Research Questions and Hypotheses

1
Research Questions and Hypotheses

• From Cone and Foster (2003)

2
Research Questions

• Well-worded research questions
• In the form of a question
• Question should suggest a relationship to be
  examined
• Question implies the possibility of empirical
  testing

3
Hypotheses

• Hypotheses are declarative sentences that assume
  a relationship between two or more variables
  (Kerlinger, 1986)
• Hypotheses can come from
• 1) previous empirical research
• 2) theory
• 3) or both

4
Hypothesis example

• There is a positive relationship between
  education level and preference for liberal causes
  in professional women.
• Characteristics of well-worded hypotheses
• Indicate specific relationship to be examined
• Avoid cluttering up hypotheses with
  methodological detail
• Dont overdo the number of hypotheses. Parsimony
  is important.