Course : B.

Sc Nursing

Subject Name : Nursing Research & Statistics

Unit : II- Research Problem Question

Topic : Criteria for selecting a good research problem &

Hypothesis
 Objectives

• Define research problem

• Recognize the criteria for selecting a good research problem
• Describe the hypothesis and its types
• Demonstrate skills in formulation of hypothesis
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 INTRODUCTION
• Research is an organized investigation of a problem where an
investigator attempts to gain solution to a problem.
• In order to get the right solution a clearly defined objectives are very
important.
• A clearly defined objective directs a researcher in the right direction.
 Cont..,

• A clearly defined objectives are important feature of a good

research study.

• Without a clear objective a researcher is aimless and directionless

in conducting the study.

• Without focused objectives, no replicable scientific findings can be

expected.
MEANING

• A research objective is a clear, concise, declarative

statement, which provides direction to investigate the
variables under the study.

• Research objectives focus on the ways to measure the

variables, such as to identify or describe the objectives of a
research project which summarize what is to be achieved by
the study.
 CHARACTERISTICS
• Research objective is a concrete statement describing what the
research is trying to achieve.
• The objectives include obtaining answers to research questions or
testing the research hypotheses.
• A well known objective will be SMART
S – SPECIFIC
M – MEASURABLE.
A – ATTAINABLE.
R – REALISTIC.
T – TIME BOUND
 Cont..,
• Research objective should be RELEVANT, FEASIBLE, LOGICAL, OBSERVABLE,
UNEQUIVOCAL & MEASURABLE.

• Objective is a purpose that can be reasonably achieved within the expected

timeframe and with the available resources.
• The objective of research project summarizes what is to be achieved by the study.

• The research objectives are the specific accomplishments the researcher

hopes to achieve by the study.
 NEED FOR OBJECTIVES
The formulation of research objectives will help the researcher as follows :

FOCUS:
• A clearly defined research objective will help the researcher to focus on
the study.

• The formulation of research objectives helps in narrowing down the

study to its essentials.

• It will avoid unnecessary findings, which otherwise lead to wastage of

resources.
 AVOID UNECESSARY DATA
• The formulation of research objectives helps the researcher to avoid
unnecessary accumulation of data that is not needed for the chosen
problem.

• For example when the researcher is interested in in identifying the

presence or absence of chosen variables but not in detailed
description he can avoid collection of unwanted information.
ORGANIZATION

• The formulation of objectives organize the study into a

clearly defined parts or phases.

• Thus the objectives help organize the study results in to main

parts as per the preset objectives.
GIVES DIRECTION

• A well formulated objective will facilitate the development of

research methodology and will help to orient the collection,
analysis, interpretation & utilization of data.
TYPES OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. GENERAL OBJECTIVES.

2. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES

• General objectives are broad goals to be achieved.

• The general objectives of the study states what the researcher

expects to achieve by the study in general terms.

Example:
• “ A quasi experimental study on the effects of poverty
on education among selected cities in India”.
 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• Specific objectives are short term and narrow in focus.
• General objectives are broken into small logically connected parts
to form specific objectives.
• The general objective is met through meeting the specific
objectives stated.
• Specific objectives clearly specify what the researcher will do in
the study, where and for what purpose the study is done.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
Example:
To assess the effects of poverty on education among….
To determine the prevalence of poverty among…
To compare the severity of morning sickness among…
To identify the relationship of poverty with age or other
selected demographic variables.
 METHOD OF STATING OBJECTIVE
• The following guideline must be taken into account while stating
the objectives…
• The objective should be presented briefly and concisely.

• The objective should cover the different aspects of the problem

and its contributing factors in a coherent way and in a logical
sequence.
Cont..

• The objectives should be clearly phrased in operational terms,

specifying exactly what the researcher is going to do, where
and for what purpose.
• The objectives are realistic considering the local conditions.
• The objectives use action verbs that are specific enough to be
evaluated.
Action verbs used to state the Objectives
• to assess,
• to identify,
• to find out,
• to determine,
• to compare,
• to find,
• to verify,
• to calculate,
• to describe,
• to analyse,
• to establish, etc.
COMMONLY USED ACTIVE VERBS IN DIFFERENT RESEARCH
METHODS

Quantitative methods Qualitative methods

Descriptive Ethnography
Identify Assess
Assess describe
Find out examine
Describe explain
Compare discover

Correlational Grounded theory

Determine Develop
Examine Extend
Identify Identify
Discriminate Valuable

Experimental Phenomenological
Determine Describe
Examine Develop
Investigate Generate
Measure Record
Detect Express
 Research problem

Definition:

A problem is an interrogative sentence or statement that

asks what relation exists between two or more variables. The

answer to questions will provide what is having sought in the

research.
 Criteria for selecting a good research problem

1. Significance to nursing profession

2. Original
3. Feasible
4. Administrative support
5. Peer support
6. Availability of subjects
 cont’d

7. Researcher’s competence
8. Ethical considerations
9. Solvable/Researchable
10. Current
11. Interesting
 Significance to nursing profession

A problem which the researcher is selecting should have

significance to the profession or discipline.

