Research problem, hypothesis & conceptual framework

RESEARCH PROBLEM, HYPOTHESIS & CONCEPTUAL

FRAME WORK

Meghana Sudhir

Introduction

Formulation of the research problem and developing hypothesis are key preliminary steps in the research process. A problem is a question posed for solutions.

Sources of problems

There are three main sources for locating a problem or topic.

They are

Experience : The nurses’ every day experience provides a rich supply of problems for investigations. For the beginning researchers in particular experience is often the most compelling source for topics.

Sources of problems:

Nursing literature: Ideal for research project;

often come from reading the nursing literature.

The beginning nurse researcher would project from

regularly reading the nursing research journal ;

may help the investigator to familiarize with the

wordings of research problems and active conduct

of research studies.

Sources of problems:Theory : The third major source of problems lies in the

theoretical system and conceptual schemes which have been

developed in nursing and other related disciplines. If a

researcher decides to base a research project exclusively on a

theory, deduction from the theory must be developed.

Example:

Levine’s (1969) conceptual frame work on nursing which

concerns conservation.

Seley’s (1956) theory of adaptations to stress.

Steps in Developing and Refining Research Problems

Selecting a topic

Narrowing the topic

Evaluating research problem

The development of a research problem is The development of a research problem is

essentially a creative process dependent essentially a creative process dependent

upon imagination, insight and ingenuity.upon imagination, insight and ingenuity.

Developing and Refining Developing and Refining Research ProblemsResearch Problems

Developing and Refining Research Problems

Researchers generally begin with an interest in some

broad topic area such as pain management, family

communication patterns, self-care patterns of elders or

management of urinary incontinence.

Developing and Refining Research Problems

Usually the research focuses on the dependent variable of the study, the variable that will be predicted or explained through its relationship to the independent variable.

Brainstorming with teachers, advisors Brainstorming with teachers, advisors or colleagues may provide valuable or colleagues may provide valuable feedback that helps the researcher to feedback that helps the researcher to focus on a specific problem area.focus on a specific problem area.

Criteria for Evaluating Research Problems

1. Significance of the problems

2. Researchability of the problem

3. Feasibility of the problem

• Time and timing

• Availability of subjects

• Cooperation of others

• Facility and equipment

• Money

• Experience of the researcher

• Ethical considerations

Statement of the Research Problems

Statement of the Research Problems

A good statement of the problems should serve as a guide to the researcher in the course of designing the study

The Statement should identify the key variables in the study, specify the nature of the population being studied and suggest the possibility of empirical testing.

The Final Problem Statement

A problem may be written in

Declarative form

or

Interrogative form.

Problem Statements in Declarative Form

Research focusResearch focus Problem statementProblem statement

Effect of relaxation on anxiety and Effect of relaxation on anxiety and dyspnea dyspnea

in patients with COPDin patients with COPD

Comparison of anxiety: Comparison of anxiety: Symptomatoloy among Cambodian Symptomatoloy among Cambodian

refugeerefugee adolescents before and after resettlement adolescents before and after resettlement

in in the United States the United States

Effect of heart transplantation onEffect of heart transplantation on psychosocial functioning psychosocial functioning

This study investigates the effect of This study investigates the effect of relaxation on anxiety and dyspnea in relaxation on anxiety and dyspnea in patients with COPD patients with COPD (Gift, Moore,& Soeken, 1992)(Gift, Moore,& Soeken, 1992)

Anxiety symtomatology in cambodian Anxiety symtomatology in cambodian refugee adolescents before and after refugee adolescents before and after settlement in the United States had been settlement in the United States had been compared (Mueck and Sasse, 1992)compared (Mueck and Sasse, 1992)

The study examines the effect of heart The study examines the effect of heart transplantation on psychosocial transplantation on psychosocial

functioningfunctioning (Bohachick et al., 1992) (Bohachick et al., 1992)

Problem Statement in Interrogative Form

Research focusResearch focus Problem statementProblem statement

Factors that influence adaptation of Factors that influence adaptation of preadolescents and adolescents with preadolescents and adolescents with diabetesdiabetes

Effect of group therapy on cognitiveEffect of group therapy on cognitive functioning and depression in elderlyfunctioning and depression in elderly nursing home residents nursing home residents

Spiritual health, coping responses, Spiritual health, coping responses, and devastating physical illness and devastating physical illness

What are the influences of age, copingWhat are the influences of age, coping behaviour and self care on psychological, behaviour and self care on psychological, social and physiological adaptation in social and physiological adaptation in preadolescents and adolescents with insulin preadolescents and adolescents with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Grey Camerondependent diabetes mellitus (Grey Cameron and Thurber 1992)and Thurber 1992)

