Research Problems and

Hypotheses
A research problem is a
discrepancy between what one
knows and ought to know to
solve a nursing problem.

Sources of Research
Problems
Experience
Technology
New roles of the nurse
Nursing Literature
Theories

EXPERIENCE
GRIPE
PROFESSIONAL WISHES
CURIOSITY
NEW PERSON/EXPERIENCE

TECHNOLOGY

Monitoring
Information technology

EXPANDING ROLES
Nurse practitioners
Community and home
health nursing
Advocate, teacher,
counselor, etc.

LITERATURE
Research Reports

Gaps in the literature

There may be areas , as

revealed by a dearth of
available literature on the topic
that remain unexplored

REPLICATION

No study can stand by

itself, must be replicated
for confidence in the
results

SUGGESTED STUDIES

Every research report

suggests areas for
continued study

INCONSISTENCIES
Two studies on the same
variables may produce
different outcomes

THEORIES

Must be tested in the real

world through the
formulation of research
problems and hypotheses

CRITERIA FOR A good

RESEARCH PROBLEM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

INTERESTING?
RESEARCHABLE?
FEASIBLE? PRACTICABLE?
SIGNIFICANT?
NURSING?

Interesting

This is a subjective criteria, the

study must only be interesting
to the person doing the study

Researchable
Variables should be precisely
defined and measured and lead
to an answer to the question
NB: SHOULDNESS AND
GOODNESS questions not
researchable

Feasible/Practicable

Can the study be done by the

researcher?

Time?
Place?
Money?
Equipment?
Subjects?
Instruments to measure variables?

Significant

Will the results make a difference

that matters to the profession?

Make a difference in patient care?

Add to professional practice knowledge?
Related to more general conceptual
issues?
Is it an instance of a larger class of
events?
Does it help support or build theory?

Nursing
Does nursing have access to or
control over phenomenon in
question--or is it reasonable to
think that they will?
(this is defined broadly)

Developing and Refining

Research Problem
Define a specific problem area
Review the relevant literature
Examine the significance to
nursing
Examine the feasibility

Defining the Problem

Areas
Begin with broad topic area and
narrow it down
Focus on the dependent
variable

A first Review of the

Literature

Define the problem in the

context of the state of
knowledge in the subject area

Significance

Contributes to and extends the

body of scientific nursing
knowledge

Feasibility

This must be pragmatically

examined by the researcher in
light of her own available
expertise and resources

RESEARCH PROBLEM
STATEMENTS
AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE
IDENTIFY KEY VARIABLES
SPECIFY NATURE OF
POPULATION
SUGGEST METHODOLOGY
NARROW/SPECIFIC
DECLARATIVE or
INTERROGATIVE

Declaritive
The purpose of this study is
to
The relationship between X
and Y will be examined

Interrogative

What is the relationship

between X and Y?

HYPOTHESIS
tentative

prediction or
explanation about the
relationship between
variables
Emanates from the ROL

Hypotheses
SIMPLE

or COMPLEX
(multivariate)

DIRECTIONAL

or
NONDIRECTIONAL

PURPOSES of
HYPOTHESES
GUIDES INQUIRY BY:
UNIFYING THEORY AND
REALITY
EXTENDS KNOWLEDGE
GIVES DIRECTION TO
RESEARCH

CHARACTERISTICS of
a SPECIFIES
RELATIONSHIP
good
hypothesis
TESTABLE

JUSTIFIABLE
CONCISE

Research Hypothesis
Indicates what the actual
outcome of the study is
expected to be
Supported when the researcher
obtains a statistically
significant finding

Statistical or Null
Hypothesis
States There is no relationship
between the dependent and
independent variables
Failure to reject the null
hypothesis implies that there is
insufficient evidence to support
the idea of a real difference in
the dependent variable

Type I error

The rejection of a null

hypothesis that is actually true-or saying a treatment works
when it does not.

Type II error

The acceptance of a null

hypothesis that is actually false,
or saying a treatment doesnt
work when it really does.

Level of Significance=p

Set by the researcher in

consideration of the
seriousness of the
consequences of making a
mistake in accepting a false
research hypothesis

.05---FIVE CHANCES IN 100

OF MAKING A MISTAKE IN
ACCEPTING RESEARCH
HYPOTHESIS (when it is
actually false)
(TYPE I ERROR MORE LIKELY)

LEVEL OF

LEVEL OF
SIGNIFICANCE

.01---ONE CHANCE IN 100 OF

MAKING A MISTAKE IN
ACCEPTING THE RESEARCH
HYPOTHESIS (when it is
actually false)

LEVEL OF
SIGNIFICANCE
.001--ONE CHANCE IN 1000
OF MAKING A MISTAKE IN
ACCEPTING RESEARCH
HYPOTHESIS
(TYPE II ERROR MORE
LIKELY)