A research problem is significant for a discipline when it is

directed to develop or refine the body of professional knowledge.

The following are some of the criteria to assess the significance

to a profession.
 Cont’d

The consumers/stakeholders benefit from the research

findings.

The result will improve the current practices.

Promotes theory development or testing.

Provides solutions to current practice needs.

Generate information to get practical implications for the

profession
 ORIGINALITY

Every research should be new and unique in itself.

The key responsibility of a researcher that an innovative

knowledge is used for selecting a research problem

So extend the growth of existing body of knowledge in a

profession.
 FEASIBLE

Feasibility is an essential consideration of any research project.

A research problem should be feasible in terms of time, availability

of subjects, facilities, equipment & money and ethical

considerations.

It will help the researcher to decide whether selected problem is

appropriate or inappropriate and study can be actually carried out

or not.
 ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Many researches require administrative support.

Financial & psychological support is essential to conduct

research.

Knowing that your superiors support your research efforts can

be a very powerful motivating force.
 PEER SUPPORT

Many research ideas have failed because the researcher did

not receive any peer support.

One of the best ways to determine a researchable problem is

through interactions and discussions with other nurses.

A climate of shared interest among the professional members

promote research activities smoothly.
 AVAILABILITY OF SUBJECTS

The potential subjects may not meet the study criteria or may
be unwilling to participate in the study or may be already
participating in another studies.

Therefore the availability of the subjects should be well

ensured in advance.
 RESEARCHER’S COMPETENCE

• A research problem can only be feasible if it is in accordance

with the researcher’s competence.

• A researcher should be capable to handle a given research

problem.
 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The research problem selected should be cleared by the

ethical committee without undue hurdles.

A very important topic of research cannot be considered

feasible until & unless it is in accordance with the ethical
guidelines.
 SOLVABLE/RESEARCHABLE

• Only a research problem that is solvable is considered to be

good.

• A researcher should minimize the chances of insolvability.

• This aspect of the problem may pose ambiguity and hence a

researcher should ensure the solvabilityof the problem that is
elected.
 INTERESTING

A research problem must be as per the motivation of the

researcher and it should be fascinating to the researcher.

Thus a research will be conducted with full enthusiasm and

not merely for its accomplishment.
 HYPOTHESIS
DEFINITION :

Hypothesis is a tentative prediction or explanation of the

relationship between two variables.’ It implies that there is a
systematic relationship between an independent & a dependent
variable.

For example, dietary compliance will be greater in diabetic

patients receiving diet instruction in small groups than in diabetic
patients receiving individualized diet instructions.
 IMPORTANCE OF HYPOTHESIS IN RESEARCH

Hypotheses enables the researcher to objectively investigate

new areas of discovery.
Hypotheses provides objectivity to the research activity.
It also provides directions to conduct research such as defining
the sources & relevance of data.
Hypotheses provides clear & specific goals to the researchers.
These clear & specific goals provide the investigator to meet
the goals.
 Cont’d

Hypotheses provides link between theories & actual practical

research.
It provides a bridge between theory & reality.
A hypothesis suggests which type of research is likely to be
most appropriate.
As it is a tentative statement of anticipated results, it guides
the researcher towards the direction in which the research
should proceed.
 Cont’d
It stimulates the thinking process of researcher as the
researcher forms the hypothesis by anticipating the outcome.
It also determines the most appropriate research designs &
techniques of data analysis.
Hypotheses provides understanding to the researchers about
what expect from the results of the research study.
It serves as framework for drawing conclusions of a research
study.
Without hypotheses, research would be like aimless
wandering.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD HYPOTHESIS

Conceptual clarity:
Hypothesis should consist of clearly defined & understandable
concepts. It should be stated in clear terms, the meaning &
implication of which cannot be doubted. To facilitate the
conceptual clarity, hypothesis can be stated in declarative
statement, in present tense.
Empirical referents:
Research must have an ultimate empirical referent. No usable
hypothesis can embody moral judgments. A good hypothesis
must have empirical basis from the area of enquiry.
 Cont’d

Objectivity:
• Hypothesis must be objective, which facilitates objectivity in
data collection & keeps the research activity free from
researcher value - judgment.
Specificity:
• It should be specific, not general, & should explain the
expected relations between variables. For example, regular
yoga reduces stress
 Cont’d
Relevant:
The hypothesis should be relevant to the problem being studied
as well as the objectives of the study. Hypothesis must have
relevance with theory under test in a research process.
Testability:
• Hypothesis should be testable & should not be a moral
judgment. It must be directly/indirectly observable & measurable.
• The researcher can set up a situation that permits one to
assess if it is true or false. For example, a statement such as
‘bad partners produce bad children’. This sort of hypothesis
cannot be tested.
 Cont’d
• Consistency:

• A hypothesis should be consistent with an existing body of theories,

research findings, & other hypotheses. It should correspond with
existing knowledge.

• Simplicity:

• A hypothesis should be formulated in simple & understandable terms.