What is the effect of group therapy on What is the effect of group therapy on cognitive functioning and depression in cognitive functioning and depression in elderly nursing home residents (Abrahamelderly nursing home residents (Abraham Neundorfer, Currie, 1992)Neundorfer, Currie, 1992)

What role does spiritual health play in the What role does spiritual health play in the coping responses of patients to devastating coping responses of patients to devastating physical illness (Mickley, Socken and belcherphysical illness (Mickley, Socken and belcher 1992 1992

Formulation of objectives

The purpose must always indicate the focus of the study.

It is specific but it may be more or less comprehensive,

the purpose must indicate exactly what the investigator

intends to do to answer the questions.

It should include how data are to be collected or what is

observed

and the setting of the study.

Statement of the problemExample

“A study to compare the knowledge and practice of post natal mothers regarding neonatal care from selected urban and rural settings of Bangalore”.

Objectives1. To assess the knowledge of postnatal mothers

regarding the neonatal care2. To describe the practices followed in their family

regarding neonatal care3. To determine the association between knowledge

and practices of neonatal care4. To determine association of knowledge with

selected variable5. To compare the knowledge and practice of

neonatal care between urban and rural mother

Clarifying the objectives

(a). Focus on objective one Knowledge of postnatal mothers

regarding neonatal care, breast feeding, cord care, prevention of infection and maintenance of warmth

(b). Focus on objective two Practice of family regarding neonatal care

(c). Selected characteristic of respondent Age, Religion, Education, Occupation,

Type of family, Income etc.

HYPOTHESISA hypothesis is a prediction about the relationship between

two or more variables.

A hypothesis thus translates a quantitative research question

in to a precise prediction of expected outcomes.

The hypothesis is an important part of the scientific

method and research studies.

Characteristics of a good hypothesis

1. Testable2. Logical3. Directly related to the research problem4. Represents a single unit or subject of the problem5. Factually or theoretically based 6. States relationship between variables7. Sets the limits of the study8. Stated in such a form that it can be accepted or

rejectedA hypothesis is composed of an independent variable(cause) and a dependent variable (effect)

The derivation of hypothesisThe derivation of hypothesisThere are two types of developing hypothesis There are two types of developing hypothesis

Induction Induction Deduction Deduction

- - Constitute the intellectual machineryConstitute the intellectual machineryinvolved in deriving hypothesis.involved in deriving hypothesis.

Inductive hypothesis is a generalization based on observed relationships.

Researchers observe certain patterns, trends or associations among phenomena and then use the observations as a basis for predictions.

Deductive hypotheses

Through deductive reasoning, a researcher can develop hypotheses based on general theoretical principles. Deductive reasoning have as a starting point theories that are applied to particular situations.

Types of Hypotheses

Simple Vs Complex Hypotheses

Simple hypothesis is a hypothesis that expresses an expected relationship between one independent and one dependent variable.

Complex hypothesis is a prediction of a relationship between two (or more) independent variables and two (or more) dependent variables. Complex hypotheses some times are referred to as multivariate hypotheses because they involve multiple variables.

Directional Vs Non-directional Hypotheses

Directional hypothesis is one that specifies not only the existence but the expected direction of the relationship between variables.

Non-directional hypothesis by contrast does not stipulate the direction of the relationship.

Research Vs Null Hypotheses

Hypotheses are sometimes classified as being either research hypotheses or null hypotheses.

Research hypotheses also referred to as substantive, declarative, or scientific hypotheses, are statements of expected relationships between variables

Null hypotheses or statistical hypotheses state that there is no relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Hypothesis Testing

Hypotheses are formally tested through statistical

procedures. Researchers seek to determine through

statistics whether their hypotheses have a high

probability of being correct. However, hypotheses

are never proved through hypothesis testing.

Rather, they are accepted or supported.

An operational definition of a concept An operational definition of a concept

specifies the operations that specifies the operations that

researchers must perform to collect researchers must perform to collect

the required information.the required information.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONOPERATIONAL DEFINITION

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Concepts are mental images or ideas relating to phenomena or objects that share common properties.

Fact is defined as any event or phenomenon that can be observed and on which the observer agrees.

Principles state a relationship between two facts that may be used to explain, guide and predict action.

A theory is used in the broad sense to refer to an abstraction which summarizes and explains phenomena.

