L3 - Research Methods

Student is able to:

• Evaluate the appropriateness of research design in
education (C5, CTPS)
• Organise appropriate various literatures for
preparing a research proposal (A4, LL)
• Produce a research proposal in education (P5, EM)
L3- Research Questions and Hypothesis
• Purposes and characteristics of
research questions and hypothesis
• Types of hypothesis
• Variable
Purposes of Research Question & Hypothesis
• Provides a tentative explanation of phenomena and
facilitates the extensión of knowledge in an área
• Provides a relational statement that is directly
testable in a research study
• Provides direction to the research
• Provides a framework for reportig the conclusions
of the study
 Research Question
• Specific question chosen for research depends
on the area of interest, their background, and
the particular problem confronting them.
• Theoretical questions – questions with regard to
fundamental principles, directed toward either
developing or testing existing theories.
• Practical questions – questions with regard to
practical nature aimed at solving specific
problems in their everyday activities.
 Research Hypothesis
• A statement put forth as a possible explanation of a
phenomenon.
• It presents the researcher’s expectations about the
relationship between variables within the problem.
• It will be tested in a research study.
• It is a powerful tool in scientific inquiry; enables us
to relate theory to observation and observation to
theory.
 Deriving Hypothesis
• Inductive – a generalization from
observed relationship
• Deductive – deduction from theory
Characteristics of Usable Hypothesis
• Must have explanatory power
• State the expected relationship between variables
• Testable
• Be consistent with the existing body of knowledge
• Stated as simply and concisely as posible
• Put research questions if no substantial theory
and literature is available.
 Types of Hypothesis
• Research hypothesis – the relationship to expect

Ha : µ2 > µ1
• Null hypothesis – it states that there is ‘no
difference’ or ‘no effect’ or ‘no relationship’

H o : µ2 ≤ µ1
 Testing the Hypothesis
• State the relationship that should be observed if the
research hypothesis is true
• State the null hypothesis
• Select a research method that will permit the observation
• Gather and analyze the empirical data
• Determine whether the evidence is sufficient to reject the
null hypothesis
 Variable
• Variable reflects some concept or construct
• It takes on different values; high, weight, student
achievement.
• Researchers are interested in determining how
such variables are related to one another.
 Types of Variables
Several ways of variable classification;
• Categorical or continuous variables
• Dependent and independent variables
• Dependent variable – a consequence of another
variable
• Independent variable - an antecedent to
another variable
 The Research Plan
• The Problem
• The Hypothesis
• The Reseach Design
• The Population and Sample
• The Statistical Analysis