The Research Question Exercise - Explained This exercise presents several resear
ID: 430993 • Letter: T
Question
The Research Question Exercise - Explained
This exercise presents several research situations/scenarios and it is for you to in each situation identify the independent variable IV (the variables that are being modified to cause the change on whatever is being investigated.) and the dependent variable DV (the outcome variable of interest - the final goal and objective that will be achieved).
The exercise also wants you to understand and apply the concept of simple and complex IV and DV. Simple IV and DV just mean that you have only one of each, e.g. one IV and one DV. E.g. If I.Q. is your DV and you wanted to investigate how nutrition affected I.Q. Then, in this case, there is one IV (Nutrition) and one DV (I.Q.). Complex IV and DV means that you have more than one IV and more than one DV. E.g. If I.Q and Income are your DVs and you wanted to investigate how nutrition, genetics, education, and gender affected I.Q and income. Then, in this case, you have four IV (nutrition, genetics, education, and gender) and two DV (I.Q and income)
Differentiate between the types of hypotheses (simple versus complex, non-directional versus directional, associative versus causal and statistical versus research).
Research hypotheses identify the:
Number of variables included in the study
Type of hypothesized relationship, of which there are four categories: Associative versus causal hypothesized relationship-
Associative relationships involve variables that change together. Associative relationships are also directional or nondirectional. For example:
X is related to (r/t) Y and Z - predicts a relationship
As X increases, Y increases - predicts a positive relationship (because they vary in the same direction)
As X decreases, Y decreases - predicts a positive relationship (because they vary in the same direction)
As X increases, Y decreases, or as X decreases, Y increases - predicts a negative relationship (because they vary in the opposite directions)
Causal relationships predict that one variable, the independent variable, causes another variable, which is the dependent variable.
The independent variable, also called the treatment or experimental variable, is manipulated by the researcher to cause an effect on the dependent variable
The dependent variable also called the outcome or criterion variable is measured before and after manipulation of the independent variable to estimate the effect of the independent variable.
Example - Compared to non-participants, subjects participating in a program of meditation (independent variable) will report less perceived stress (dependent variable).
Simple versus complex hypothesized relationship -
A simple hypothesis states the relationship (associative versus causal) between two variables, the independent variable, and the dependent variable.
A complex hypothesis predicts the relationship between three or more variables. The variables may include A single independent variable and two or more dependent variables.
Example - Compared to non-participants, subjects participating in a program of meditation (independent variable) will report less perceived stress (a dependent variable) and will have lower blood pressure readings (a dependent variable)
Two or more independent variables and one, or more, dependent variable(s).
Example -Compared to non-participants, subjects participating in a program of meditation and/or a program of regular physical activity (two independent variables) will report less perceived stress (a dependent variable) and will have lower blood pressure readings (a dependent variable).
Directional versus nondirectional hypothesized relationship -A directional hypothesis is also an associative hypothesis and states the direction of the predicted relationship-positive
As X increases, Y increases
As X decreases, Y decreases
Negative
As X increases, Y decreases
As X decreases, Y increases
A nondirectional hypothesis predicts that there will be a relationship, but this type hypothesis does not predict the direction.
X is related to Y
All causal hypotheses predict the direction of the relationship. The direction is usually apparent by the use of terms such as less, more, increase, decrease, greater, higher, lower, etc.
An example -Compared to non-participants, subjects participating in a program of meditation, twice a week or four times a week (two independent variables - twice a week meditation or four times a week) will report less perceived stress (a dependent variable) and will have lower blood pressure readings (a dependent variable).
Null versus research hypothesisThe null hypothesis (Ho) is also called the statistical hypothesis.
It states that there is no relationship between variables.
It is used for statistical testing and interpreting the results of statistical analyses.
It can be simple or complex and associative or causal.
It may not always be stated, but it is implied because it is the opposite of the research hypothesis.
An example - There is no difference in measures of perceived stress (a dependent variable) and blood pressure (a dependent variable) between subjects who do and do not participate in a program of meditation (independent variable).
