Discussion 3: Evaluating Research Questions, Hypotheses, and Quantitative Research Designs With a clear purpose in place, quantitative researchers have a roadmap for crafting their research questions and hypotheses that will further focus the approach they will take to investigate their topic (i.e., their study’s research design). The selection of a research design is guided by the study’s purpose and research questions and hypotheses, and the design then links the research questions and hypotheses to the data that will be collected. You should keep in mind, however, that the research process is interactive, not necessarily proceeding in a linear fashion from one component to the next. Rather, the writing of research questions could, for example, necessitate adjustments to the study’s purpose statement. Nevertheless, when presented together, the various components of a research study should align. As you learned last week, alignment means that a research study possesses clear and logical connections among all of its various components. In addition to considering alignment, when researchers select a research design, they must also consider the ethical implications of their choice, including, for example, what their design selection means for participant recruitment, procedures, and privacy. For this Discussion, you will evaluate quantitative research questions and hypotheses in assigned journal articles in your discipline and consider the alignment of theory, problem, purpose, research questions and hypotheses, and design. You will also identify the type of quantitative research design the authors used and explain how it was implemented. You will also complete online training in the protection of human research participants. Due 06/27/2017 by 5 pm References Spencer, M. S., Rosland, A. M., Kieffer, E. C., Sinco, B. R., Valerio, M., Palmisano, G., . . . & Heisler, M. (2011). Effectiveness of a community health worker intervention among African American and Latino adults with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Public Health, 101(12), 2253–2260. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2010.300106 Burkholder, G. J., Cox, K. A., & Crawford, L. M. (2016). The scholar-practitioner’s guide to research design. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Publishing. · Chapter 4, “Quantitative Research Designs” Babbie, E. (2017). Basics of social research (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. · Chapter 5, “Conceptualization, Operationalization, and Measurement” Purpose Statement Checklist Use the following criteria to evaluate an author’s purpose statement. Look for indications of the following: • Does the statement begin with signaling words? • Does the statement identify the research approach (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed)? • Does the statement clearly state the intent of the study? • Does the statement mention the participants? • Does the statement mention the research site? • Is the statement framed in a way that is consistent with the id.

1. Discussion 3:
Evaluating Research Questions, Hypotheses, and Quantitative
Research Designs
With a clear purpose in place, quantitative researchers have a
roadmap for crafting their research questions and hypotheses
that will further focus the approach they will take to investigate
their topic (i.e., their study’s research design).
The selection of a research design is guided by the study’s
purpose and research questions and hypotheses, and the design
then links the research questions and hypotheses to the data that
will be collected. You should keep in mind, however, that the
research process is interactive, not necessarily proceeding in a
linear fashion from one component to the next. Rather, the
writing of research questions could, for example, necessitate
adjustments to the study’s purpose statement.
Nevertheless, when presented together, the various components
of a research study should align. As you learned last week,
alignment means that a research study possesses clear and
logical connections among all of its various components.
In addition to considering alignment, when researchers select a
research design, they must also consider the ethical implications
of their choice, including, for example, what their design
selection means for participant recruitment, procedures, and
privacy.
For this Discussion, you will evaluate quantitative research
questions and hypotheses in assigned journal articles in your
discipline and consider the alignment of theory, problem,
purpose, research questions and hypotheses, and design.
You will also identify the type of quantitative research design
the authors used and explain how it was implemented. You will
also complete online training in the protection of human
research participants.

2. Due 06/27/2017 by 5 pm
References
Spencer, M. S., Rosland, A. M., Kieffer, E. C., Sinco, B. R.,
Valerio, M., Palmisano, G., . . . & Heisler, M. (2011).
Effectiveness of a community health worker intervention among
African American and Latino adults with type 2 diabetes: A
randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Public Health,
101(12), 2253–2260. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2010.300106
Burkholder, G. J., Cox, K. A., & Crawford, L. M. (2016). The
scholar-practitioner’s guide to research design. Baltimore, MD:
Laureate Publishing.
· Chapter 4, “Quantitative Research Designs”
Babbie, E. (2017). Basics of social research (7th ed.). Boston,
MA: Cengage Learning.
· Chapter 5, “Conceptualization, Operationalization, and
Measurement”
Purpose Statement Checklist Use the following criteria to
evaluate an author’s purpose statement.
Look for indications of the following:
• Does the statement begin with signaling words?
• Does the statement identify the research approach
(quantitative, qualitative, or mixed)? • Does the statement
clearly state the intent of the study?
• Does the statement mention the participants? • Does the
statement mention the research site?
• Is the statement framed in a way that is consistent with the
identified problem? If the study is qualitative, does the purpose
statement do as follows? •
Focus on a single phenomenon • Use an action verb to convey
how learning will take place • Use neutral, non-directional
language
• Provide a general definition of the central phenomenon If the
study is quantitative, does the purpose statement do as follows?
• Identify the variables under study • Provide a general

3. definition of each key variable • Use words that connect the
variables
• Identify a theory If the study is mixed methods, does the
purpose statement do as follows? • Discuss the reason(s) for
mixing both quantitative and qualitative data
• Include the characteristics of a good qualitative purpose
statement (as listed above) Research Theory, Design, and
Methods Walden University © 2016 Laureate Education, Inc.
Page 2 of 2
• Include the characteristics of a good quantitative purpose
statement (as listed above)
• Indicate the specific method of collecting both quantitative
and qualitative data
Discussion4:
Reflecting on Your Writing: Instructor Feedback
As a scholar and part of the intellectual community, you will
want to understand ways to integrate feedback to be able to join
a larger conversation. A significant part of scholarly writing is
revising based on your colleagues’ feedback, and now that you
have a substantial amount of writing; it is time to reflect on the
ways you have incorporated your Instructor’s feedback.
This week’s Learning Resources will help you examine
rhetorical strategies for placing yourself in the scholarly
conversation, such as using the personal pronoun, “I.” For this
Discussion, you will reflect on how your voice fits into the
scholarly conversation—beginning with the conversation
between your Instructor and yourself. This initial Discussion is
part of a continual conversation during the remainder of this
course as your Instructor and yourself revise, review, and
reflect on your writing.
To prepare for this Discussion:
· Review the Learning Resources on audience and sentence
structure.
· Reflect on your ways you have incorporated your Instructor’s
feedback and your part in the scholarly conversation. You may

4. even choose to consider how you approached this specific
Assignment in relation to scholarly voice and transitions.
By 06/27/2017 by 5 pm
Post a 1- to 2-paragraph reflection on your use of your
Instructor’s feedback throughout the past few weeks of this
course and your participation in the scholarly conversation.
(Note: You may choose to reflect specifically on how you will
apply scholarly voice concepts in this week’s Assignment.)
References
https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201770
_07/XX_WCSS/WCSS_6060/artifacts/USW1_WCSS_6060_Wee
k5EvaluationWhatIsIt.pdf
https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201770
_07/XX_WCSS/WCSS_6060/artifacts/USW1_WCSS_6060_Wee
k5_Point_of_View.pdf
http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2014/05/breaking-
down-meal-plan-adding-analysis.html
http://waldenwritingcenter.blogspot.com/2012/08/youre-
engaged.html