7 EXERCISES RESEARCH HYPOTESES, PURPOSES, AND QUESTIONS – Which type of statement (hypothesis, purpose or question) predicts the outcome of a study? Hypothesis is hypothesized that college students who have firm career goals achieve higher GPAs than “It those who do not have firm career goals”. Is this a or a “directional” “nondirectional” hypothesis? Directional hypothesis is hypothesized that children of immigrants and children of native-born citizen differ in “It their attitudes toward school”. Is this a or a hypothesis? “directional” “nondirectional” Nondirectional hypothesis goal of this study is to examine college students’ attitudes toward religion” Is this “The statement a or a “hypothesis” “purpose”? Purpose children of alcoholics different from children of nonalcoholics in their social “Are adjustment?” Is this research question stated appropriately? Why? Why not? No, because it can be answered with a yes or no. When researchers are willing to predict the outcome of a study, should they state a or a hypothesis? “directional” “nondirectional” Directional hypothesis What are the two alternatives to stating a nondirectional hypothesis? Research purpose or research question Consider nondirectional hypotheses, research purposes, and research questions. Are three “all acceptable in the scientific community” or is type preferred over the others”? “one All three are accepted
7 EXERCISES – RESEARCH HYPOTESES, PURPOSES, AND QUESTIONS Which type of statement (hypothesis, purpose or question) predicts the outcome of a study? Hypothesis “It is hypothesized that college students who have firm career goals achieve higher GPAs than those who do not have firm career goals”. Is this a “directional” or a “nondirectional” hypothesis? Directional hypothesis “It is hypothesized that children of immigrants and children of native-born citizen differ in their attitudes toward school”. Is this a “directional” or a “nondirectional” hypothesis? Nondirectional hypothesis “The goal of this study is to examine college students’ attitudes toward religion” Is this statement a “hypothesis” or a “purpose”? Purpose “Are children of alcoholics different from children of nonalcoholics in their social adjustment?” Is this research question stated appropriately? Why? Why not? No, because it can be answered with a yes or no. When researchers are willing to predict the outcome of a study, should they state a “directional” or a “nondirectional” hypothesis? Directional hypothesis What are the two alternatives to stating a nondirectional hypothesis? Research purpose or research question Consider nondirectional hypotheses, research purposes, and research questions. Are “all three acceptable in the scientific community” or is “one type preferred over the others”? All three are accepted
CristinaPintor_Week1Exercises_EDCI6300.61.docx