Chapter 5

Specifying a Purpose, Research

Questions or Hypothesis
Dr. William M. Bauer

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 Key Ideas
 The difference between purpose statements,
hypotheses, and research questions
 Variables in quantitative research

 Qualitative research considerations

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 Purpose Statements, Research Questions,
Research Hypotheses, Research Objectives

 Purpose statements: a declarative statement

that advances the overall direction or focus
for the study.
 Research Questions: Interrogative
statements that narrow the purpose
statement to specific questions that
researchers seek to answer in their study.

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 Purpose Statements, Research Questions,
Research Hypotheses, Research Objectives

 Research Hypotheses: Declarative

statements in quantitative research in which
the investigator makes a prediction or
conjecture about the outcomes relationship.
 Research Objective: A statement of intent
for the study that specifies specific goals
that the investigator plans to achieve in a
study.
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Distinguishing among various forms of
direction in research
Purpose Research Research
Hypothesis
Statement Questions Objectives

Overall Raise questions Make predictions State Goals

Intent Direction about expectations
to be answered

Form One or more One or more One or More

One or more
sentences questions Objectives
questions
Quantitative
Use and Quantitative Quantitative Typically
Qualitative and Research Quantitative
Research Qualitative Research
Research
End of End of the introduction, after the literature
Placement Introduction review, or in a separate section of the study
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 Definition of a Variable
A Variable
(A Characteristic or Attribute)
Can be and

Measured
Varies
(Can be assessed (Can assume
on an instrument different values or
and recorded on scores for
an instrument) different
individuals)
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 Variables and Constructs
 A Variable is an attribute or characteristic
stated in a specific or applied way
 A Construct is an attribute or characteristic
expressed in an abstract, general way.
Construct Student Achievement

Variable Grade Point Average

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 Categorical and Continuous
Scores
 A categorical score is a value of a variable
assigned by the researcher into a small
number of categories. (e.g. Gender)

 A continuous variable is the value of a

variable assigned by the researcher to a
point along a continuum of scores, from low
to high. (e.g. Age)

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 Families of Variables
 Independent Variable: An attribute or
characteristic that influences or effects an
outcome of the independent variable.
– Treatment Variable
– Measured Variable
– Control Variables
– Moderating Variables

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 Families of Variables
 Intervening Variables (Mediating
Variables): An attribute or characteristic
that “stands between” the dependent and
independent variables.
 Dependent Variables: An attribute or
characteristic influenced by the independent
variable.

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 Families of Variables
 Confounding Variables (Spurious
Variables): Attributes or characteristics
that the researcher cannot directly measure
because their effects cannot be easily
separated from the other variables, even
though they may influence the relationship
between the independent and the
independent variable.
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 The Family of Variables in
Quantitative Studies
Probable
Cause Effect
Independent
Variables
•Treatment Intervening Dependent
•Measured Variables Variables

Control
Variables
Confounding
Moderating Variables
Variables
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 Intervening Variables “Stand Between”
Independent and Dependent Variables
Independent Dependent
Step 1 Variable Variable

Example Convenient office hours Student seeks help

for students from faculty

Independent Intervening
Step 2 Variable
Variable Variable
Convenient office hours Student becomes willing
Example
for students to take risks

Independent Intervening Dependent

Step 3 Variable Variable Variable
Convenient office hours Student becomes willing Student seeks help
Example
for students to take risks from faculty
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 Theories as Bridges Between
Independent and Dependent Variables

Independent Dependent
Variables Variables

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 Different Types of Explanations
in Quantitative
Extensive Tests by
Research
Broad
other researchers Abstractions
As a formal theory that is expressed by connected
hypotheses and variables identified by authors

As a conceptual framework often expressed as a

visual model by other authors for relationship

As a theoretical rationale posed by other authors

based on studies for relationship

As explanation posed by the author as a hunch for

No Test why the independent variable relates to the
Narrow
dependent variable Application
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 Whether Variables Prove
Probable Cause
 Probable causation: The researchers
attempt to establish a likely cause/effect
relationship between variables rather than
prove the relationship.
 Control is vital: Control means that the
researcher attempts to study all factors that
might help explain the relationship between
an independent and dependent variable.
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Four Types of Probable Causality
X = independent variable Y = dependent variable
1. Time: Close in time, not distant
X-Y, not X Y
2. Space: Close in distance, not distant
X-Y, not X
Y
3. Variation: One goes up, the other down
X Y, not X Y
3. Multiple Causes: Multiple independent variables
influence the dependent variable X
X Y
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Differences between quantitative and qualitative
purpose statements and research questions
Quantitative - more Qualitative - more
closed open-ended
1. Probable cause/Effect (“Why did it 1. Descriptive (“What happened?”)
happen?”)
2. Use of theories (Why did it happen 2. Interpretive (“What was the
in view of an explanation or meaning to people of what
theory?” happened?”)
3. Assessing differences and 3. Process-oriented (“What happened
magnitude over time?”)
“How much happened?”
“How many times did it happen?
What were the differences among
groups in what happened?

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How researchers explain or predict variables versus
exploring or understanding a Central Phenomenon

Quantitative Qualitative
Explaining or Understanding or
Predicting Variables exploring a Central
X Y Phenomenon

The independent variable (X) Y

influences a dependent
variable (Y) In-depth understanding of Y;
external forces shape and are
shaped by Y
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 Qualitative Research
Considerations
 More open-ended
 The direction of the study is focused on
how to best learn from the participants
 The focus of the research is around a
Central Phenomenon which is an issue or
a process the researcher would like to study.
 Qualitative research is built on an emerging
design
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