Research Questions-Hypotheses-Objectives Dr M Ilyas Khan Hazara University.pptx

RESEARCH QUESTIONS,
HYPOTHESES, OBJECTIVES
-----
An Introduction
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan,
Department of Education,
Hazara University Mansehra
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMuhammadIlyasKhanReflections/videos
drmuhammadilyaskhan7@gmail.com

Research Questions-Hypotheses-Objectives
RESEARCH
TOPIC
Research
Questions
Research
Hypotheses
Research
Objectives
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan Email:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMuham
madIlyasKhanReflections/videos

Research Questions: What?
• A research question is a broader question around
which a whole research project or a significant part
of the project/study revolves.
• In other words, the primary aim of the research
project/study is to explores possible answers to the
research question(s).
• Plays the role of a pivot in the research process.
• There may be one or more than one research
questions depending on the aims of the study.
• Example: What are the causes and consequences of
bullying in schools?
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan Email: drmuhammadilyaskhan7@gmail.com

Research Questions: Why?
• Why do we need to have research questions in our
research studies?
• A research process generally begins with a question
or questions.
• Research is a process of finding answers to our ‘what,
why, how, when, where’ questions regarding social
or natural phenomena.
• Research questions give focus and direction to the
research process.
• Achievement of research objectives often depends
on finding answers to our research questions
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMuhamm
adIlyasKhanReflections/videos

Research Questions: How?
• Different types of research questions will depend on the
type of research being conducted
• Descriptive, exploratory studies will have questions that
focus on exploring and describing social phenomena
• Example: What are schoolteachers’ perceptions about
effective strategies for classroom management?
• Correlational studies will have questions that focus on
identifying relationships between variables
• Example: What is the relationship between teachers’
teaching methodology and students’ attention in the
class?
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan
Email: drmuhammadilyaskhan7@gmail.com

• Causal/Experimental studies may generally have
research questions that aim at determining causes of
effects.
• In other words, such questions are asked to determine
cause-effect relationships.
• Example: What is the effect of Direct Method of
teaching English on students learning?
• Conclusion: The type and number of research
questions will depend on the nature and type of
research topics and objectives.

• How to develop good research questions?
• Reflection on personal experiences, observations
• Reading, reading, reading (Multiple sources-Depth
and breadth)
• Reflection on your reading/Critical reading
• Discussion with colleagues, teachers, supervisors
• Drafting initial questions
• Reflecting and refining
• Focusing and pruning
• Peer review/feedback
• Finalising
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMuhammadIlyasKhanReflections/vi
deos

Research Hypothesis: What?
• Hypothesis: A tentative explanation, prediction or proposition
formulated for testing/exploring empirically.
• Research Hypotheses are generally based on assumed
relationships between variables in a research study.
• In other words, hypotheses state the assumed relationship
between independent and dependent variables before the
actual existence or otherwise of this relationship is empirically
established in a research study. Also called educated guess.
• Examples:
• Socio-economic status of students affects their self-esteem
• There is significant relationship between teachers’ teaching
style and students’ classroom participation.

Research Hypothesis: What?
• Hypotheses could be accepted or rejected once
empirical studies have been conducted.
• Acceptance or rejection of research hypotheses have
no bearing on the value of the research project.
• Good hypotheses should indicate relationship
between variables clearly.
• Good hypotheses should be presented in precise
language.
• Good hypotheses should be representative of the
research objectives.
• Should be testable empirically.
Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan
Email:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMuhamm
adIlyasKhanReflections/videos

Research Hypothesis: Why?
• Gives direction and focus to the research process
• Generally, requires the researcher to do sufficient
reading and reflection around the topic before
formulating and refining hypotheses.
• Gives tentative answers to our research questions.
• Helps in giving direction to the process of data
collection, analysis and interpretation.

Research Hypothesis: How?
Process
• Initial research question(s).
• Reading/literature review.
• Formulation of hypothes(is/es).
• Refinement of hypotheses: Reflection, discussion,
peer review.
• Needs to be accepted or rejected as consequence of
the research process.

Research Hypothesis: How?/Types
• Descriptive Hypotheses: Hypotheses that state the existing
state or form or nature of something.
Example: Corporal punishment is prevalent in schools.
Relational Hypotheses: Hypotheses that state relationship or
causation between variables.
Example (Correlation): Female students' academic
achievement is better in social science subjects than male
students.
Example (Causation): Parental involvement enhances
students' academic achievement. Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Khan Email:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMuhammadIlyasKhanR
eflections/videos

Simple Hypothesis
• A hypothesis based on the relationship (cause-effect)
of two variables: an independent variable and a
dependent variable.
• Example: Corporal punishment affects the mental
health of students.
Complex Hypothesis
• Relationships (cause-effect) among multiple variables
(independent and dependent).
• Example: Corporal punishment affects the mental
health of students which results in the poor academic
performance.

• Null Hypothesis
• This type of hypothesis assumes that there is no
significant relation between variables (DV and IV) or
that change in one variable (DV) is not the EFFECT of
another variable (IV).
• Denoted by H0.
• Example: Corporal punishment does not affect the
mental health of students OR There is no significant
relationship between corporal punishment and
students’ mental health.

Research Hypothesis: How?
• Alternative Hypothesis
• This type of hypothesis assumes that there is significant
relationship between variables (DV and IV) or that one variable
(DV) is the CONSEQUENCE of another variable (IV).
• Denoted by H1.
• Examples:
(Non-directional) :
• There is significant relationship between corporal punishment
and mental health of students.
• Corporal punishment affects students’ mental health.
• (Directional):
• There is significantly positive relationship between corporal
punishment and mental health of students.
• Corporal punishment negatively affects students’ mental health.

Research Objectives: What?
• Generally research studies in social sciences are
undertaken in response to one or more central
RESEARCH QUESTIONS or RESEARCH HYPOTHESES.
• Research Objectives are actually formulated in order to
explore possible answers to the central research
questions or to accept or reject research hypotheses.
• So Research Objectives are achieved when the
research process results in finding possible answers to
the research question(s) or in the acceptance or
rejection of our research hypotheses.
https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMuhamma
dIlyasKhanReflections/videos

Research Objectives: Why?
Why do we need research objectives?
• Give clear direction to the research process
• Focus the study
• Bring in objectivity to the research process
• Help in specifying research design: Sample, data
collection, analysis
• Help in organizing discussion, analysis, interpretation and
conclusion of the study

Research Objectives: How?
How to formulate research objectives?
• Represent the research topic/Research Questions
• Research Gap identification
• Critical analysis of the existing knowledge and
knowledge gap
• Peer review
• Time and resources available
• Clarity and focus-Language and presentation
• Achievable and focused

Research Objectives: How?
• To compare teacher education programmes in Pakistan and
the UK (Too broad, lack focus)
• To compare initial teacher education programmes in
Pakistan and the UK (Quite broad, lacks focus)
• To compare initial teacher education programmes in
Pakistan and the UK in terms of theory-practice balance
(Better focused)
• This could be further focused or sub-divided into finer
objectives or focused on particular programmes/courses
inside ITE programmes

Research Questions-Hypotheses-Objectives Dr M Ilyas Khan Hazara University.pptx

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