Theory & Hypothesis

EDHE6530
Dr. Pu-Shih Daniel Chen
Overview
• Review our progress
• Theory and hypothesis
• Research questions and definition of
terms
• In-class practice
• Research paper requirements
A Quick Review
NIH Ethical Principles
• Respect for persons
– Autonomous agents
– Informed consent
– Diminished autonomy
• Beneficence
– Risks and Benefits
– Privacy and confidentiality
• Justice
– Benefits and burdens for individuals and
groups
Characters of good research
questions?

Relationship Clear

Feasible Significant

Ethical
Operational Definition
• How do you plan to MEASURE it?
• How do you plan to conduct the
EXPERIMENT to study it?
Dissertation
• Chapter One: Introduction
• Chapter Two: Literature Review
• Chapter Three: Methodology
• Chapter Four: Results
• Chapter Five: Discussion and Implications
Dissertation Proposal
• Chapter One: Introduction
• Chapter Two: Literature Review
• Chapter Three: Methodology
• Chapter Four: Results
• Chapter Five: Discussion and Implications
Chapter One
• Introduction/problem statement
• Purpose of the study
• Conceptual framework or theoretical
orientation
• Research questions and hypotheses
• Definition of terms
• Significance of the study
• Limitations, delimitations, and assumptions
• Organization of the Study
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Name your topic:
– I am trying to learn about (working on,
studying) ___________________
2. Add a question:
– I am studying X because I want to find out
who/what/when/where/whether/why/how
___________________
3. Motivate your readers:
– I am studying X because Y in order to
___________________
Concept
• Abstraction from observed events
• General heading to simplify events
• Distillation of common characteristics
• Directly OBSERVABLE
Construct
• Used to summarize observations
• Provide explanations
• Higher level of abstractions
• Combines concepts
• Accounts for observed regularities and
relationships
Variables
• Defined as a factor – things that varies
• Characteristic or condition that changes
or has different values for different
individuals
• Types of variables
– Categorical
– Dichotomous
– Continuous
Dependent Variable
• Object of study
• Depends on/varies with independent
variable
• Observed for changes to assess the effect of
the treatment
• What is being MEASURED
• Abbreviated as DV
• Usually the last variable cited in the research
question
Independent Variable
• Manipulated/change by the experimenter
• We study its effects
• Causative agent
• Occurs antecedent to the DV
• Experimental treatment
• Abbreviated as IV
• Predictions made FROM IV TO DV
• Usually the first variable cited
Limitations vs. Delimitations
• Limitations
– Factors that potentially reduce a study’s
validity and initial scope and that is out of
the researcher’s control
• Delimitations
– Factors and issues not of concern to the
research or limitations imposed by the
researcher
Assumptions
• Assumptions
– Postulates, premises, and propositions that
are accepted and assumed to be true for
the purpose of the research.
Review Your Progress
1. Name your topic:
– I am trying to learn about (working on,
studying) ___________________
2. Add a question:
– I am studying X because I want to find out
who/what/when/where/whether/why/how
___________________
3. Motivate your readers:
– I am studying X because Y in order to
___________________
Draft Your Research Questions
• I am studying [X] because [Y] in order to [Z]
• My research questions are:
– What is the effect of [IV] on [DV] among
[population]?
– Is there a significant difference between [IV]
and/versus [IV] on [DV] among [population]?
• My hypotheses are:
• Definition of Terms:
– For the purpose of this study, [IV, DV] is
defined as
 Next Step
General
research
questions Specific
Definition of
research
terms
questions

Research
Collecting data
hypotheses
Analyzing data
Theory, Hypothesis, & Research
Question
Theory
• Pulls together results of observations –
help to organize and unify them
• Enable one to make general statements
about variables and relationships among
variables
• Provides information to make specific
predictions of research outcomes
• Directs and promotes future research
Theory of Student Departure in
Commuter Colleges and Universities
Another Example
Integrated Model of Contemporary
College Learning Outcomes

Baxter Magolda, M. B., &

King, P. M. (Eds.). (2004).
Learning partnerships:
Theory and models of
practice to educate for
self-authorship. Sterling,
VA: Stylus
Developmental Foundations of
Learning Outcomes

