DEVELOPMENT OF DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH QUESTION, RESEARCH QUESTION,

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESESRESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Mrs. Rosaline JayakaranMrs. Rosaline JayakaranProfessorProfessor

Community Health NursingCommunity Health Nursing

WHAT IS A RESEARCH WHAT IS A RESEARCH QUESTION?QUESTION?

AN EXPLICIT QUERY ABOUT A PROBLEM OR ISSUE AN EXPLICIT QUERY ABOUT A PROBLEM OR ISSUE THAT CAN BE CHALLENGED, EXAMINED AND THAT CAN BE CHALLENGED, EXAMINED AND ANALYZED AND THAT WILL YIELD USEFUL NEW ANALYZED AND THAT WILL YIELD USEFUL NEW INFORMATIONS.INFORMATIONS.

IN SOME CASES , DIRECT WORDINGS OF IN SOME CASES , DIRECT WORDINGS OF STATEMENT OF PURPOSE PHRASED IN THE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE PHRASED IN THE QUESTION FORM RATHER THAN AS A STATEMENT.QUESTION FORM RATHER THAN AS A STATEMENT.

RESEARCH QUESTIONRESEARCH QUESTION

Definition

Research question is a concise interrogative

statement that is worded in the present tense

and it include one or more variables or

concepts.

Research questions are queries about

relationships between variables.

MAIN FOCUS OF RESEARCH MAIN FOCUS OF RESEARCH QUESTIONQUESTION

Description of Variable (s)Description of Variable (s) Examination of relationships among Examination of relationships among

variables.variables. Determinations of differences between 2 or Determinations of differences between 2 or

more groups regarding selected variablesmore groups regarding selected variables

SOURCES OF RESEARCH SOURCES OF RESEARCH PROBLEMS/QUESTIONSPROBLEMS/QUESTIONS

EXPERIENCE AND CLINICAL FIELD WORKEXPERIENCE AND CLINICAL FIELD WORK

NURSING LITERATURENURSING LITERATURE

SOCIAL ISSUESSOCIAL ISSUES

THEORYTHEORY

IDEAS FROM EXTERNAL SOURCESIDEAS FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES

CONSIDERATIONS IN CONSIDERATIONS IN SELECTING A QUESTIONSELECTING A QUESTION

SIGNIFICANCE AND RELEVANCESIGNIFICANCE AND RELEVANCE

RESEARCHABILITYRESEARCHABILITY

FEASIBILITYFEASIBILITY

PERSONAL CURIOSITYPERSONAL CURIOSITY

ADVANTAGES OF RESEARCH ADVANTAGES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONQUESTION

MAKES STUDY SIMPLEMAKES STUDY SIMPLE

GIVES DIRECTION TO STUDYGIVES DIRECTION TO STUDY

INVITES AN ANSWERINVITES AN ANSWER

HELPS FOCUS ATTENTION OF RESEARCHER AND HELPS FOCUS ATTENTION OF RESEARCHER AND READER ON KIND OF DATA TO BE COLLECTEDREADER ON KIND OF DATA TO BE COLLECTED

ANSWERS ADD TO OUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGEANSWERS ADD TO OUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

LEVELS OF RESEARCH LEVELS OF RESEARCH QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

LEVEL I - WHEN VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS LEVEL I - WHEN VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS AVAILABLE.AVAILABLE.

LEVEL II -TO LOOK FOR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVEL II -TO LOOK FOR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIABLESVARIABLES

LEVEL III -ASSUMES RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVEL III -ASSUMES RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIABLES AND ASKS ‘WHY?’VARIABLES AND ASKS ‘WHY?’

LEVEL ILEVEL IEXAMPLEEXAMPLE

WHAT ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF FATHERS WHO WHAT ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF FATHERS WHO ARE IN THE DELIVERY ROOM WITH THEIR WIVES? ARE IN THE DELIVERY ROOM WITH THEIR WIVES?

ONE VARIABLE -EXPERIENCES ONE VARIABLE -EXPERIENCES

POPULATION - FATHERS IN THE DELIVERY ROOM POPULATION - FATHERS IN THE DELIVERY ROOM

LEVEL IILEVEL IIEXAMPLEEXAMPLE

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF PATIENT WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF PATIENT EDUCATION TO PATIENT COMPLIANCE IN EDUCATION TO PATIENT COMPLIANCE IN CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAM? CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAM?

