Formulating research questions
2024-09-04
A Research Hypothesis poses a question about the relationship between two or more measurable characteristics.
Example
Is there a relationship between smoking frequency and suicide?
Simple vs Complex
Simple Hypothesis
Is there a relationship between smoking frequency and suicide?
- Simple relationship between two measures
- Can be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’
Complex Hypothesis
Does smoking frequency exacerbate poor mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression and suicide?
- Stated as a relationship between multiple variables
- Can’t be answered directly but through multiple sub-questions
Null vs Alternative
AKA Statistical Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis
Drug X has no affect on outcome Y
- Stated as no relationship
- the ‘status quo’ or current status
Alternative Hypothesis
Drug X is associated with a change in outcome Y
- stated as a relationship exists
- typically what you hope to show
Collaborative discussion
Discuss each question below with your neighbor.
Respond to the first three prompts in the Google Docs Formulating Research Questions collaborative notes. Put your names next to your answer.
- What are the characteristics of a good research question?
- What is the one essential document you need to review before you can formulate a research question?
- Write an example of a research question
Where to find prior information on your research topic?
- Google ofc.
- Library for primary and secondary sources
What are primary and secondary sources?
Answer the next set of questions in the collab notes.
- Give an example of a primary source of information.
- Give an example of a secondary source of information.
- What are some problems with secondary source literature?
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