Hypothesis and Research Question

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Recommended: COMPARE AND CONTRAST qualitative and quantitative research methods

Research questions are formulated in a study to inquire about variables, both independent and dependent variables, and the relationship between them. Research questions are categorized into two, that is, qualitative and quantitative research questions. Qualitative questions are used in qualitative research like case studies, surveys and action research where the approach is non-numerical and analyses special phenomena that occur in nature. Quantitative research on the other hand is more of a systematic approach with measurable numerical quantities that go through analysis to prove a hypothesis. Finally, the research hypothesis is either approved or disapproved with regards to the results of the analysis (Laureate Online Education B.V. 2010). Hypotheses differ from research questions in that, they are predictions that researchers come up with about variables and expected relationships between them (Creswell 2008). Hypotheses are mostly used in experimental exercises and are used in making comparison of groups. Hypotheses are basically formulated in two forms; null and directional hypothesis. Null hypotheses predict the lack of relationship between groups. Alternative hypothesis is categorized into two; directional hypothesis which predicts on an expected outcome and non-directional hypotheses which make predictions without specifying differences and relationships due to lack of past information that can be used to predict the differences. The difference between a hypotheses and a research question lies on the fact that a hypothesis is a tentative statement which is more precise/specific and predicts an outcome. A research question is a general statement compared to a hypothesis (eNotes.com, Inc 2011). A hypothesis predicts an outc...

... middle of paper ...

...in phenomena and the other is a correct or incorrect prediction of an experimental outcome that can be proven wrong or right through an analysis made during research.

List of References

Creswell, 2008. Research Questions and Hypothesis, pp 129

Available at: http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/22782_Chapter_7.pdf

eNotes.com Inc, 2011. Encyclopedia of Management

Available at:http://www.enotes.com/management-encyclopedia/hypothesis-testing

Laureate Online Education B.V., 2010. The Research Methods Training, The University of

Liverpool, pp 1-5, Available at: case study attached

Marion, 2004. Research Skills for New scientists, The University of Texas Medical Branch

Available at: http://www.sahs.utmb.edu/pellinore/intro_to_research/wad/wad_home.htm

Pajares, 2007. The Elements of a Proposal, Emory University.

Available at: http://des.emory.edu/mfp/proposal.html

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