Problem Statement and Hypothesis Statements

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Problem Statement and Hypothesis Statements
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Problem Statement

• Not just a hypothesis

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• Statement that indicates the study exists to shed
  light on some problem area.
• Data directed - must be a problem that can be
  addressed by data.
• Indicates the methodology - tells what kind of
  study it is going to be.
• Indicates characteristics of the populaiton
  studied.

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Class Exercise

• Refine your problem statement using the criteria
  on the previous slide.

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Hypothesis

• Extremely narrow dont go beyond the original
  question.
• Are a component of the problem statement.
• May be a group of statements that when taken
  together shed new light on the problem statement.

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• Hypothesis is a piece of the problem statement
  directed towards a piece of specific information.

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Hypothesis differ According to Methodology

• Descriptive
• Do ability students report greater math anxiety
  than low ability students?
• Do males report greater math anxiety than
  females?
• Both statements make no prejudgements and will
  let data provide the answer not the researcher.

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Hypothesis

• Correlational
• There is no significant relationship between math
  anxiety and gender.
• There is no significant relationship between math
  anxiety and ability.
• Put in a probability level - data must show a
  correlation. Topics are stated without
  researchers point of view - lets data answer the
  question.

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• Causal-Comparative
• There is no significant difference between math
  anxiety among male student and female students.
• Key indicator is no significant difference,
  seen in causal comparative and experimental
  statements.

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Hypothesis

• Experimental statement
• There is no significant difference between
  students who received traditional math
  instruction and those who received humor-added
  math instruction on the math anxiety scale.
• Key indicator - two groups, one control
  (traditional instruction), one with a manipulated
  variable (humor added-instruction)

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Hypothesis

• Generally make a prediction that the outcome will
  not happen (e.g. no relationship), and let the
  data prove you right or wrong.

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Characteristics of a Good Hypothesis

• Consistent with previous findings.
• Provides a reasonable explanation.
• Clearly states the relationship between
  variables.
• Variables are operationally defined - can be
  quantified.
• Must be testable - data directed.