Deck 4: The Purpose of the Study

Question 1

Using the concepts and constructs you outlined in the exercise for Chapter 3, identify specific variables and state a relationship between or among the variables.

Answer 1

Responses will vary, or students could be given a specific focus area. The responses should help the student to recognize the connection or relationship of concepts to construct, including defining variables and stating a relationship between variables.

Question 2

Using "time on task" and "reading comprehension" as variables, state a research hypothesis in an "If…then…" syllogism. How could this be stated as a research question?

Answer 2

Hypothesis: "If time on task is increased, then reading comprehension will increase." Research question: "Will a decrease in time on task have an adverse effect on reading comprehension?" There are other variations that could be used.

Question 3

Write null and alternate hypotheses for the relationship between the variables "teacher salary" and "job satisfaction."

Answer 3

Null: There is no difference in teacher job satisfaction for teachers at different salary levels. Or, teacher salary is not related to teacher job satisfaction.
Alternate: As teacher salary increases, teacher job satisfaction will increase.

Question 4

Why are operational definitions important for research?

Question 5

Using teachers and administrators as research groups, state a relationship that represents a difference between the groups. State a relationship that represents a similarity.

Question 6

Put the relationships from Question 5 "Using teachers and administrators as research groups, state a relationship that represents a difference between the groups. State a relationship that represents a similarity." into a research question.