The document discusses the formulation of research problems, questions, and hypotheses in nursing studies, aiming to equip students with the ability to critique and differentiate various types of research inquiries. It outlines the definitions and examples of research questions, objectives, and hypotheses, emphasizing their roles in both quantitative and qualitative research. Additionally, it highlights the importance of clear and concise language in formulating research hypotheses.

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Research Problem, Question and
Hypothesis
By Maria Faiz
Nursing Lecturer GCON

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Objectives
• By the end of today’s session, the
students will be able to:
• Discuss the formulation of research objectives
and questions.
• Differentiate among the different types of
hypotheses.
• Critique the quality of questions and hypotheses
formulated to direct nursing studies.

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Research Questions
Definition: Research questions are
interrogative statements that focus on
what variables or concepts are to be
described and what relationships
might exist among them.

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Research Questions
• Research questions are, in some cases, direct
rewordings of statements of purpose, phrased
interrogatively rather than declaratively, as in
the following
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Example:
• The purpose of this study is to assess the
relationship between the dependency
level of renal transplant recipients and
their rate of recovery.
• What is the relationship between the
dependency level of renal transplant
recipients and their rate of recovery?
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What is the relationship of anxiety
and compliance with medications and
follow-up appointments for patients
following cardiac surgery?
Research Questions

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Research Questions
• In quantitative studies, research questions
identify the key variables (especially the
independent and dependent variables), the
relationships among them, and the population
under study.
▫ Does epidural anesthesia affect maternal
temperature?
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Research Questions
• The qualitative researchers tend to ask mean,
process or descriptive questions
▫ What is the lived experience of caring for a
family member with Alzheimer’s disease at
home?
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Research Objectives
Definition: Objectives are
declarative statements which focus on
the identification and the description
of variables or concepts and
sometimes on determination of
relationships of variables.

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Research Objectives
The objectives of “this study were to: (a)
describe the self-reported physical &
mental health, disability level, & social
support of persons chronically ill with
multiple sclerosis; and (b) contrast rural &
urban residents in relation to health
description, social support, & perception of
health.”

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What are hypotheses?
Definition:
Formal statement of the expected
relationships among variables.

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Hypothesis Cont…
• “A hypotheses is a formal statement of the
expected relationship (s) between two or more
variables in a specified population”.
• A hypothesis is a prediction about the
relationship between two or more variables.

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Cont…
• A good hypothesis is worded in simple, clear,
and concise language.
• it should be specific enough so that readers
understand what the variables are and whom
researchers will be studying

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Reference
• Burns, N. & Grove, S. K. (2007). Understanding
nursing research. (4th ed.). Philadelphia: W.B.
Saunders.
• Polit, B.F & Beck, C.T (2003). Nursing research:
principles and methods, (ed. 7th
). Lippincott William
& Wilkins
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