Problem statements, Research questions, Hypothesis, statement of purpose Jascinth Lindo

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Problem statements, Research questions,
Hypothesis, statement of purposeJascinth Lindo
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Learning Objectives (Polit)

1. Describe the function and characteristics of
   research hypotheses and distinguish different
   types of hypotheses (e.g., directional versus
   non-directional, research versus null)
2. Distinguish forms of problem statements,
   statements of purpose, research questions and
   hypothesis for quantitative and qualitative
   studies
3. Critique statements of purpose, research
   questions, and hypotheses in research reports
   with respect to their placement, clarity,
   wording, and significance
4. Define new terms

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A Reminder

• Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is closely linked
  to the Research Process
• The Research Process is closely linked to the
  Nursing Process

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The Research Process
Sept 27,2010
Pauline Anderson-Johnson UWISON
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Lets review

• You have decided on a research problem that needs
  solving.
• A research problem is
• An area of concern where there is a gap in
  knowledge base needed for nursing practice (Burns
  Gove, 2009)
• Remember not all problems are researchable -
  Research deals with facts that is, phenomena
  that can be observed in the real world. The
  answers from the research should explain,
  describe, identify, substantiate, predict or
  qualify the research question

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Phase 1 of the Research Process

• You have decided on a research problem that needs
  solving
• Thru the development of an argument, a problem
  statement will be developed that will articulate
  the problem
• A statement of purpose (summary of overall goal)
  is sometimes presented
• Research questions are posed (queries to be
  answered)
• Hypotheses are stated for testing

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Problem Statement

• Presented early in the report
• It is the push/impetus for the research study
• Often begins with the first statement of the
  introduction

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Problem Statement

• Expresses the baffling unsolved situation that
  needs to be studied
• It incorporates a rationale for the study
• It is a well structured formulation of the
  unsolved problem

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Problem Statement 6 components

1. Problem identification (What is wrong with the
   current situation)
2. Background (what is the nature of the problem
   that readers need to understand)
3. Scope of the problem (How big is the problem
   of persons affected)
4. Consequences of the problem (what is the cost of
   not fixing it)
5. Knowledge gaps (what info is lacking)
6. Proposed solution (how will this new study
   contribute to solving the problem)

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Problem Statement

• Effective problem statement answer the question
  Why does the research need to be conducted.

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Problem statement

• Examples

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Statements of Purpose

• The research goal is often written as a statement
  of purpose
• It is usually easy to identify because the word
  purpose is clearly stated- the purpose of this
  study was .
• gives the general direction of the study which is
  stated in 1-2 sentences

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Statement of Purpose cont..

• Quantitative studies it will
• identify the key study variables
• their possible relations
• the population

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Statement of Purpose cont..

• Example
• Handwashing helps to prevent the spread of
  nosocomial infections. 
• Is the use of soap and water or alcohol-based
  rubs more effective in preventing these
  infections?
• Identify the independent, dependent variables and
  the population
• State the purpose of the study

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Statement of Purpose

• Hip fracture is common in elderly patients after
  falling.
• I have an elderly patient who exhibits an
  unsteady gait.
• Would a hip protector be a useful preventative
  measure for this patient?
• Identify the independent, dependent variables and
  the population
• State the purpose of the study

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Statement of Purpose cont..

• Qualitative studies
• indicates the nature of the inquiry,
• the key concept or phenomenon,
• the group, community or setting under study
• Example The purpose of this study was to
  describe satisfactory and unsatisfactory
  experiences of postpartum nursing car from the
  perspective of adolescent mothers.

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Statement of Purpose cont..

• The use of verbs are important
• Can often tell the type of study used to solve
  the problem
• Explore, Describe, Test
• Evaluate, Examine relationship
• Understand etc.

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Research Question

• Sometimes direct wording of the statement of
  purpose
• Eg The purpose of this study was to describe the
  relationship between sexual risk taking
  behaviours and substance use among pregnant
  adolescents at the UHWI Health Center, Kingston
  Jamaica

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Research questions Cont..

• Quantitative studies it will identify
• the key study variables
• their possible relations
• the population
• the variables are measureable concepts
• questions suggest quantification

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Research questions Cont..

• Qualitative studies the statements
• Identifies the phenomenon of interest and the
  group being studied
• Type of question vary by the qualitative
  traditions
• Grounded theory process questions
• Phenomenologists meaning questions
• Ethnographers descriptive questions

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Hypotheses

• Is a statement predicting the relationship of two
  or more variables
• Used in quantitative studies
• Predict answers to a query, eg
• The research question What is the relationship
  between sexual risk-taking and substance abuse
  among teenage mothers in Jamaica
• Teenage mothers who are substances abusers are
  more likely to high levels of sexual risk-taking
  behaviour

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• Knowledge and diabetes management
• Does Knowledge of persons with diabetes
• Does the level of knowledge of DM influence self
  care management among persons with diabetes

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Hypotheses cont..

• Testable hypotheses
• State the expected relationship between the
  independent variable and the dependent variable
  in a population
• Adolescents and young mothers who do not take
  sexual risks and are substances abusers are more
  likely to be knowledgeable about AIDS, compared
  to those who take risks
• It is tested thru statistical procedures

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Hypotheses - Types

• Wording - Should be worded in the present tense
• Types
• Simple or complex hypotheses
• Directional or non-directional hypotheses
• Research or Null hypotheses

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Hypotheses Types Cont

• Simple or complex hypotheses
• SIMPLE HYPOTHESIS predicts the relationship
  between a single IV and a single DV
• COMPLEX HYPOTHSIS predicts the relationship
  between 2 or more IV or 2 or more DV

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Hypotheses Types Cont

• Simple or complex hypotheses
• Hyperlink to page 159

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Hypotheses Types Cont

• DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS specifies not only the
  existence but the expected direction of the
  relationship between the variables
• NON DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS -
• Does not say the direction of the relationship

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Hypothesis (cont)

• Hyperlink page 160 Eg 1-6

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Hypotheses Types Cont

• DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS eg incontinent patients
  who receive Two-hourly change in position are
  less likely to develop decubitus ulcers compared
  to those receiving daily position change
• NON DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS eg Frequency of
  change in position of incontinent patients is
  related to the development of decubitus ulcers

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Hypotheses Types Cont

• RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
• (scientific hypothesis) states the actual
  prediction of relationship between variables
• NULL HYPOTHESIS (statistical hypothesis) -
  expresses the absence of a relationship EG

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Hypotheses Types Cont

• NULL HYPOTHESIS (statistical hypothesis) - EG
  Null - incontinent patients who receive
  two-hourly change in position are just as likely
  to develop decubitus ulcers as those receiving
  4-hourly position change
• RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS (scientific hypotheses) eg
• incontinent patients who receive two-hourly
  change in position are less likely to develop
  decubitus ulcers compared to those receiving
  daily position change
• Frequency of change in position of incontinent
  patients is related to the development of
  decubitus ulcers

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Hypothesis testing

• Hypotheses are tested thru statistical analysis
• Hypotheses are never proved, they are accepted or
  supported
• They are increasingly supported with more evidence

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Research problems -Examples of terms

• (p.147, Polit Beck, 2010)

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References

• Polit, D., Beck, C.T. (2010). Essentials of
  nursing research Appraising evidence for Nursing
  practice. Philadelphia Lippincott, Williams and
  Wilkins.
• Gerrish, K., Lacey, A. (2010). The research
  process in nursing. United Kingdom
  Wiley-Blackwell.
• Polit, D., Beck, C.T. (2012). Nursing research
  Generating and assessing evidence for Nursing
  practice. Philadelphia Lippincott, Williams and
  Wilkins.