Formulating Research Problems, Questions and Hypotheses
Learning Objectives
Describe the general steps in the research process Describe process of identifying a research problem Define research questions, directional and nondirectional hypotheses Describe the difference between Level I, II, and III studies Describe the use of research questions vs. hypotheses in a research study
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Research Defined
Research is an organized and systematic way to find answers to questions Research is a creative process
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Why is research important to the profession of nursing?
Nursing research provides a scientific knowledge base for practice. Knowledge obtained from sound research is transformed into clinical practice, leading to nursing practice that is evidence-based.
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Research and Nursing
The nurse must be a knowledgeable consumer of research, one who can critique research and use existing standards to determine the merit and readiness for research use in clinical practice (ANA, 1997; AACN, 1998b).
LB-W & H p. 7
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Developing & Refining a Research Problem
Research study should include:
A specific problem area Review of relevant literature Significance to nursing Feasibility
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Research Topics
Nursing research topics include studies of patient populations, or an individuals response to health problems, or potential health problems.
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The Research Idea
Professional experience Burning questions
Yours Others
Literature Professional meetings Discussions
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Research Topics
Observations Behaviors Concepts Theories Testing of assessment and intervention strategies
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Criteria for developing a good research question: FINER
Feasibility Interesting Novel Ethical Relevant
Cummings et al. 2001
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FINER
Feasible
Subjects Resources Manageable Data available?
Ethical
Social or scientific value Safe
Relevant
Advance scientific knowledge? Influence clinical practice? Impact health policy? Guide future research?
Interesting Novel
In relation to previous findings
Confirm or refute?
New setting, new population
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Narrowing the research topic
Idea brainstorming Literature review Identify the variables for study Formulate research problems and questions/hypotheses
LB-W & H p. 51 see fig. 3-1
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A Research Question Must Identify
1. The variables under study
2. The population being studied
3. The testability of the question
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Variables in research
Have 2 or more properties or qualities
Age, sex, weight, height
Is one variable related to another?
Is X related to Y? What is the effect of X on Y? etc.
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Variables in research
Independent variable:
has a presumed effect on the dependent variable (outcome) May or may not be manipulated
Dependent variable:
Something that varies with a change in the independent variable Outcome variable
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Population
The population to be studied must be specified in the research question
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Testability
Research problem must imply that the problem is measurable/testable Example of a poorly phrased research question
Should postoperative patients control how much pain medication they receive?
How would you revise the question?
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Characteristics to Consider
Research questions
Cannot be answered by yes/no
Should ask:
What happens when? Whats going on here? How does this happen? Why does one thing work better than another?
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Examples
What is the relationship between effectiveness of pain management strategies and quality of life? How do older adults adapt to living with early stage dementia?
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Purpose Statement
The purpose of the study encompasses the aims or goals the investigator wants to accomplish Purpose Question
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LB-W & H p. 58 Box 3-2
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Research Questions
Research studies do not always contain hypotheses Exploratory and descriptive studies may pose research questions instead
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What is a researchable question?
Helps solve a problem, add to theory, or improve nursing practice Needs to be usable, current, and clear Provides answers that will explain, describe, identify, predict or qualify
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Guidelines for writing research questions
Start with a simple question
Has one stem and one topic
Action-oriented The way you ask a question determines how you will answer it
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Writing the research question
Examples:
What are the health beliefs of the Amish? What is the relationship between preoperative teaching and postoperative pain? Why does increased assertiveness in nurses lead to lower nosocomial infection rates?
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Hypothesis
Statement about the relationship between 2 or more variables Converts the question into a statement that predicts an expected outcome A unit or subset of the research problem
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Characteristics of hypotheses
Declarative statement that identifies the predicted relationship between 2 or more variables Testability Based on sound scientific theory/rationale
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Hypotheses
Hypotheses may not always be explicitly stated Wording must include:
The variables The population being studied The predicted outcome of the hypothesis
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Directional vs. Non-Directional Hypotheses
Directional hypothesis
Specifies the direction of the relationship between independent and dependent variables
Non-directional hypothesis
Shows the existence of a relationship between variables but no direction is specified
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Examples
Directional hypothesis
Cardiac patients who receive support from former patients have less anxiety and higher self-efficacy than other patients
Non-directional hypothesis
There is a difference in anxiety and self-efficacy between cardiac patients who receive support from former patients and those who do not
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Research vs. Statistical Hypotheses
Research hypothesis = scientific hypothesis
Statement about the expected relationship of the variables Can be directional or nondirectional
Statistical hypothesis = null hypothesis
States there is no relationship between the variables
L-B, W & H p. 66-67
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Example: Statistical Hypothesis
Oxygen inhalation by nasal cannula of up to 6L/min does not affect oral temperature measurement taken with an electronic thermometer.
Variables? other examples?
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Levels of Questions
Level I
Little to no literature is available on the topic and the purpose is to describe what is found as it exists naturally
Level III
There is a great deal of knowledge about the topic and the purpose of the study is to test the theory through direct manipulation of the variables
Level II
There is knowledge about the topic but relationships among the variables are not well known
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Level I Questions
Lead to exploration and result in a complete description of the topic Examples:
What are the characteristics of suicidal patients? What are the spiritual needs of transplant patients?
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Level II Questions
Build on the results of Level I studies Look for relationships between the variables Examples:
What is the relationship between relaxation and pain in postoperative patients? What is the relationship among nutrition, birth weight of the newborn, and age of the mother?
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Level III Questions
Builds on the results of previous research Lead to experimental designs Examples:
Why does patient satisfaction increase with positive attitudes toward self-care? Why does increased vitamin C decrease skin fragility in elderly people?
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Summary of Level I, II, and III Questions
Level I questions have only one variable and one population Level II requires a minimum of 2 variables in one population At level III there must be 2 variables that specify a cause and effect
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Examples
What are the body positions into which nurses place LBW intubated infants? What is the relationship between body positions and heart rate in the LBW intubated infants? Why does supine body positioning decrease heart rate in the intubated LBW infant?
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Summary Points
Preliminary steps in the research process include forming a research problem, questions and hypotheses A hypothesis attempts to answer the question posed by the research question Research questions illustrate a relationship between variables, identify independent and dependent variables, include a population, and imply that a problem is testable
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