Research Hyopthesis and Research Assumption

Research Hyopthesis and Assumption

1. HYPOTHESIS Dr. Binu Babu Professor Ph.D. Nursing Mrs. Jincy Ealias Professor M.Sc. Nursing

2. A hypothesis is a tentative statement of the expected relationship between two or more variables under study.

3. CHARACERISTICS OF A GOOD HYPOTHESIS Conceptual clarity: Hypothesis should consist of clearly defined & understandable concepts. Empirical referents: A good hypothesis must have experiential basis from the area of enquiry Objectivity: Objectivity provides guidance to the researcher about data to be measured

4. Specificity: Should explain the expected relations between variables. Relevant: The hypothesis should be relevant to the problem being studied. Testability: Hypothesis should be testable and measurable. A clearly stated hypothesis is usually tested with inferential statistics.

5. Consistency: A hypothesis should be consistent with an existing body of theories, research findings and other hypotheses. Simplicity: A hypothesis should be formulated in simple and understandable terms. Availability of techniques: The researchers must make sure that methods are available for testing their proposed hypotheses

6. Purposiveness: The researcher must formulate only purposeful hypotheses, which has relevance with research problem and objectives. Verifiability: A good hypothesis can be actually verified in practical terms. Economical: The expenditure of money and the time can be controlled if the hypotheses underlying the research undertaken is good.

7. SOURCES OF HYPOTHESIS Theoretical and conceptual frameworks Previous research Real-life experiences Academic literature

8. TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS Simple & complex hypothesis Simple hypothesis: It is a statement which reflects the relationship between two variables. Eg : A study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge and practice regarding prevention of nosocomial infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy among staff nurses in selected hospitals. There is significant difference between the pre test and post test knowledge scores of staff nurses. There is significant difference between the pre test and post test practice scores of staff nurses.

9. Complex hypothesis: It is a statement which reflects the relationship between more than two variables. Eg : There is significant difference between the pre test and post test knowledge scores and practice scores of staff nurses.

10. 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 Eg : There is adequate knowledge on prevention of nosocomial infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy among staff nurses of private hospitals than govt hospitals.

11. 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. Eg : There is significant difference between the pre test and post test knowledge scores on prevention of nosocomial infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy among staff nurses of private hospitals than govt hospitals.

12. Directional & non directional hypothesis Directional hypothesis: Directional hypothesis states the nature of the relationship between two or more variables such as positive, negative, or no relationship. Eg : There is a positive relationship between structured teaching programme and knowledge scores of staff nurses. There is a negative relationship between structured teaching programme and knowledge scores of staff nurses. There is no significant relationship between structured teaching programme and knowledge scores of staff nurses.

13. Non directional Hypothesis: It reflects the relationship between two or more variables, but is does not specify the anticipated direction and nature of relationship such as positive or negative. Eg : There is a relationship between structured teaching programme and knowledge scores of staff nurses.

14. Null & research hypothesis Null hypothesis ( H ): 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. Eg : There is no significant difference between the pre test and post test knowledge scores of staff nurses regarding prevention of nosocomial infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

15. Research hypothesis (H 1 ): It states the existence of relationship between two or more variables. Eg : There is significant difference between the pre test and post test knowledge scores of staff nurses regarding prevention of nosocomial infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

16. GUIDELINES FOR FORMULATION OF HYPOTHESIS Hypothesis are written before starting the study and it should not be changed. Researcher commonly uses null hypothesis and research hypothesis to describe the relations between the independent and dependent variables. Hypothesis should be stated in declarative sentence and present tense. Hypothesis must be stated in empirical form.

17. The components of hypothesis are; Dependent and independent variable Population Level of significance for accepting or rejecting hypothesis.

18. assumptions

19. Assumptions are the statements of beliefs and ideas that are considered true, even though they have not been scientifically tested. Eg : The study assumes that The staff nurses have some knowledge regarding prevention of nosocomial infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Structured teaching programme enhances knowledge of staff nurses regarding prevention of nosocomial infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Structured teaching programme enhances practice of staff nurses regarding prevention of nosocomial infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

20. Types of assumptions Universal assumptions Universal assumptions are beliefs that are assumed to be true by a large part of society. Eg : The staff nurses have some knowledge regarding prevention of nosocomial infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

21. Assumptions based on theories If a research study is based on a theory, the assumption of the particular theory may become assumption of that particular research study. Eg : a study based on nightingale environment theory. The study assume that any change in the environment may result diseases in a person.

22. Assumption needed to conduct a research Some general assumption provide a base to conduct of the research study. Eg : The knowledge and practice of staff nurses on prevention of nosocomial infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy is higher among nurses experienced in oncology ward than other wards.

23. Warranted assumptions Assumptions that are stated with an evidence to support. Eg : Structured teaching programme on prevention of nosocomial infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy enhances practice of staff nurses thus reduces the incidence of nosocomial infection among chemotherapy patients.

24. Unwarrented assumptions Assumptions that are stated with an evidence to support. Eg : Structured teaching programme on prevention of nosocomial infections in patients undergoing chemotherapy enhances practice of staff nurses

25. References Polit .D F & Beck C T, Essentials of Nursing Research- Appraising evidence for Nursing practice, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Burns N. & Susan K Groove. Understanding Nursing Research building an Evidenced Based Practice. W.B. Saunders, St. Louis. Wood GL & Haber J. Nursing research methods and Critical Appraisal for Evidenced Based Practice. Elsevier. Suresh Sharma. Nursing research and statistics. Elsevier

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