1. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition Chapter 5 Specifying a Purpose and Research Questions or Hypotheses

2. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.2 By the end of this chapter, you should be able to: Distinguish among purpose statements, research questions, hypotheses, and objectives Define the nature of a variable and the types of variables in quantitative research Define a theory and its test using variables Write quantitative purpose statements, research questions, and hypotheses Identify similarities and differences between quantitative and qualitative purpose statements and research questions Define a central phenomenon in qualitative research Write qualitative purpose statements and research questions

3. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.3 Purpose Statements, Research Questions, Hypotheses, and Objectives Purpose Statement Research Questions Hypotheses Research Objectives Overall direction Intent Form Use Placement One or more sentences Quantitative and qualitative research End of introduction Raise questions to be answered One or more questions Quantitative and qualitative research End of the introduction, after the literature review, or in a separate section of the study Make predictions about expectations One or more statements Quantitative research One or more objectives Typically quantitative research State goals

4. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.4 Why These Statements and Questions Are Important Represent major signposts Help identify appropriate methods Help link intent with the results

5. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.5 What We Need to Know to Design Quantitative Purpose Statements, Research Questions, and Hypotheses What is a variable? What is a theory? What elements go into these statements and questions?

6. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.6 What Is a Variable? A Variable (A Characteristic or Attribute) That can be and Measured (Can be assessed on an instrument and recorded on an instrument) Varies (Can assume different values or scores for different individuals)

7. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.7 Examples of Variables and Nonvariables Variables Leadership style Organizational control Autism Difficult, but possibly measurable, variables Socialization Imagination Intuition Discrimination Almost impossible to measure variables Subconscious thoughts World poverty Stereotypes

8. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.8 Categorical and Continuous Measures of Variables A categorical measure is a value of a variable assigned by the researcher into a small number of categories. (e.g., gender) A continuous measure is the value of a variable assigned by the researcher to a point along a continuum of scores, from low to high. (e.g., age)

9. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.9 Variables and Constructs A variable is an attribute or characteristic stated in a specific or applied way. A construct is an attribute or characteristic expressed in an abstract, general way. Construct Student Achievement Variable Grade Point Average

10. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.10 Families of Variables in Quantitative Studies Probable Cause (X) Effect Independent Variables Treatment Measured Intervening Variables Dependent Variables Control Variables Moderating Variables Confounding Variables (Y) (Z)

11. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.11 Family of Variables Dependent variables: An attribute or characteristic influenced by the independent variable. –The outcome –The effect –The criterion –The consequences

12. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.12 Family of Variables (cont’d) Independent variable: An attribute or characteristic that influences or affects an outcome or dependent variable –Treatment variable –Measured variable –Control variable –Moderating variable

13. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.13 Intervening Variables Intervening variables (mediating variables): An attribute or characteristic that “stands between” the dependent and independent variables

14. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.14 Example of an Intervening Variable Independent Variable Independent Variable Intervening Variable Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Dependent Variable Dependent Variable Example Convenient office hours for students Student seeks help from faculty Example Convenient office hours for students Convenient office hours for students Student seeks help from faculty Independent Variable Independent Variable Intervening Variable Student becomes willing to take risks Student becomes willing to take risks

15. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.15 Family of Variables Confounding variables (spurious variables): Attributes or characteristics that the researcher cannot directly measure because their effects cannot be easily separated from the other variables, even though they may influence the relationship between the independent and the dependent variable

16. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.16 Theories as Bridges Between Independent and Dependent Variables Independent Variables Dependent Variables

17. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.17 Different Types of Explanations in Quantitative Research Extensive Tests by Other Researchers Broad Abstractions No TestNarrow Application As a formal theory that is expressed by connected hypotheses and variables identified by authors As a conceptual framework often expressed as a visual model by other authors for relationship As a theoretical rationale posed by other authors based on studies for relationship An explanation posed by the author as a hunch for why the independent variable relates to the dependent variable

18. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.18 Elements of a Quantitative Purpose Statement A quantitative purpose statement identifies the variables, their relationship, and the participants and site for research Guidelines for writing –Use a single sentence –Use wording such as The purpose of this study... –If using a theory, state the theory you plan to test –Use quantitative words (e.g., “relate,” “compare,” “describe”) to describe the relationships between variables

19. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.19 Elements of quantitative purpose statement (cont’d) Guidelines for writing (cont’d) –Independent variable (1st position in sentence) –Dependent variable (2nd position in sentence) –Control and/or mediating variable (3rd position in sentence) –Research site –Participants

20. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.20 Quantitative Research Questions Types of quantitative research questions –Describe results of your variables –Compare two or more groups on the independent variable in terms of the dependent variable –Relate two or more variables Guidelines for writing –Pose a question –Begin with “how,” “what,” or “why” –Specify the independent, dependent, and mediating or control variables –Use the words describe, compare, or relate to indicate the action or connection among the variables –Indicate the participants and the research site for the study

21. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.21 Research hypotheses: Types Null hypothesis –No change in the dependent variable –Example: There will be no significant difference in test scores between fifth-grade boys and girls on the XYZ achievement test. Directional alternative hypothesis –Specifies the direction of the change in the dependent variable the researcher predicts will take place –Example: Fifth-grade girls will have higher scores on the XYZ achievement test than fifth-grade boys.

22. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.22 Research Hypotheses: Types (cont’d) Nondirectional alternative hypothesis –Does not specify the direction of the change in the dependent variable –Example: There will be a difference in test scores on the XYZ achievement test for fifth-grade boys and girls.

23. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.23 Research Hypotheses Guidelines for writing –State the variables in this order: independent (first position), dependent (second position), and control (third position) –When comparing, explicitly state the groups; if variables are related, specify the relationship between the variables –Make a prediction about changes you expect in your groups. –State information about the participants and the site unless it repeats information stated in your purpose statement

24. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.24 Designing Qualitative Purpose Statements and Research Questions Understand how these statements and questions differ from quantitative research Understand the role of a central phenomenon in qualitative research Understand qualitative research as an emerging process

25. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.25 Differences Between Quantitative and Qualitative Purpose Statements and Research Questions Quantitative—more closed 1. Probable cause/effect (“Why did it happen?”) Use of theories (“Why did it happen in view of an explanation or theory?”) Assess differences and magnitude (“How much happened?”) (“How many times did it happen?”) (“What were the differences among groups in what happened?”) Qualitative—more open-ended Descriptive (“What happened?”) Interpretive (“What was the meaning to people of what happened?”) Process-oriented (“What happened over time?”)

26. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.26 Explaining or Predicting Variables Versus Exploring or Understanding a Central Phenomenon Quantitative Explaining or Predicting Variables Qualitative Understanding or Exploring a Central Phenomenon X Y The independent variable (X) influences a dependent variable (Y) In-depth understanding of Y; external forces shape and are shaped by Y Y

27. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.27 Two Qualitative Research Considerations The focus of the research is around a central phenomenon which is an issue or a process the researcher would like to study. Qualitative research is built on an emerging design.

28. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.28 Elements of Qualitative Purpose Statement A single sentence A statement such as, “The purpose of this study” The central phenomenon A statement identifying the type of qualitative design Qualitative words (e.g., “explore,” “understand,” “discover”) The participants The research site

29. Copyright © 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 All rights reserved. John W. Creswell Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, third edition 5.29 Types of Qualitative Research Questions: Central question: The overarching question you explore in the research study Subquestions: Divides the central question into smaller, specific questions –Issue subquestions: Narrow the focus of the central question into specific issues –Procedural subquestions: Indicate the steps to be used in analyzing the data in a qualitative study Interview questions: Questions that are asked during your interview that are based on your subquestions and central question