7. Research Questions and Hypotheses

7/28/2019 7. Research Questions and Hypotheses

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Research QuestionsHypothesis Formulation


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Research Questions Hypotheses

Propositions


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Features of Good Research Questions

Having a good idea for research is not enough. You must translatethat idea into good research questions.

Researching a question imposes demands on a researchers timeand resource. The resources should not be expended to answertrivial questions.

Asking Answerable Questions

Frame specific questions that can be answered throughapplication of scientific research methods.

Asking the Right QuestionsAsk empirical questions that can be answered by objectiveobservation.

Asking Important Questions

A question is important if answering it will clarify relationshipsamon variables known to affect the s stem under stud .


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Examples of Research Questions

Management Dilemma:

Our sales are declining for the last few months.

Management Question:

What could we do to increase sales?

Research Questions:

What are the factors impacting sales?

What are the factors to be focused on to increase sales? What specific reforms can improve sales performance?

How does sales in this factory compare to industrynorms?


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HYPOTHESISWhat is Hypothesis?

A tentative explanation of the relationship between two

or more variables.

A logically conjectured relationship between two or morevariables.

An assumption about the research issue.

It is figuring out the solution to the problem before we

start.


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Sources of Hypothesis

There are two sources of hypothesis:

Observation Theory

Hypothesis


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Types of Hypothesis Descriptive

Correlational

Explanatory

Directional

Non-directional Null

Alternative


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Descriptive Hypothesis Descriptive hypothesis states the existence, size,

form, or nature of some variables.

The purpose is to encourage researchers tocrystallize their thinking about the likelyrelationships to be found.

There is not much difference between the

proposition and the descriptive hypothesis.


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Descriptive Hypothesis There is only one variable (dependent

variable) There is no independent variable.

It is only a partial picture.


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Relational HypothesisCorrelational Hypothesis

This hypothesis suggests that the two variables are

connected. The variables occur together in some specified

manner. They co-vary.


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Explanatory (Causal) Hypothesis

This hypothesis states the implications or effects of variableon the other.

Causal relationships can be: Unidirectional Variable A influences variable B, but not vice

versa.

Bidirectional Each variable influences the other.

An increase in family income leads to an increase in thepercentage of income saved and vice versa.


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Directional and Non-directional

Directional (If-Then Statements)

This indicates the direction of the relationship between thevariables (positive, negative, more than, less than).


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Directional and Non-directional

Non-directional

This could be formulated either because the relationships or differences havenever been previously explored and hence there is no basis or clue forindicating the direction.

There have been conflicting findings in previous research studies on thevariables.

Hence, the current researcher might only be able to hypothesize that therewould be a significant relationship but the direction may not be clear.


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Null and Alternative Hypotheses

Null Hypothesis (Statistical or Testing Hypothesis):

The null hypothesis is a neutral position.

The population correlation between two variables is equal to zeroor that the mean difference in the two groups in the populationis equal to zero.

In general, the null hypothesis is expressed as no (significant)relationship, or no (significant) difference between the variables.

Alternative Hypothesis: The alternative hypothesis is the opposite of the null.

It is a statement expressing a relationship between two variablesor indicating difference between groups.


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What are the Features (Criteria) of

Good Hypotheses? Hypothesis should be clearly and precisely stated. There

should be no ambiguity in the variables. Hypothesis should be testable empirically. It is useless if it

cannot be tested empirically. Hypothesis should state the expected (articulated)

relationship between the variables. Hypothesis should be limited in scope.

Hypothesis should state the conditions and circumstancesunder which it is supposed to apply. The context and studyunits must be clear.

Hypothesis should be consistent with most known facts. Hypothesis should suggest the research design likely to be

most appropriate.

7. Research Questions and Hypotheses

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