The research hypothesis (HA or H1) is also called the alternative hypothesis since it is the opposite of the null hypothesis.
It states that there is a relationship between variables.
It can be simple or complex, associative or causal, and directional or nondirectional.
There are several examples of research hypotheses in the preceding illustrations.
Assignment to be Completed After Reading the Above Definitions
Item
Nursing Shortage
Research Question
Hypothesis (directional or non-directional?)
Independent & Dependent Variables
Simple-
Does nursing shortage lead to more patients being sick?
Simple –
Nursing shortage lead to an increase in more patients being sick (directional)
IV-
Amount of patients being sick
DV-
Nursing Shortage
Complex-
Complex -
IV/s-
DV/s-
Item
National Obesity
Research Question
Hypothesis (directional or non-directional?)
Independent & Dependent Variables
Simple-
Simple -
IV-
DV-
Complex-
Complex -
IV/s-
DV/s-
Item
Gardisil Immunization
Research Question
Hypothesis (directional or non-directional?)
Independent & Dependent Variables
Simple-
Simple -
IV-
DV-
Complex-
Complex -
IV/s-
DV/s-
Item
Diabetes Testing
Research Question
Hypothesis (directional or non-directional?)
Independent & Dependent Variables
Simple-
Simple -
IV-
DV-
Complex-
Complex -
IV/s-
DV/s-
Item
Nursing Shortage
Explanation / Answer
Item
Nursing Shortage
Research Question
Hypothesis (directional or non-directional?)
Independent & Dependent Variables
Simple-
Does nursing shortage lead to more patients being sick?
Simple –
Nursing shortage lead to an increase in more patients being sick (directional)
IV-
Amount of patients being sick
DV-
Nursing Shortage
Complex-
Do nursing shortage and lack of knowledge/skills of nurses affect patients’ treatment, patients’ quality of care, and patients’ safety?
Complex – Nursing shortage and lack of skills leads to degradation in patients’ quality care, reduction in patients’ treatment and reduces patients’ safety (directional).
IV/s- patients’ quality care, reduction in patients’ treatment and reduces patients’ safety.
DV/s- Nursing shortage and lack of skills/knowledge
Item
National Obesity
Research Question
Hypothesis (directional or non-directional?)
Independent & Dependent Variables
Simple- Is national obesity a national growing threat?
Simple – National Obesity leads to national threat (directional)
IV- National Threat
DV- National Obesity
Complex- Does stress, anxiety, food habits, sleeping habits lead to national obesity and health disorders?
Complex – Increase in Stress, anxiety, unhealthy food habits, sleeplessness results in national obesity and health disorders (directional).
IV/s- National obesity and Health disorders
DV/s- Stress, Anxiety, Unhealthy food habits, Sleeplessness
Item
Gardisil Immunization
Research Question
Hypothesis (directional or non-directional?)
Independent & Dependent Variables
Simple- Does Gardisil Immunization reduces sexually transmitted infections?
Simple – Gardisil immunization decreases the chances of sexually transmitted diseases (directional).
IV- Gardisil immunization
DV- Sexually transmitted infections
Complex- Does Gardisil Immunization and vaccine safety measures have any relationship with age, gender, pregnancy?
Complex – Gardisil immunization and vaccine safety measures has a relationship with age, gender, and pregnancy (non-directional).
IV/s- Age, gender, and pregnancy
DV/s- Gardisil immunization and vaccine safety measures
Item
Diabetes Testing
Research Question
Hypothesis (directional or non-directional?)
Independent & Dependent Variables
Simple- Does change in lifestyle prevents diabetes?
Simple – Change in lifestyle reduces diabetes (directional)
IV- Lifestyle
DV- Diabetes
Complex- Does incorporating exercises, diet choices, stress reduction programs reduces diabetes testing and helps in reduction in high blood pressure?
Complex – Regular exercises, healthy diet choices, stress reduction programs reduce diabetes testing and reduce high blood pressure (directional).
IV/s- Regular exercises, healthy diet choices, stress reduction programs
DV/s- diabetes testing and high blood pressure
Item
Nursing Shortage
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