research objectives, questions hypothesis

8/3/2019 Research Objectives, Questions Hypothesis

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Research Objectives,Questions and Hypothesis

Presented

By

Innocent Nuwagaba0782929024

[email protected]


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Research Objectives andResearch Questions

What are research objectives?

Fine statements that show what is to

be achieved by the study (outcomes)

Conceptualisation of the relationshipbetween variables which define theparameters of the problem.


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Research objectives

The objectives of a research projectsummarise what is to be achieved bythe study.

Objectives should be closely relatedto the statement of the problem.

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Research objectives

Two types of objectives

General objective

Specific objectives

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Research objectives

General objective

Derive from the title of the study

Overall purpose of study Only one

Express the main study variables

States what researcher(s) expect toachieve by the study in general terms

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Research objectives

General objective

Example

To explore to what extent theconsumption of potent liquor affectsthe health of the rural male poor

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Research objectives

Specific objectives

Should systematically address the

various aspects of the problem asdefined under Statement of theProblem and the key factors that areassumed to influence or cause the

problem

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Research objectives

Why should research objectives bedeveloped?

Focus the study (narrowing it down toessentials);

Avoid the collection of data which arenot necessary for understanding and

solving the problem; Organise the study in clearly defined

parts or phases.

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Research objectives

Why develop research objectives?

specific objectives will facilitate thedevelopment of your research

methodology and will help to orient thecollection, analysis, interpretation andutilisation of data.

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Research objectives

How should you state your specificobjectives?

Ensure that the objectives of your study:

Cover the different aspects of theproblem and its contributing factorsin a coherent and in a logical

sequence;

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Research objectives

How to state research objectivescont.

Are realistic considering researchconditions and;

Use action verbs that are specific enoughto be evaluated.

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Research objectives

How to state research objectives

Samples of active verbs

Analyse; Evaluate; Explain ;Clarify;Verify;Calculate;Identify; Establish;Compare; Describe; Relate;Demonstrate; Discuss; Illustrate.

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Research objectivesWell written i.e. concise and clear

Begin with the most important ones

e.g.

To identify the factors contributing toconsumption of potent gin...

To determine the relationship between

consumption of potent gin and heath... To find out the level of consumption of

potent gin...

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Research questions

Another way of stating and specifyingyour problem

Research questions and researchobjectives are the two sides of thesame coin

Questions can be derived from the

objectives and vice versa

Related to hypotheses

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Research questions andobjectives

Illustration

General research objective:-

To explore to what extent the consumptionof potent liquor affects the health of therural male poor of

Overall research question:-

To what extent does consumption ofpotent liquor affect of male rural poor of?

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Research questions andobjectives

Specific objective:-

To identify the factors contributing toconsumption of potent gin

Specific question:-

What are the contributing factors toconsumption of potent gin among male

rural poor of...?

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Research questions

Specific objective

To determine the relationship betweenconsumption of potent gin and heath of

male rural poor of...

Specific question

What is the relationship between

consumption of gin and health ofmale rural poor of?

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Research questions

From these questions researchhypotheses can be stated

Exercise Go through the slides on research

objectives, research questions andhypotheses

Using the illustration on objectivesand questions do the following:

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Exercise

1.Add third specific objective

2.State one proposition hypothesis for

each objective3.Develop one directional hypothesis for

each objective

4.Develop non-directional hypothesis foreach objective

5.For each objective state the null andalternate hypotheses

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Hypotheses

An hypothesis is an educated guessabout a problem solution. It can bedefined as a logically conjecturedrelationship between two or morevariables expressed in the form oftestable statements.

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Hypotheses

Hypotheses link variables, typicallyindependent, intervening, and dependentvariables in causal assertions.

An hypothesis may describe whether there is arelationship, no relationship predicted at all,the causal direction of the relationship, themechanics (how) of the relationship, and mayeven specify the form of the relationship.

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Hypotheses

A Conceptual hypothesis links at leasttwo conceptual variables. Typically,this is stated in some type of causeand effect manner.

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Exercise will reduce levels of"state ofanxiety."

