Research Problems and Hypotheses “A research problem is a discrepancy between what one knows and ought to know to solve a nursing problem”.

Sources of Research Problems Experience Technology New roles of the nurse Nursing Literature Theories

EXPERIENCE GRIPE PROFESSIONAL WISHES CURIOSITY NEW PERSON/EXPERIENCE

Monitoring Information technology

EXPANDING ROLES Nurse practitioners Community and home health nursing Advocate, teacher, counselor, etc.

LITERATURE Research Reports

Gaps in the literature There may be areas , as revealed by a dearth of available literature on the topic that remain unexplored

REPLICATION No study can stand by itself, must be replicated for confidence in the results

Every research report suggests areas for continued study SUGGESTED STUDIES Every research report suggests areas for continued study

Two studies on the same variables may produce different outcomes INCONSISTENCIES Two studies on the same variables may produce different outcomes

THEORIES Must be tested in the real world through the formulation of research problems and hypotheses

CRITERIA FOR A “good” RESEARCH PROBLEM 1. INTERESTING? 2. RESEARCHABLE? 3. FEASIBLE? PRACTICABLE? 4. SIGNIFICANT? 5. NURSING?

Interesting This is a subjective criteria, the study must only be interesting to the person doing the study

Researchable Variables should be precisely defined and measured and lead to an answer to the question NB: “SHOULDNESS AND GOODNESS” questions not researchable

Feasible/Practicable Can the study be done by the researcher? Time? Place? Money? Equipment? Subjects? Instruments to measure variables?

Significant Will the results make a difference that matters to the profession? Make a difference in patient care? Add to professional practice knowledge? Related to more general conceptual issues? Is it an instance of a larger class of events? Does it help support or build theory?

Nursing Does nursing have access to or control over phenomenon in question--or is it reasonable to think that they will? (this is defined broadly)

Developing and Refining Research Problem Define a specific problem area Review the relevant literature Examine the significance to nursing Examine the feasibility

Defining the Problem Areas Begin with broad topic area and narrow it down Focus on the dependent variable

A first Review of the Literature Define the problem in the context of the state of knowledge in the subject area

Significance Contributes to and extends the body of scientific nursing knowledge

Feasibility This must be pragmatically examined by the researcher in light of her own available expertise and resources

RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENTS AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE IDENTIFY KEY VARIABLES SPECIFY NATURE OF POPULATION SUGGEST METHODOLOGY NARROW/SPECIFIC DECLARATIVE or INTERROGATIVE

Declaritive The purpose of this study is to……………… The relationship between X and Y will be examined

Interrogative What is the relationship between X and Y?

HYPOTHESIS tentative prediction or explanation about the relationship between variables Emanates from the ROL

Hypotheses SIMPLE or COMPLEX (multivariate) DIRECTIONAL or NONDIRECTIONAL

PURPOSES of HYPOTHESES GUIDES INQUIRY BY: UNIFYING THEORY AND REALITY EXTENDS KNOWLEDGE GIVES DIRECTION TO RESEARCH

CHARACTERISTICS of a good hypothesis SPECIFIES RELATIONSHIP TESTABLE JUSTIFIABLE CONCISE

Research Hypothesis Indicates what the actual outcome of the study is expected to be Supported when the researcher obtains a statistically significant finding

Statistical or Null Hypothesis States “There is no relationship between the dependent and independent variables” Failure to reject the null hypothesis implies that there is insufficient evidence to support the idea of a real difference in the dependent variable

Type I error The rejection of a null hypothesis that is actually true--or saying a treatment works when it does not.

Type II error The acceptance of a null hypothesis that is actually false, or saying a treatment doesn’t work when it really does.

Level of Significance=p Set by the researcher in consideration of the seriousness of the consequences of making a mistake in accepting a “false” research hypothesis

LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE .05---FIVE CHANCES IN 100 OF MAKING A MISTAKE IN ACCEPTING RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS (when it is actually “false”) (TYPE I ERROR MORE LIKELY)

LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE .01---ONE CHANCE IN 100 OF MAKING A MISTAKE IN ACCEPTING THE RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS (when it is actually “false”)

LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE .001--ONE CHANCE IN 1000 OF MAKING A MISTAKE IN ACCEPTING RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS (TYPE II ERROR MORE LIKELY)