Nursing Research Chapter 9
What is null hypothesis?
(H0) predicts that no relationship exists between variables, and it is the null hypothesis that is subjected to statistical analysis
What is research hypothesis?
(H1) states the expected relationship between variables
Simple hypothesis is also known as what?
(bivariate)
Complex hypothesis is also known as what?
(multivariate)
A hypothesis should...
- be written in a declarative sentence - be written in the present tense - contain the population - reflect the problem statement, purpose, or research question - contain the variables - be empirically testable
9. Which of the following are requirements in the structure of a hypothesis? (Select all that apply.) A. written in present tense B. written as a question C. contains the population of interest D. contains the independent and dependent variables
A,C,D: These three are requirements of the structure of a hypothesis. - Answer B is incorrect because hypotheses should be written as statements.
The main purpose of a hypothesis in a research study is to.... A. predict the expected results or outcome of a study B. define the theoretical framework for the study C. identify the source of the problem under study D. Clarify the concepts used in a study
A: A hypothesis tells the reader what the researcher expects to discover about the relationship between the variables being measured. - Answer B is incorrect because the hypothesis might be testing a part of theory; it does not define the theory. - Answer C is incorrect because it will be congruent with the problem under study, it will not indicate the source problem. - Answer D is incorrect because the concepts may be named in the hypothesis, but the hypothesis will not clarify or define concepts.
"Gel pillows will reduce bilateral head flattening in preterm infants." This hypothesis is which of the following: A. casual, directional, simple B. casual, nondirectional, simple C. associative, directional, complex D. associative, nondirectional, complex
A: Gel pillows cause (casual) reduction (direction). Answer C is incorrect because gel pillows will reduce is a causal statement - Answer B is incorrect because reduction indicates direction _ Answer D is incorrect because gel pillows will reduce is a causal statement; if this was an associative hypothesis, it would state that there is a relationship between the use of gel pillows bilateral head flattening, and reduction indicates direction
What is the relationship between the research question and the hypothesis? A. There is no relationship between the research question and the hypothesis B. The hypothesis is the expected outcome of the research question C. The research question is empirically tested while the hypothesis is theoretically tested D. The research question and the hypothesis are exactly the same
B: The research question expresses the inquiry of the research problem and the hypothesis is a statement of prediction about what the outcome of the study will be. - Answer A and D are incorrect because the research question and hypothesis are different but related - Answer C is incorrect the hypothesis is empirically tested
Which of the following hypotheses is complex and demonstrates an associative, directional relationship between variables? A. Older adults demonstrate a lower self-image after retirement than before retirement. B. The job turnover rate and job dissatisfaction levels of graduate nurses who have worked less than 2 years is higher than for those who have worked 2 or more years. C. New mothers who participate in support groups report less postpartum depression and higher self-confidence than new mothers who do not attend support groups D. There is a higher incidence of marijuana usage among first-year high school students than among high school seniors.
B: There are two dependent variables (job turnover rate and job dissatisfaction levels), and one independent variable (length of time in job), which makes the hypothesis complex. The word higher indicates direction, and the hypothesis is associative because the researchers are examining the relationship between length of time in job and turnover and satisfaction. Length of time in job does not cause job satisfaction or turnover. - Answer A is simple, associative, directional. - Answer C is causal (participation in support groups is an intervention that some mothers will get and others will not), directional, and complex. -Answer D is associative, directional, and simple.
"Preoperative pain medication education is more effective in reducing surgical patients' perception of pain and anxiety postoperatively than no preoperative pain medication education." What type of variable is "anxiety"? A. independent B. extraneous C. dependent D. confounding
C: Anxiety is a dependent variable because the measurement of this variable will determine the effect that structured, perioperative support has on the patient's perception of pain. - Answer A is incorrect because the independent variable in this hypothesis is "preoperative pain medication education," which is the manipulated variable. - Answers B and D are incorrect because no extraneous or confounding variables are identified in the hypothesis.