Independentvariable direction ofeffect Dependentvariable


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Hypotheses

An Operational Hypothesis links atleast two operational variables.Again, some type of cause and effectis usually present in the hypothesis

Example: Children with anencyclopedia in their home will

achieve higher scores on intelligenceTests.

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Hypotheses

Null Hypotheses (0)

A null hypothesis is precisely stated

A null hypothesis will assert that: There is no relationship among two or

more variables (Example: the correlationbetween educational level and income is

zero)

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Hypotheses

Null hypotheses cont.

Or that two or more populations orsubpopulations are essentially the same

(Example: women and men have thesame average science knowledge scores.

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Hypotheses

Null hypotheses cont

For example, to rewrite the

conceptual and operationalhypotheses above in null form, wehave:

Having an encyclopedia in the home

has no effect on children's scores onthe Intelligence Tests

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Hypotheses

There is no relationship between anexternal threat and team cohesiveness.

Null hypotheses are basically

"directionless.

If the null hypothesis is rejected,typically an alternative hypothesis

(usually styled HA:) is accepted.

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Hypotheses

Alternative hypotheses

Typically the alternative hypothesiswill assert

that a relationship among two or morevariables exists or that two or moresubpopulations differ in some respect.

a direction to the relationship (e.g.,external threat raises team cohesion)may be specified.

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Hypotheses

Formats of hypotheses

Statements and propositions

If then-statements

Hypotheses can be set as eitherprepositions or in the form of if the statements

Example: (i) Proposition:

Employees who are more healthy willtake leave less frequently.


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Hypotheses

Example (ii) if then statements

If employees are more healthy, thenthey will take leave less frequently.

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Hypotheses


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Hypotheses

Directional and non-directional hypotheses

If when stating a relationship between twovariable or comparing two groups, terms

such as positive, negative, morethan and the like are used, then thesehypotheses are directional Example

Women are more motivated than men.

The greater the stress experienced inthe job, the lower the job satisfaction.


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Hypotheses

On the other hand, Non-directionalhypotheses are those thatpostulate a relationship ordifference, but offer not indicationof the direction of theserelationships or differences.

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Hypotheses

Examples

There is relationship betweenage and job satisfaction

There is a difference betweenthe work ethics of African andAsian employees.


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QUESTIONS

1.What is research?

2.Why do we carry out research? 3.Outline the basic steps in

research?Why is the process cyclic?

Distinguish between basic andapplied research. Which one wouldyou prefer?


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Questions

5.What are different types of appliedresearch?

6.Explain the following terms:

Epistemology

Ontology

Positivism

interpretivism


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Questions

6.

Deductive vs. deductive

Qualitative vs. Quantitative

7.What is the difference between aresearch problem and a researchquestion?


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Questions

8. What is the purpose ofresearch objectives?

9.Explain and illustrate the following:

Independent variable

Dependent variable

Moderating variable

Intervening variable


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QUESTIONS

10.

(a)What is a hypothesis?

(b)In how many different format can youwrite a hypothesis? Illustrate.

(c)What is the relationship between ahypotheses and variables?

11.What is a theoretical framework?


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QUESTIONS

12.Ethical consideration are barriersto good research . Critically commenton this statement.

13.

(a)What are research designs?

(b)Differentiate between experimental and

non-experimental designs


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Questions

14.What are the strengths andweaknesses of longitudinal designsover cross-sectional designs?

15.What are the advantages ofinterviews over observation asmethods of data collection?

16.Compare interview with mailmethod of data collection


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Questions

17. What would you consider asthe advantages and disadvantages ofthe questionnaire as a tool of data

collection? 18.What are the different levels of

measuring variables?

19.Describe the different types ofsampling

20.Differentiate between validity andreliability


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References:

These notes are adopted from:

Neumaon, W.L. (2003) SocialResearch Methods, Allen and Bedcon,London

Sekaran, U. (2003) Research Methodsfor Business: A skills Building

Approach, John Wileyd Sons, Illinois

research objectives, questions hypothesis

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