This document discusses research methodology and developing an analytical framework. It defines key concepts like variables, different types of variables, and hypotheses. Variables represent concepts that can be measured and help analyze relationships between factors. The analytical framework guides empirical research by identifying variables to measure, data needed, and tools for analysis. Well-formed hypotheses make predictions about how independent variables might influence dependent variables and should be testable. Developing a strong analytical framework is important for conducting reliable research.

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Research Methodology
Dr. Ayat Ismail, PhD
Urban design & planning dept.
Ain Shams University
ayat.ismail@eng.asu.edu.eg
Identifying variables - Developing an
analytical framework

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Topics
• Why empirical evidence?
• What are variables?
• Different types of variables
• Developing an analytical framework
• What is a hypothesis
• Types of hypotheses

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Why do we need reliable empirical evidence?
Benefits include:
• Avoid speculation
• Support your argument
• Prove or disprove a hypothesis
• Help induce a theory
Be aware of:
• Should not be manipulated
• Requires knowledge of statistics
• Doesn’t rely on subjective interpretations

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Research Objectives
Study population –
case study – etc.
Variables – Indicators
(to be measured)

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Research Objectives
Study population –
case study – etc.
Variables – Indicators
(to be measured)
Data types
Data collection
Tools for analysis
Performing the analysis
Interpreting the results

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What are Variables?
A variable is:
• An image, perception or concept that can be measured
• A concept or a property that takes on different values.
• Something that varies
• A symbol to which numerals or values are attached
• A rational units of analysis that can assume any one of a number of
designated sets of values’
• A concept that can be measured on any one of the four types of
measurement scale (discussed later in this lecture), which have
varying degrees of precision in measurement.

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What are Variables?
A variable is:
• This product is not selling very well
• This book is not useful to my research topic
• This office is providing good service
• This university is a reputable academic institution

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What are Variables?
A variable is:
• This product is not selling very well (wellness)
(number of products sold/returned could be an indicator)
• This book is not useful to my research topic (usefulness)
(number of relevant themes/pages of the book as an indicator)
• This office is providing good service (goodness)
(number of complaints/angry customers as an indicator)
• This university is a reputable academic institution (reputation)
(rank of the university or number of publications as indicators)

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Different types of Variables:
Independent Variables Dependent Variables
It is a variable that stands alone and
isn't changed by the other variables you
are trying to measure
when you are looking for some kind of
relationship between variables you are
trying to see if the independent
variable causes some kind of change in
the other dependent variables.
It is the variable that depends on
other factors.
when you are looking for some kind of
relationship between variables you are
trying to test and measure what makes
the dependent variable change the
way it does.
Examples?

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Different types of Variables:
• Independent, Dependent, Intervening, Extraneous variable
• Active variable - Attribute variable
• Qualitative variable – Quantitative variable
• Continuous variable – Categorical variable

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Different types of Variables:
• Independent, Dependent, Intervening, Extraneous variable
Smoking - Cancer – Age or extent of Daily Exercise

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Different types of Variables:
• Independent, Dependent, Intervening, Extraneous variable
• Active variable - Attribute variable
• Qualitative variable – Quantitative variable
• Continuous variable – Categorical variable
Smoking - Cancer – Age or extent of Daily Exercise
Ability to study Vs. gender or religion
Education level (high mid low Vs no. of years and grades)
Age Vs. Country

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Each research is different; how to choose which
variables to be measured and for what purpose?
• According to research problem, objectives, and questions
you design the Analytical Framework
• It guide you through the generation and analysis of data
• It assure the relevance of the empirical study to the
theoretical and conceptual frameworks

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1. Define the variables to be measured
2. The cases to be analyzed (dataset selection)
3. The type of data you need to collect
4. Data collection methods
5. The tools for analyzing the collected data
6. Interpreting the results
7. Report on the whole process
How to develop an analytical framework?
Problem
QuestionsObjectives
ExpectedOutcome
(Hypothesis)

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Examples:
• Question: in what way the district in which the students
reside can affect their grades?
• Question: in what way smoking is contributing to death rates?
• Question: in what way the design of public spaces can change
the behavior of children?
• Question: in what way the level of globalization in a city is
affecting its level of socio-spatial segregation?
• …
• …

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1. Define the variables to be measured
2. The cases to be analyzed (dataset selection)
3. The type of data
4. Data collection methods
5. The tools for analysis
6. Interpreting the results
7. Report on the whole process
How to develop an analytical framework?
Problem
QuestionsObjectives
ExpectedOutcome
(Hypothesis)
Differ from
qualitative,
quantitative, &
mixed research

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What is a Hypothesis?
• A hypothesis is a prediction which expresses the expected
outcome in a given situation.
• It is generally more than just a speculation
• A hypothesis is a tentative statement of what you think you
are likely to find out in your research
• The hypothesis is usually a prediction of how the
manipulation of an independent variable (IV) will influence
the behaviour of a dependent variable (DV).
• They should carry clear implications for testing the stated
relations.

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• It must be testable.
• It should be consistent with the existing body of
knowledge.
• It should be stated as simply and concisely as
possible.
• It should be tested and shown to be verified or not
verified, apart from the researcher’s own values and
opinions.
• Examples?
The usable hypothesis:

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Hypothesis testing:
The Null Hypothesis H0 The Alternative Hypothesis H1
A null hypothesis is a statement
that there is no actual
relationship between variables.
(HO or HN)
The final conclusion of the
investigator will either retain a
null hypothesis or reject a null
hypothesis in favor of a
alternative hypothesis.
An alternative hypothesis is a
statement that suggests a
potential outcome that the
researcher may expect. (H1 or HA)
It is established only when a null
hypothesis is rejected.
Often an alternative Hypothesis is
the desired conclusion of the
investigator.

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Hypothesis testing:
The Null Hypothesis H0 The Alternative Hypothesis H1
“There is no significant difference in
the anxiety level of children of High IQ
and those of low IQ.”
“The higher the city’s level in the global
network, the higher the level of spatial
segregation”
“a moon is made of cheese”
“Children with high IQ will exhibit more
anxiety than children with low IQ”
“there is no relation between a city’s
level in the global network and the level
of spatial segregation
“a moon is made of rocks and minerals”
Examples?

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Hypothesis testing:
• Not rejecting Ho does not really mean that Ho is true. There
might not be enough evidence against Ho.
• H1 could be directional that specifies the direction of expected
findings (Children with high IQ will exhibit more anxiety than
children with low IQ)
•H1 could be non-directional in which no definite direction of
the expected findings is specified (There is a difference in the
anxiety level of the children of high IQ and those of low IQ).

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To sum up
Intro Conclusions
Lit review
(theoretical framework)
Data and Method
(Analytical framework)
Conducting the analytical
study (findings)
Decisions on
hypothesis
Results and its
interpretation
Theories and
background
Problem – question
- objectives
Data types and tools
(justifications)

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How do you expect to develop your own research?

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Thank You