l6 formulation of research objectives, questions, & hypothes

Formulation of Research Objectives, Research Questions,

and Research Hypothesis

Ewnetu firdawek

Learning Objectives

At the end of this session the student will be able to:

• Develop research objectives,quistions and hypothesis of different forms

Objectives

• A research objective summarize what is to be achieved by the study.

Objectives

• Research objectives are usually classified into general objectives and specific objectives.

• General objective:– summarizes what is to be achieved by the study– should be clearly related to the statement of theproblem

• Specific objectives:– are logically connected parts of the general objective-Use action verbs such as:

-determine -verify -identify-describe - assess - compare– calculate - establish -explore

Importance of developing objectives

• Focus the study

• Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly necessary

• Properly formulated specific objectives facilitate the development of research methodology and help to orient the collection, analysis, interpretation and utilization of data.

• Helps for evaluating the project

What formats can be used for stating research objectives?

Research objectives can be stated as:

A)Questions: “The objectives of this study are to answer the following questions …”

B) Positive sentence: “The objectives of this study are to determine …”

C) Hypothesis: “The objective of this study is to verify the following hypothesis...”

What formats cont…

• The format chosen depends on the type of study that will be undertaken.

• If the study is descriptive or exploratory in nature, then objectives are stated in the form of questions or positive sentences.

• If the researcher knows enough to make predictions concerning what s/he is studying, then hypotheses may be proposed.

research questions Vs hypotheses

In order to develop the research design, the research topic often has to be changed to a research question or hypothesis

Research questions

Research questions: formulated when insight into the problem being studied is not sufficient.

• A research question is the general question that guides the direction of the research. It defines the relationship between what you want to know and how you intend to obtain this knowledge through research

• Eg of research question. 1.Does post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy predispose women to develop endometrial cancer?

Research questions…

• A good question includes the following elements:-– The patient or client in question (the Problem)– The Intervention (or exposure) being considered – A Comparison - an alternative intervention or

group– The Outcome of interest

• This format (PICO) does not fit with all questions


Example 2: Imagine you are a member of National Cigarette Smoking Cessation Group.

• One issue that the group considers is nicotine replacement therapy for people who want to stop smoking.

• The other group says advising people to stop smoking will suffice.

• The debate continued but they couldn’t agree.• Formulate a research question for the above

problem


Answer

Problem Intervention Comparison Outcome

For smokers who want to give up smoking,

does nicotine replacement therapy,

when compared with individuals relying on advice only,

increase their chance of giving up smoking?


• Example 3:are the children born to women whose husbands smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day, of lower birth weight than children born to women whose husbands do not smoke?

Research hypothesis

• Explicit hypothesis: requires sufficient knowledge of the problem to be able to predict relationships among factors which then can be explicitly tested.

• A hypothesis is an inference or speculation that is indicative of the researcher's best estimation of the projected results of the research

Research hypothesis …

• The hypothesis is based on an understanding of the subject under consideration and requires the researcher to apply reasoning skills in order to make a best guess about the topic to be studied

• It is not necessary for hypotheses to always be correct; the results of research are intended to support or refute the hypothesis generated by the researcher


• The whole point of the research is to test against the hypothesis in order to generate new knowledge


• E.g.1 Post-menopausal women who received hormone replacement therapy are more likely to develop endometrial cancer than post-menopausal women who did not receive such therapy


• E.g.2 children born to women whose husbands smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day are of lower birth weight than children born to a women whose husbands do not smoke.

l6 formulation of research objectives, questions, & hypothes

Health & Medicine