Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Problems
The researcher may often have only a
rather general, diffuse, even confused
notion of the problem. It may even take an
investigator years of exploration, thought,
and research before he or she can state
the questions clearly. Nevertheless,
adequate statement of the research
problem is one of the most important parts
of research.
Problems
What is good problem statement? No one right way but
certain characteristics of problems and problem
statements can be learned and used to a good
advantage. 1. in question form; 2. a relation between
variables. For example, what are the effects on pupil
performance of different types of incentives?
A problem, then, is an interrogative sentence or
statement that asks: What relationship exists between
two or more variables? The answer is what is being
sought in the research.
Not all research problems contain two or more clear
variables. Factor analytical research problems also lack
the relationship from discussed above.
Hypotheses
Two criteria for good hypotheses and
hypothesis statements, the same as two of those
for problems and problem statements.
1.Hypotheses are statements about the relations
between variables.
2.Hypotheses carry clear implications for testing
the stated relations.
A hypothesis is a conjectural statement of the
relation between two or more variables.
Hypotheses are always in declarative sentence
form, and they relateeither generally or
specificallyvariables to variables.
Hypotheses
Take three hypotheses from the literature.
1.The greater the suppression of unwanted
thoughts, the greater the preoccupation with
those unwanted thoughts.
2.in null form: Levels of noise or music have no
effect on visual functioning.
3.The relation is indirect: Perceived body shape is
in part a function of gender. cf. Women differ from
men in terms of their perceived body shape.
Group A and B will differ on some characteristic.