The conceptualization part of the research process might well be called the thinking part of the research while the factual part of the research process is more related to the doing aspect.

PURPOSES OF THEORIES AND CONCEPTUAL MODELS

• To make research findings meaningful and generalizable.

• Efficient mechanisms for drawing together accumulated facts, sometimes from separate and isolated investigations.

• Guide a researcher’s understanding of not only the what of natural phenomena but also the ‘why’ of their occurrence.

• Theories provide a basis for predicting the occurrence of phenomena.

• Prediction, in turn, has implications for the control of the phenomena.

• Help to stimulate research and the extension of knowledge by providing both direction and impetus.

THEORIST & REFERENCE

NAME OF MODEL

KEY THESIS OF THE MODEL

RESEARCH EXAMPLE

ImogeneKing

1981

Open Systems

Model

Personal systems,interpersonal systems, and social systems are dynamic and interacting, within which transactions occur.

Doornbos (2000) based her frameworkon King's model; she tested the prediction that family stressors, coping, and other factors affected family health with young adults with serious mental illness.


NAME OF MODEL

KEY THESIS OF

THE MODEL

RESEARCH EXAMPLE

Madeline Leininger1991

Theory of CultureCare

Diversity and

Universality

Caring is a universal Phenomenonbut varies transculturally

Raines and Morgan (2000) studied the culturally grounded meanings of the concept of comfort, presence, and involvement in the context of the childbirth experience of black women and white women.


NAME OF MODEL

KEY THESIS OF

THE MODEL

RESEARCH EXAMPLE

Myra Levine1973

Conservation Model

Conservation of integrity contributes to maintenance of a person’s wholeness.

Deiriggi and Miles (1995) based their study of the effects of waterbeds on heart rate in preterm infants on Levine's concept of conservation.


NAME OF MODEL


RESEARCH EXAMPLE

Betty Neuman1989

Health Care Systems Model

Each person is a complete system; the goal of nursing is to assist in maintaining client systemstability.

Brauer (2001) described common patterns of person environment interaction in adults with rheumatoid arthritis, based on Neuman’s model.


NAME OF MODEL


RESEARCH EXAMPLE

Margaret Newman

1994

Health as Expanding

Consciousness

Health is viewed as an expansion of consciousness with health and disease parts of the same whole;health is seen in an evolving pattern of the Whole in time,space, andmovement.

Endo andcolleagues (2000) Used Newman’s theory to study pattern recognition as a caring partnership between nurses and families of ovarian cancerin Japan.


NAME OF MODEL


RESEARCH EXAMPLE

DorotheaOrem

1985

Self-Care Model

Self-care activities are what people do on their own behalf to maintain health and Well-being; the goal of nursing is to help people meet their own therapeutic self-care demands.

Anderson (2001) explored, with a sample of homeless adults, the relationship between self-care, self-care agency, and well-being.


NAME OF MODEL


RESEARCH EXAMPLE

Rose Marie Rizzo Parse

1992, 1995

Theory of Human

Becoming

Health and meaning are co-created by indivisible humans and their environment; nursing involveshaving clients share views about meanings.

Mitchell and Lawton (2000)studied how diabetic patients experienced theconsequences of personal choices about living with restrictions, anddiscussed the emerging concepts within Parse's theory.


NAME OF MODEL


RESEARCH EXAMPLE

Martha Rogers

1970, 1986

Science of Unitary Human Beings

The individual isa unified whole in constant interaction with the environment; nursing helps individuals achieve maximum well-being within their potential.

Using Rogers’ framework, Bays (2001)explored the phenomenon of hope and associated factors in olderpatients who had experienced a stroke.


NAME OF MODEL


RESEARCH EXAMPLE

Sr Callista Roy

1984, 1991

Adaptation Model

Humans are adaptive systems that cope with change through adaptation; nursing helps to promote client adaptation during health and illness.

Roy’s Adaptation Model provided the framework for John's (2001)study of whetherperceptions of quality of lifechange over time inadults who receivecurative radiationtherapy.


NAME OF MODEL

KEY THESIS OF

THE MODEL

RESEARCH EXAMPLE

Jean Watson1999

Theory of Caring

Caring is themoral ideal,and entails mind-body-soul engagement with one another.

Using Watson's 10 carative factors, Baldursdottir and Jonsdottir (2002) studied the importanceof nurse caring behaviors as perceivedby patients receivingcare at an emergency department.

THANK YOU !

Research problem, hypothesis & conceptual framework

Education

model key

model research

research process

postnatal

research studies

research problem

dependent

group therapy