

not specify the anticipated direction of the
relationship

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A deductive hypothesis
derived from a theory will
almost always be directional.
The theory will provide a critical rationale for
proposing that relationships between variables
will have particular output

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Statistical versus Research

hypotheses

Statistical hypotheses

(null hypotheses): states that there is no

relationship between independent and
dependent variables

Research hypothesis

(scientific hypothesis): a statement of

expected relationship between the variables.
It can be directional or nondirectional

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A hypothesis can either be

supported or not supported by
study findings
Rejection of the statistical
hypothesis is equivalent to
acceptance of the research
hypothesis
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Relationship
Between
Hypotheses
&
Research design
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The type of research design; experimental

or non-experimental, will influence the
wording of the hypothesis

In case of an experimental design, the

hypothesis will reflect cause effect
relationship
e.g. incidence of . will be greater in
subjects after . than after .
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Hypothesis related to nonexperimental designs reflect

associative relationship statements

e.g. there will be a positive relationship

between and .

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Research
Questions

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Exploratory studies usually have research

questions not hypotheses

The outcome of an exploratory study may help

in formulating hypotheses for future studies

Qualitative research studies are guided by

research questions rather than
hypotheses

The descriptive findings of qualitative studies

can provide the basis for future hypothesistesting studies
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Some studies may have research

questions and hypotheses. In
such case, research questions
do not pertain to the proposed
outcomes, rather, they may
provide additional information
that may enrich the study and
may provide direction for
further study
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Critiquing
the Research
Problem
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1.

2.

Was the problem statement introduced

promptly?
Is the problem stated clearly and
unambiguously in declarative or
research form?

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3.

4.

Does the problem statement express a

relationship between two or more
variables or at least between an
independent and a dependent variable,
implying empirical testing?
Does the problem statement specify
the nature of the population being
studied?
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5.

6.

Has the problem been substantiated

with adequate experiential and
scientific background material?

Has the problem been placed within the

context of an appropriate theoretical
framework?

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7.

8.

9.

Has the significance of the problem

been identified?
Have pragmatic issues, such as
feasibility, been addressed?
Have the purpose, aims, or goals of the
study been identified?
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Critiquing
the Research
Hypotheses
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1.

2.

3.

Does the hypothesis directly relate

to the research problem?
Is the hypothesis concisely stated in
a declarative form?
Are the independent and dependent
variables in the statement of the
hypothesis?
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4.

5.

Are the variables measurable or

potentially measurable?
Is each of the hypotheses specific
to one relationship so that each
hypothesis can be either
supported or not supported?

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6.

7.

8.

Is the hypothesis stated in such a

way that it is testable?
Is the hypothesis stated
objectively, without value-laden
words?
Is the direction of the relationship
in each hypothesis clearly stated?
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9.

10.

Is the theoretical rationale for the

hypothesis explicit?
Are research questions
appropriately used?

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Thank You
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