Research Question and Hypothesis: Objectives: Identify variables in the study, to formulate research question and hypothesis Formulate research question, which is to be answered statistically and logically Formulate null hypothesis and test able research hypothesis, which is to be answered statistically. Explore and select the appropriate statistical measures for selected research question Justify the appropriateness of selected statistical test, chosen for the testing question and hypothesis Interpret the selected statistical test, chosen for the testing question and hypothesis in statistical manner Inference the selected statistical test, chosen for the testing question and hypothesis in statistical manner. Variable: A characteristic, attribute of a person or object that differs among the persons or object being studied (eg. Age, sex, blood type etc.) Classification of research variables: One variable study/ univariate study “what sources of work stress are identified by thoracic care unit nurses?” Two variables study/bivariate study One is dependent and the other is independent Ex. Is there a correlation between the number of sources of stress reported by nurses in a thoracic intensive care. The independent variable is “ the number of reported sources of stress.” and the dependent variable is the desire to leave to leave employment in the thoracic intensive care unit.” Multi-variables study/ multivariate study More than two variables are examined in a study Ex. Why clients do not take their medications as directed after they are discharged? Why do nursing students pass/fail the examination? Types of Variables: Independent variable The “cause” or the variable thought to influence the dependent variable in experimental research it is the variable manipulated by the researcher. Dependent variable The “effect” a response or behavior that is influenced by the independent variable; sometimes called criterion variable. Intervening variables Comes between dependent and independent variable Extraneous variable Influence can be change Dichotomous variable Two choice or result (male/female) Polychotomous variables Multiple variables Research Question: Specific question that the researcher expects to be answered in a study. Should specify the variables and the population that are being studied Example; “Is there a difference in anxiety levels of women about to undergo hysterectomy between those women who receive a back rub and those who not receive a back rub?” Formulating a Research Question: Research questions for studies that examine more than one variable are usually written as correlational statement or comparative statement. 1. Correlational Statement (dependent and independent) “ Is there a correlation between anxiety and midterm scores of baccalaureate nursing students?”

2. Research Question and Hypothesis
Shakir Rahman
BScN, MScN, MSc Applied Psychology, PhD Nursing (Candidate)
University of Minnesota USA
Principal & Assistant Professor
Ayub International College of Nursing & AHS Peshawar
Visiting Faculty
Swabi College of Nursing & Health Sciences Swabi
Nowshera College of Nursing & Health Sciences Nowshera
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3. Objectives
• At the completion of this unit learners will be able to:
• Identify variables in the study, to formulate research question and hypothesis
• Formulate research question, which is to be answered statistically and
logically
• Formulate null hypothesis and test able research hypothesis, which is to be
answered statistically.
• Explore and select the appropriate statistical measures for selected research
question
• Justify the appropriateness of selected statistical test, chosen for the testing
question and hypothesis
• Interpret the selected statistical test, chosen for the testing question and
hypothesis in statistical manner
• Inference the selected statistical test, chosen for the testing question and
hypothesis in statistical manner
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4. Variable
•A characteristic, attribute of a person or object that differs
among the persons or object being studied (eg. Age, sex,
blood type etc.)
•Classification of research variables:
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5. Classification of research variables:
One variable study/ univariate study
“what sources of work stress are identified by thoracic care unit nurses?”
Two variables study/bivariate study
One is dependent and the other is independent
Ex. Is there a correlation between the number of sources of stress reported by
nurses in a thoracic intensive care. The independent variable is “ the number of
reported sources of stress.” and the dependent variable is the desire to leave to
leave employment in the thoracic intensive care unit.”
Multi-variables study/ multivariate study
More than two variables are examined in a study
Ex. Why clients do not take their medications as directed after they are
discharged?
Why do nursing students pass/fail the examination?
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6. Types of Variables
• Independent variable
• The “cause” or the variable thought to influence the dependent
variable in experimental research it is the variable manipulated by
the researcher.
• Dependent variable
• The “effect” a response or behavior that is influenced by the
independent variable; sometimes called criterion variable.
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7. Cont.…
• Intervening variables
• Comes between dependent and independent variable
• Extraneous variable
• Influence can be change
• Dichotomous variable
• Two choice or result (male/female)
• Polychotomous variables
• Multiple variables
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8. Research Question
• Specific question that the researcher expects to be answered in a
study.