Baxter Magolda, M. B.,

& King, P. M. (Eds.).
(2004). Learning
partnerships: Theory
and models of practice
to educate for self-
authorship. Sterling, VA:
Stylus.
Hypothesis
• A prediction about possible study
outcomes
• Prediction about how the manipulation
of the independent variable (IV) will
affect dependent variable (DV)
• Derived from theory
Hypothesis sets forth an anticipated
relationship between two or more
variables
Examples
• A positive relationship exists between
student efforts and learning outcomes
• The dropout rate is higher for low SES
student than for high SES students
• A positive relationship exists between
living in residence hall and first year
retention
Good Hypothesis must be…
• Clearly stated
• Testable
• Comes from research question
Draft Your Research Questions
• I am studying [X] because [Y] in order to [Z]
• My research questions are:
– What is the effect of [IV] on [DV] among
[population]?
– Is there a significant difference between [IV]
and/versus [IV] on [DV] among [population]?
• My hypotheses are:
• Definition of Terms:
– For the purpose of this study, [IV, DV] is
defined as
Purposes of Hypothesis
• A tentative explanation of phenomena
• A relationship, testable statement
• Direction to research
Developing Hypotheses
• Deduction
• Induction
Deduction
• General to specific
• Based on presumed relationships
between variables
• Begins with theories
Induction
• Specific to general
• Begins with specific observations
• Combines observations to produce a
general statement – hypothesis
• Exploratory studies
A hypothesis is…
• Based solely on data
• Rejected or fail to reject
• Never proven true or false
• Supported or not supported
Types of Hypotheses
• Null Hypothesis
• Research Hypothesis
– Directional
– Nondirectional
Null Hypothesis
• Empirical investigations involve statistical
tests
• No relationship – No difference
• Negates expectation
• Observed differences by chance
• Statistics determine probability that null
is true
Null Hypothesis Examples
• Participating in new student orientation
has no effect on student achievement
• There will be no difference between boys
and girls in math achievement at the
middle school level
More Examples
• There will be no difference in the
retention rate between Caucasians and
African-Americans
• Obese people do not eat more than
people who are not obese
Research Hypotheses
• Advantages
– Forces thinking about outcomes
– Predictions based on evidence and theory
• Disadvantages
– May lead to bias
– May prevent noticing other phenomena,
results in tunnel vision
Directional Research
Hypotheses
• Specific direction MADE about study
outcome
• Assumes what will happen in study
Directional Examples
• Individuals who smoke will have a
HIGHER incidence of respiratory illnesses
than individuals who do not smoke.
• Students who spend more time working
off campus will be LESS engaged on
campus activities.
More examples
• A combination of reading readiness
training and programmed reading
instruction will be MORE effective in
teaching reading than normal classroom
instruction in sight reading.
Nondirectional Research
Hypotheses
• Specific prediction NOT MADE about
study outcomes
• Assumes that a difference will be
present, but does not place a direction
on difference
Nondirectional Examples
• Individuals whose meals consist of items
from all the basic food groups will have a
different body fat content than
individuals who are vegetarians.
• The IQs of boys enrolled in the preschool
intervention program will be different
from the IQs of girls in the preschool
intervention program.
More examples
• The attitudes of teachers who attended
the At-Risk workshop will be different
from the attitude of teachers who did
not attend the At-Risk workshop.
Nondirectional hypothesis
≠
Null Hypothesis
Example
• Research Questions: What is the effect of a
online teaching workshop on the attitude of
teachers toward online teaching?
• Research Hypothesis: Teacher’s attitudes
toward online teaching will improve as a result
of attending a workshop on online teaching.
• Null Hypothesis: There will be no difference in
teacher’s attitudes toward online teaching
measured before and after a workshop on
online teaching.
Example 2
• Research Questions: Is there a difference in
first year retention rates between students
who attended early and late orientation
sessions?
• Research Hypothesis: Students who attend
early orientation sessions will have a higher
first year retention rate.
• Null Hypothesis: There will be no difference in
first year retention rates between students
who attend early and late orientation sessions.
In class activities
• Construct your own directional research
hypotheses and null hypotheses and
share with the class
• Construct your own nondirectional
research hypotheses and null hypotheses
and share with the class
Draft Your Research Questions
• I am studying [X] because [Y] in order to [Z]
• My research questions are:
– What is the effect of [IV] on [DV] among
[population]?
– Is there a significant difference between [IV]
and/versus [IV] on [DV] among [population]?
• My hypotheses are:
• Definition of Terms:
– For the purpose of this study, [IV, DV] is
defined as
Chapter One
• Introduction/problem statement
• Purpose of the study
• Conceptual framework or theoretical
orientation
• Research questions and hypotheses
• Definition of terms
• Significance of the study
• Limitations, delimitations, and assumptions
• Organization of the Study
Research Paper Requirements