It should require fewer conditions & assumptions.
 Cont’d

Availability of techniques:
• The researchers must make sure that methods are available
for testing their proposed hypotheses
Purposiveness:
• The researcher must formulate only purposeful hypotheses,
which has relevance with research problem & objectives.
Verifiability:
• A good hypothesis can be actually verified in practical terms.
 Cont’d

Profundity of effect:

• A good hypothesis should have profound effect upon a variety

of research variables.

Economical:

• The expenditure of money & the time can be controlled if the

hypotheses underlying the research undertaken is good.
 THEORETICAL OR CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORKS:

• The most important sources of hypotheses are theoretical or

conceptual frameworks developed for the study.
• Through a deductive approach these hypotheses are drawn from
theoretical or conceptual frameworks for testing them.
• For example, Roy’s adaptation Model is used in a research study,
where a hypothesis can be drawn from a concept of the theoretical
mode that ‘patient’s adaptation to a chronic illness depends on
availability of social support for them.’
Previous research
• Findings of the previous studies may be used for framing the
hypotheses for another study.
• For example, in a small sample descriptive study, a researcher found
that a number of patients admitted with coronary artery disease had
increased body mass index.
• In another research study, a researcher may use this finding to
formulate a hypothesis as ‘Obese patients have increased risk for
development of coronary artery disease’.
 Real-life experiences

• Real-life experiences also contribute in the formulation of

hypotheses for research studies.

• For example, Newton had a life-changing experience of the

falling of an apple & formulated a hypothesis that earth attracts
all the mass towards its center, through several researchers
were conducted before generating a law of central gravity.
 ACADEMIC LITERATURE

• Academic literature is based on formal theories, empirical

evidences, experiences, observation, & conceptualizations of
academicians.

• These literatures may serve as good sources for formulating

hypotheses for research studies.
 SIMPLE & COMPLEX HYPOTHESIS
Simple hypothesis:
• It is a statement which reflects the relationship between two
variables.
• For example, ‘the lower the level of hemoglobin, the higher is
the risk of infection among postpartum women’.
Complex hypothesis:
• It is a statement which reflects the relationship between more
than two variables.
• For example, ‘satisfaction is higher among patients who are
older & dwelling in rural area than those who are younger &
dwelling in urban area’.
 ASSOCIATIVE & CAUSAL HYPOTHESIS

Associative hypothesis:
• It reflects a relationship between variables that occurs or exists
in natural settings without manipulation.
• This hypothesis is used in correlational research studies
 CAUSAL HYPOTHESIS:
• It predicts the cause-and-effect relationship between two or
more dependent & independent variables in experimental or
interventional setting, where independent variable is
manipulated by research to examine the effect on the
dependent variable.
• The causal hypothesis reflects the measurement of dependent
variable to examine the effect of dependent variable, which is
manipulated by the researcher(s).
• For examples, prevalence of pin site infection is lower in
patients who receive pin site care with hydrogen peroxide as
compared to patients who receive the pin site care with
Betadine solution.
 DIRECTIONAL & NONDIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS
Directional hypothesis:
• It specifies not only the existence, but also the expected direction of
the relationship between variables.
• Directional hypothesis states the nature of the relationship between
two or more variables such as positive, negative, or no relationship.
• To express the direction of relationship between variables, the
directional terms are used to state the hypothesis such as
• positive, negative, less, more, increased, decreased, greater, higher,
lower, etc.
• For examples, ‘there is a positive relationship between years of nursing
experience & job satisfaction among nurses.
 NONDIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS

• It reflects the relationship between two or more variables, but is

does not specify the anticipated direction & nature of
relationship such as positive or negative.

• It indicates the existence of relationship between the variables.

• For example, ‘there is relationship between years of nursing

experience & job satisfaction among nurses.
 NULL & RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS:
Null hypothesis (H0):
• It is also known as statistical hypothesis & is used for statistical
testing & interpretation of statistical outcomes.
• It states the existence of no relationship between the
independent & dependent variables.
• For example, ‘there is no relationship between smoking & the
incidence of coronary artery disease’.
 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS (H1):

• It states the existence of relationship between two or more

variables.

• For examples, ‘there is relationship between smoking &

incidence of lung cancer.
 Summary
• The criteria for good research or question are Significance to
nursing profession, Original ,Feasible, Administrative support,
Peer support, Availability of subjects, Researcher’s
competence, Ethical considerations, Solvable/Researchable,
Current, Interesting.
• A hypothesis is a formal tentative statement of the expected
relationship between two or more variables under study.
• The essential of good hypothesis are conceptual clarity,
empirical referents, objectivity, specificity, relevance, testability,
consistency, simplicity etc..
 REFERENCES
• Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2004). The practice of nursing
research (5th Edition). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company.
• Basvanthappa – Nursing Research, Jaypee Publications
• Polit & Hungler, (2019). Essentials of Nursing Research:
Appraising Evidence for Nursing
• Polit – Nursing Research ,2007,LWW
• Sharma,S.K (2018). Nursing Research and Statistics. New
Delhi: Elsevier.