10. If a nurse researcher wanted to examine if there is a decrease in the number of medication errors in a pediatric clinic when nurses use pre-filled syringes for vaccines, which would be the best hypothesis statement? A. The use of pre-filled syringes will have an effect on medication errors for pediatric clinic patients when compared to the use of nurse-prepared syringes. B. Will the use of pre-filled syringes have an effect on medication errors for pediatric clinic patients when compared to the use of nurse-prepared syringes? C. The use of pre-filled syringes will result in decreased medication errors for pediatric clinic patients when compared to the use of nurse-prepared syringes. D. Will the use of pre-filled syringes result in decreased medication errors for pediatric clinic patients when compared to the use of nurse-prepared syringes?
C: The hypothesis is a declarative statement that includes the independent and dependent variable, the population of interest, and indicates the direction of the anticipated relationship. - Answer A is incorrect because it does not indicate the direction of the anticipated relationship. - Answer B is incorrect because it is phrased as a question and does not indicate the direction of the anticipated relationship. - Answer D is incorrect because it is phrased as a question.
Which of the following is true about the relationship between the hypotheses and the theoretical framework of a study? A: If the hypotheses are stated, the researcher does not need to have a framework B: The framework is tested, not the hypothesis C: The framework and hypotheses must be congruent with each other. D: Hypotheses are inductively identified within the stated framework
C: The hypothesis should reflect the main ideas of a theoretical framework. A hypothesis may test one or more propositional statements of a theory. - Answer A is incorrect because all studies should have a theoretical framework - Answer B is incorrect because hypothesis and theoretical frameworks are tested - Answer D is incorrect because hypotheses are deductively identified from theoretical frameworks
Which of the following hypotheses is simple and demonstrates a causal, nondirectional relationship between variables? A. Cancer patients who receive music therapy complain less frequently of pain and require less pain medication than cancer patients not receiving music therapy. B. Normal saline flush with heparin is more effective than normal saline flush alone in maintaining patency of an intermittent intravenous site. C. Low-fat diet is related to lower total cholesterol and higher HDL (high-density lipoprotein). D. Delaying the first bath of newborns until 12 hours after birth affects the number of breastfeeding attempts in the first 48 hours of life when compared to not delaying the first bath of newborns.
D: Delayed bath (independent variable) has an effect on breastfeeding attempts (dependent variable), the expected direction of the relationship is not stated, and the hypothesis is testing one independent and one dependent variable. - A is incorrect because the hypothesis is causal, complex and directional. - B is incorrect because the hypothesis is causal, simple, directional. - C is incorrect because the hypothesis is associative, directional, simple.
"There is a relationship between the use of formula and the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants." This hypothesis is which of the following: A. casual, directional B. casual, nondirectional C. associative, directional D. associative, nondirectional
D: There is a relationship (associative) between the use of formula and incidence (no direction indicated) of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. - Answer A is incorrect because " There is a relationship" does not indicate causation, and "incidence" does not indicate and increase or decrease in necrotizing enterocolitis. - Answer B is incorrect because "There is a relationship" does not indicate causation. - Answer C is incorrect because "Incidence" does not indicate does not indicate and increase or decrease in necrotizing enterocolitis
What is an independent variable?
The variable that is changed in the experiment (the cause)
What is an dependent variable?
What is measured or observed during an experiment (the effect)
What is the definition of hypothesis?
a statement of the predicted relationship between two or more variables
What is complex hypothesis?
concerns a relationship in which two or more independent variables, or two or more dependent variables, or both, are being examined in the same study
What is simple hypothesis?
concerns the relationship between one independent variable and one dependent variable
What is causal research hypothesis?
predicts that the independent variable will cause something to occur to the dependent variable, the effect on the dependent variable is direct result of the independent variable
What is associative research hypothesis?
predicts that there will be a relationship between the variables
What is nondirectional research hypothesis?
the researcher merely predicts that a relationship exists
What is directional research hypothesis?
the researcher predicts the type of relationship that is expected