VARIABLES - PATIENT EDUCATIONVARIABLES - PATIENT EDUCATION

PATIENT COMPLIANCEPATIENT COMPLIANCE

POPULATION –CARDIAC REHABILITATION POPULATION –CARDIAC REHABILITATION PATIENTS PATIENTS

LEVEL IIILEVEL IIIEXAMPLEEXAMPLE

WHY DO SELF CARE BEHAVIOURS INCREASE THE WHY DO SELF CARE BEHAVIOURS INCREASE THE FEELINGS OF WELLBEING IN PATIENTS WITH FEELINGS OF WELLBEING IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS? CHRONIC ILLNESS?

VARIABLES- CAUSE -SELF CARE BEHAVIOURS VARIABLES- CAUSE -SELF CARE BEHAVIOURS EFFECT–FEELINGS OF WELLBEING EFFECT–FEELINGS OF WELLBEING

POPULATION - PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSPOPULATION - PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS

DIRECTION - INCREASEDIRECTION - INCREASE

TYPES OF RESEARCH TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONSDESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS ABOUT QUESTIONS ABOUT PREVALENCE,FREQUENCIES,AVERAGE VALUES ETC.PREVALENCE,FREQUENCIES,AVERAGE VALUES ETC.

MULTIVARIATE QUESTIONSMULTIVARIATE QUESTIONS QUESTIONS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIABLES QUESTIONS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIABLES

MULTIVARIATE QUESTIONSMULTIVARIATE QUESTIONS

EXISTENCE OF RELATIONSHIP: IS THERE A EXISTENCE OF RELATIONSHIP: IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP?RELATIONSHIP?

DIRECTION OF RELATIONSHIP: WHETHER THERE IS DIRECTION OF RELATIONSHIP: WHETHER THERE IS AN INCREASE OR A DECREASE?AN INCREASE OR A DECREASE?

STRENGTH OF RELATIONSHIP: HOW STRONG?STRENGTH OF RELATIONSHIP: HOW STRONG? NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP : DOES IT CONTRIBUTE?NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP : DOES IT CONTRIBUTE? MODERATED RELATIONSHIP : IS THERE A MODERATED RELATIONSHIP : IS THERE A

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN?DIFFERENCE BETWEEN? MEDIATED RELATIONSHIP: DOES IT DIRECTLY HAVE MEDIATED RELATIONSHIP: DOES IT DIRECTLY HAVE

AN EFFECT?AN EFFECT?

FORMULATION OF QUESTIONFORMULATION OF QUESTION

SELECT TOPICSELECT TOPIC

NARROW TOPIC BY ASKING QUESTIONS –WHAT? NARROW TOPIC BY ASKING QUESTIONS –WHAT? WHEN? WHY? HOW? WHO?WHEN? WHY? HOW? WHO?

DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH QUESTIONQUESTION

Steps :Steps :Idea emerges Idea emerges

Brain Storming Brain Storming

Literature Review Literature Review

Identifying variables Identifying variables

Research question formulationResearch question formulation

CHARATERISTICS OF FULLY CHARATERISTICS OF FULLY DEVELOPED RESEARCH DEVELOPED RESEARCH

QUESTIONQUESTION

Identifies variables Identifies variables

Specific population Specific population

Implies possibility of empirical testingImplies possibility of empirical testing

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

PURPOSE :TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF INFERTILITY PURPOSE :TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF INFERTILITY ON PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF MARRIED ON PSYCHOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING OF MARRIED COUPLES.COUPLES.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:RESEARCH QUESTIONS: WHAT PERCENTAGE OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES IN WHAT PERCENTAGE OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES IN

INFERTILE COUPLES SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION?INFERTILE COUPLES SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION? DO HUSBANDS IN INFERTILE COUPLES DIFFER FROM DO HUSBANDS IN INFERTILE COUPLES DIFFER FROM

WIVES WITH RESPECT TO THEIR LEVELS OF WIVES WITH RESPECT TO THEIR LEVELS OF DEPRESSION?DEPRESSION?

WHAT ARE THE COPING STRATERGIES USED BY WHAT ARE THE COPING STRATERGIES USED BY HUSBANDS AND WIVES TO DEAL WITH THEIR HUSBANDS AND WIVES TO DEAL WITH THEIR INFERTILITY?INFERTILITY?