• Should specify the variables and the population that are being
studied
• Example;
• “Is there a difference in anxiety levels of women about to undergo
hysterectomy between those women who receive a back rub and
those who not receive a back rub?”
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9. Formulating a Research Question
PICO
(Quantitative
Comparative Studies)
SPIDER
(Qualitative/ Quantitative/
Mixed Studies)
SPICE
(Qualitative Studies)
Population Sample Setting
Intervention Phenomenon of Interest Perspective
Comparison Design Interest/ Intervention
Outcome Evaluation Comparison
Research Type Evaluation
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10. 7/19/2023 10
Formulating a Research Question
• Research questions for studies that examine more than one
variable are usually written as correlational statement or
comparative statement.
1. Correlational Statement
• (dependent and independent)
• “ Is there a correlation between anxiety and midterm scores of
baccalaureate nursing students?”
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Formulating a Research Question
2. Comparative Statement:
a. Descriptive study:
“Is there a difference between in readiness to learn about
preoperative teaching between preoperative patients who have high
anxiety levels compared to preoperative patients who have low
anxiety levels?”
b. Experimental study:
“ Is there a difference in the preoperative anxiety levels of patients
who where taught relaxation techniques compared to those patients
who were not taught relaxation techniques?”
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12. Study Hypothesis
“Hypothesis is a formal statement that presents the expected
relationship between an independent and dependent
variable.”(Creswell, 1994)
“A research question is essentially a hypothesis asked in the form
of a question.”
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13. Cont.….
• Predicts the relationship between two or more variables.
• Furnishes the predicted answer to the research questions.
• Contains the population and variables
• Proposes the relationship between the independent and the
dependent variables
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14. Classification of Hypothesis
• Simple and complex
• Null and research
• Non-directional and directional
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15. Simple vs Complex Hypothesis
• Simple Hypothesis
• Concerns the relationship between one independent and one dependent variable.
• Example:
• There is negative relationship between denial and reports of anxiety among post-
myocardial infarction patients.
• Complex Hypothesis
• Concerns a relationship where two or more independent variables or two or more
dependent variables, or both are being examined in the same study.
• Example:
• Daily weight loss is greater for adults who follow a reduced calorie diet and exercise
daily than for those who do not follow a reduced calorie diet and do not exercise
daily.
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16. Null vs Alternate Hypothesis
• Null hypothesis (H0)
• Predicts that no relationship exists between variables.
• Subject to statistical analysis
• Research hypothesis (H1)
• Also called alternative hypothesis
• States the expected relationship between variables.
• Others names are scientific, substantive, and theoretical
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17. Directional vs Non- Directional Hypothesis
Non-directional hypothesis
• Researcher merely predicts that relationship exists.
• The direction of the relationship is not presented.
Directional hypothesis
• The researcher predicts the type of relationship that is expected.
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18. Hypothesis Criteria
• A hypothesis should:
• Be written in a declarative sentence
• Be written in the present tense
• Contain the population
• Contain variables
• Reflect the problem statement, purpose statement, or research
question
• Be empirically testable
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19. Statistical test for testing question and hypothesis
Test Uses/ Interpretation
z test
A z-test is used in hypothesis testing to evaluate whether a
finding or association is statistically significant or not. In
particular, it tests whether two means are the same (the null
hypothesis). A z-test can only be used if the population
standard deviation is known and the sample size is 30 data
points or larger.
t test
A t test is a statistical test that is used to compare the means
of two groups. It is often used in hypothesis testing to
determine whether a process or treatment actually has an
effect on the population of interest, or whether two groups
are different from one another.
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20. Statistical test for testing question and hypothesis
Test Uses/ Interpretation
Chi
Square
A chi-square test is a statistical test used to compare
observed results with expected results. The purpose of this
test is to determine if a difference between observed data
and expected data is due to chance, or if it is due to a
relationship between the categorical variables being
studying.
ANOVA
compares the means of two or more independent groups in
order to determine whether there is statistical evidence that
the associated population means are significantly different.
One-Way ANOVA is a parametric test.
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21. Statistical test for testing question and hypothesis
Test Uses/ Interpretation
Correlation
The bivariate Pearson correlation indicates whether a
statistically significant linear relationship exists between
two continuous variables. The strength of a linear
relationship (i.e., how close the relationship is to being a
perfectly straight line)
Regression
Regression technique is used to assess the strength of a
relationship between one dependent and independent
variable(s). It helps in predicting value of a dependent
variable from one or more independent variable.
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