This document provides guidelines for developing research questions and hypotheses for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies. For qualitative research, questions should be broad and open-ended using words like "what" or "how". They focus on a single phenomenon and allow participants to explain their ideas. Quantitative research questions inquire about relationships between variables, while hypotheses predict relationships and can be null or directional. Mixed methods studies include both quantitative and qualitative questions as well as an overarching question on integrating the two approaches.

1. Research questions & hypotheses
SET BY :
ZAHRA AAMIR
Qualitative ,Quantitative and mixed methods

2. In this approach ,the inquirers present research question which
assumes two forms :
The central question ,and associated sub-questions
Qualitative research questions

3. Qualitative research questions
The central question is a broad question( that asks for an exploration of
the central phenomenon or concept in a study,(such as how ,what as will as
to the exploratory verb like explore or describe.
Then they pose the broad question (support that with methodology of
qualitative research) to allow the participants to explain their ideas

4. Guideline for writing broad, qualitative questions
1-Ask one or two central questions followed by no more than five to
seven sub-questions.
2- Related the central question to the specific qualitative strategy
of inquiry.
3- Begin the research questions with the words what or how to
convey an open and emerging design.
4- Focus on single phenomenon or concept

5. Guideline for writing broad, qualitative questions
5- Use exploratory verbs that convey the language of emerging design.
these verbs tell the reader that the study will
(a) Discover (e.g. ground study)
(b) Seek to understand (e.g. ethnography)
(c) Explore a process ( e.g. case study)
(d) Describe the experience ( e.g. phenomenology)
(e) Report the stories ( e.g. narrative research)

6. Guideline for writing broad, qualitative questions
6- Use exploratory verbs that are no directional rather than direct that
suggest quantitative research such affect ,influence ,determine ,relate.
7- Expect the research questions to develop and change during the study in a
manner consistent with the assumption of an emerging design.

7. Guideline for writing broad, qualitative questions
8- Use open-ended questions without reference to the literature or theory
unless indicated by a qualitative strategy of inquiry
9- specify the participants and the research site for study, if the information
has not yet been given

8. Quantitative research questions and hypotheses
In quantitative studies, investigators use quantitative research
questions and hypotheses, and sometimes objectives, to shape
and specifically focus the purpose of the study.

9. Quantitative research questions and hypotheses
Quantitative research questions inquire about the relationships
among variables that the investigator seeks to know. They are
used frequently in social science research and especially in
survey studies.

10. Quantitative research questions and hypotheses
Quantitative hypotheses, are predictions the researcher makes about the expected
relationships among variables. They are numeric estimates of population values
based on data collected from samples. Testing of hypotheses employs statistical
procedures in which the investigator draws inferences about the population from a
study sample.

11. Quantitative research questions and hypotheses
Hypotheses are used often in experiments in which investigators
compare groups. Advisers often recommend their use in a formal
research project.

12. Guidelines for writing good quantitative research questions and
hypotheses include the following
1-The use of variables in research questions or hypotheses is limited to
three basic approaches:
(a)- Compare groups on an independent variable to see its affect on
dependent variable
(b)- Related one or more independent variables to one or more
dependent variables.
(c)- Describe responses to independent, or dependent variables

13. Guidelines for writing good quantitative research questions and
hypotheses include the following
2- The most rigorous form of quantitative research follows from a test of
a theory and the specification of research questions or hypotheses that
are included in the theory.

14. Guidelines for writing good quantitative research questions and
hypotheses include the following
3- The independent and dependent variables must be measured separately.
This procedure reinforces the cause-and-effect logic of quantitative research.
4- Write only research questions or hypotheses, not both, unless the
hypotheses build on the research questions.

15. Guidelines for writing good quantitative research questions and
hypotheses include the following
There are two forms when hypotheses are use
(a)-Null hypotheses which represents the traditional approach, it makes a
prediction that no relation or significant difference exists between group on
a variable.
(b)-Alternative/Directional hypotheses, the investigator makes a
prediction about the expected outcome, basing on prior literature
and studies on the topic that suggest a potential outcome.

16. Guidelines for writing good quantitative research questions and
hypotheses include the following
6- Another type of alternative hypothesis is nondirectional that is
a prediction is made, but the exact form of differences
(e.g., higher. lower, more, less) is not specified because the researcher does not
know what can be predicted from past literature.

17. Guidelines for writing good quantitative research questions and
hypotheses include the following
7- The second form, popular in journal articles. is the alternative or directional
hypothesis, The investigator makes a prediction about the expected outcome,
basing this prediction on prior literature and studies on the topic that suggest a
potential outcome.

18. Guidelines for writing good quantitative research questions and
hypotheses include the following
8- Unless the study intentionally employs demographic variables as predictors, use
non demographic variables (i.e., attitudes or behaviors) as independent and
dependent variables. Because quantitative studies attempt to verify theories.

19. Mixed methods research questions and hypotheses
The mixed methods research question study relies on neither quantitative or
qualitative research alone, but on some combination of the two to provides the
best information for the research questions and hypotheses.

20. Mixed methods research questions and hypotheses
1-Both quantitative and qualitative research questions need to be advanced in
mixed methods study in order to narrow and focus the purpose statement.
2-Some attention should be given to the order of the research questions and
hypotheses, the first phase questions would come first ,followed by second phase,
so that readers see them in order in which they be addressed in the proposed
study

21. Mixed methods research questions and hypotheses
3- Include a mixed methods research question that directly addresses the mixing
of the quantitative and qualitative. This is the question will be answered in the
study based on the mixing , this new methods call a hybrid or integrated
question.

22. Qualitative researchers ask at least one center question and several sub-questions
.They begin the questions with words such as how or what and use exploratory
verbs ,such as explore or describe .they posed broad general questions to allow
the participants to explain their ideas .They also focus on one central
phenomenon of interest.
Summary…