Hypothesis, Concepts, Construct and Variables

PA601 - Research Methods and Design

Concepts, Constructs, Variables and hypothesis

Presented by:Juhayr M. Amanoddin

Faculty In-charge:Dr. MHD Faheem Aliuden

- a generally accepted collection of meanings or characteristics associated with certain events, objects, conditions, situations, and behaviors.

CONCEPTS

- Classifying and categorizing objects or events that have common characteristics beyond any single observation creates concepts.

"Man passing" - Running, Walking, Skipping or Hopping

e.g

"Academic Acheivements" - Grades or Test Scores

- abstract concepts

CONSTRUCTS

- is an image or abstract idea specifically invented for a given research and/or theory-building purpose.

- broad concepts or topics of study.

- "Intelligence"- "Love" - Life Satisfaction"

e.g

- a measurable representation of an abstract construct.

VARIABLES

- It can also be explained as quantity or a number that will vary or will have different values.

- In a study on emotional intelligence and self esteem of adolescents in India emotional intelligence and self esteem can be termed as variables. Emotional intelligence can be high or low as can self esteem be. Both these variables can possess varied values. - Even gender can be termed as a variable because it will vary in terms of males or females.

e.g

independent vs. dependent variables

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES

DEPENDENT VARIABLES

vs

- considered the cause of the behavior-variable that is manipulated in experimental design

-the variable that is the "effect"-the "outcome" or "response" variable

Higher intelligence causes improved learning among students. "intelligence" = independent variable "learning" = dependent variable

e.g

EXPERIMENTAL vs. MEASURED variables

EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLES

MEASURED VARIABLES

vs

- refer to measurements

- spell out the details of the investigator's manipulation.

active vs. assigned variables

ACTIVE VARIABLES

ASSIGNED VARIABLES

vs

- variable that cannot be manipulated

- any variable which can be manipulated.

QUANTITATIVE vs. QUALITATIVE variables

QUANTITATIVE VARIABLES

QUALITATIVE VARIABLES

vs

- variable that consists of discrete categories rather than numerical units.

- one whose values or categories consist of numbers.- can be expressed numerically.

MODERATOR vs. COMBINED variables

MODERATOR VARIABLES

COMBINED VARIABLES

vs

- variable that maintains the relationship with a cause, relationship and effects.

- secondary Independent Variable which is selected for study to determine if it affects the relationship between the primary independent variable and the dependent variable.

HYPOTHESIS

- states your predictions about what your research will find.

- It is a tentative answer to your research question that has not yet been tested.

Daily exposure to the sun leads to increased levels of happiness.

e.g

TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS

1. Alternative Hypothesis

- states that there is a relationship between the two variables being studied (one variable has an effect on the other).

2. Null Hypothesis

- states that there is no relationship between the two variables being studied (one variable does not affect the other).

TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS

3. Nondirectional Hypothesis

- (two-tailed) hypothesis predicts that the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable, but the direction of the effect is not specified. It just states that there will be a difference.

e.g

There will be a difference in how many numbers are correctly recalled by children and adults.

TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS

4. Directional Hypothesis

- (one-tailed) hypothesis predicts the nature of the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. It predicts in which direction the change will take place. (i.e. greater, smaller, less, more)

Adults will correctly recall more words than children.

e.g

DEVELOPING HYPOTHESIS

Step 1. Ask a question

Step 2. Do some preliminary research

e.g. Do students who attend more lectures get better exam results?

Look for theories and previous studies to help you form educated assumptions about what your research will find.

Step 3. Formulate your hypothesis

4. Refine your hypothesis

e.g. Attending more lectures leads to better exam results.

You need to make sure your hypothesis is specific and testable.

5. Phrase your hypothesis in three ways

6. Write a null hypothesis

a. if…then formb. predicted relationship between variables c. difference you expect to find

The null hypothesis is written as H0, while the alternative hypothesis is H1 or Ha.

references:

Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social science research: Principles, methods, and practices. Textbooks Collection. 3.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-a-hypotheses.html#Types-of-research-hypotheses​

Leggett, A. (2011). Research problems and questions operationalization: constructs, concepts, variables and hypotheses.

https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/hypothesis/#:~:text=about%20writing%20hypotheses-,What%20is%20a%20hypothesis%3F,aspects%20of%20your%20research%20question.

Thanks!