RESEARCH OBJECTIVESRESEARCH OBJECTIVES

DefinitionDefinitionResearch objectives is a clean, concise,Research objectives is a clean, concise, declarative statement that is expressed in thedeclarative statement that is expressed in the present tense.present tense. Focuses on one or two variables and indicates Focuses on one or two variables and indicates

whether they are to be identified or described.whether they are to be identified or described. Identifies relationships among variables.Identifies relationships among variables. Determines differences between two groups Determines differences between two groups

regarding selected variables.regarding selected variables.

1 . To describe the incidence of cocaine use 1 . To describe the incidence of cocaine use in 18-40 year old persons seen in a hospital in 18-40 year old persons seen in a hospital emergency department with complaints of emergency department with complaints of chest pain.chest pain.

To determine the relationship between the To determine the relationship between the demographic data of patient and cocaine demographic data of patient and cocaine use.use.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

RESEARCH HYPOTHESESRESEARCH HYPOTHESES

DefinitionDefinition

A hypotheses is a formal statement of the A hypotheses is a formal statement of the expected relationships between two or more expected relationships between two or more variables in a specified population.variables in a specified population.

Hypotheses are proposed solutions or Hypotheses are proposed solutions or answers to research queries. answers to research queries.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHARACTERISTICS OF A HYPOTHESISHYPOTHESIS

1.1. It is a declarative statement that It is a declarative statement that identifies relationshipidentifies relationship

2.2. TestabilityTestability

3.3. Consistent with an existing body of Consistent with an existing body of theory and research findings.theory and research findings.

FUNCTIONS OF HYPOTHESESFUNCTIONS OF HYPOTHESES

Translates research problem and purpose into Translates research problem and purpose into clear explanations or predictionsclear explanations or predictions

Includes variables to be manipulated or measuredIncludes variables to be manipulated or measured Identifies the population to be examinedIdentifies the population to be examined Indicates the proposed outcomes for the study Indicates the proposed outcomes for the study Influences study design ,sampling technique, data Influences study design ,sampling technique, data

collection and analysis methods ,and collection and analysis methods ,and interpretations of findingsinterpretations of findings

TYPES OR CATEGORIESTYPES OR CATEGORIES

Associative versus causalAssociative versus causal

Simple versus complexSimple versus complex

Non directional versus directionalNon directional versus directional

Null versus researchNull versus research

PREDICTION PHRASEPREDICTION PHRASE

Less thanLess than More thanMore than Greater thanGreater than Different fromDifferent from Related toRelated to Associated withAssociated with Positively relatedPositively related Negatively relatedNegatively related

Hypotheses, ideally should be on sound justifiable Hypotheses, ideally should be on sound justifiable rationalsrationals..

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONOPERATIONAL DEFINITION

Operational Definition is the definition of aOperational Definition is the definition of a

concept or variable in terms of the proceduresconcept or variable in terms of the procedures

by which it is to be measuredby which it is to be measured

It specifies how the concept will be measuredIt specifies how the concept will be measured

that is, what instruments will be used tothat is, what instruments will be used to

capture the concept.capture the concept.

ASSUMPTIONS ASSUMPTIONS Definition :Definition :

Assumptions are statements that are taken for Assumptions are statements that are taken for granted or are considered true, even though they granted or are considered true, even though they have not been scientifically tested.have not been scientifically tested.

Sources :Sources :

Universally accepted truthsUniversally accepted truths Theories Theories Previous Research Previous Research Nursing PracticeNursing Practice

LIMITATIONLIMITATION

Definition :Definition :

Limitations are restrictions or problems in a Limitations are restrictions or problems in a study that may decrease the generalizability of study that may decrease the generalizability of the findingsthe findings

Types of LimitationsTypes of Limitations

Theoritical LimitationsTheoritical Limitations

Methodological LimitationsMethodological Limitations

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Properly formulated research question, Properly formulated research question, research objectives and research research objectives and research hypothesis and properly stated operational hypothesis and properly stated operational definition are essential for the success of a definition are essential for the success of a studystudy

Identification of assumptions and limitations Identification of assumptions and limitations helps in smooth conduction of the studyhelps in smooth conduction of the study