Statement of problem
1st step in study plan. clearly explains the purpose of the study. Ask the research question, why is it important, how it fits into
... [Show More] the existing research? clear and concise, use phrase like "the purpose of this study is to..." guiding force behind the research project and the study should flow from it.
theoretical/conceptual framework
all studies need an underlying frame work that organizes the analysis. Draw from existing theory or provide a logical model. use framework to organize research questions and hypothesis. use existing theoretical models where possible and cite.
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research question
stems directly from the statement of the purpose of the study. and the theoretical framework. ground questions in theory and current literature. be clear about the expected relationships. relate directly to the data that will be gathered by the researcher.
list of hypotheses to be tested
must be very specific because they provide the guide for the analysis of the data. must stem directly from the research questions and be grounded in the theoretical framework. there should be a specific hypothesis for each relationship being tested.
hypothesis
a tentative prediction or description of the expected relationship between 2 or more variables. translates research questions into statements that can be tested with inferential statistics. states the expected relationship between 2 variables. guide for data analysis
types of hypothesis
directional and non-directional
directional (one way) hypotheses
state the expected direction of the relationship between the 2 variables. eg people who are immunized will be less likely to contract the flu than people who are not immunized
non directional (2 way) hypotheses
simple state that there will be relationship between 2 variables, without giving direction. eg there will be a relationship between obesity and exercise level.
definitions of key terms and variables
define terms that may not be clear to reader. write out all acronyms the 1st time used. define variables. indicate whether the variables are dependent, independent or covariates. variables used in a study must stem directly from the hypotheses.
independent variables
what you manipulated/modified or changed and/or may affect the outcome of interest. may include age, gender and ethnicity, change what you are studying.
dependent variables
outcomes of interest. what you obtain when you make your changes. may include health status, use of health services and cost of care.
studies
All of these need to be organized using a theoretical or conceptual framework [Show Less]