Nursing Research Q37
What are the advantages of using directional hypotheses? Select all that apply.
A. The indication of the use of a theory base to derive the hypothesis.
B. The provision of a specific theoretical frame of reference.
C. Ensurance that findings will be generalizable.
D. The indication of a non-biased selection of subjects.
Correct Answer: A, B
A directional (or one-tailed hypothesis) states which way the researcher thinks the results are going to go, for example in an experimental study we might say…”Participants who have been deprived of sleep for 24 hours will have more cold symptoms in the following week after exposure to a virus than participants who have not been sleep deprived.”
Option A: A decent hypothesis will contain two variables, in the case of an experimental hypothesis there will be an IV and a DV; in a correlational hypothesis there will be two co-variables.
Option B: A test of a nondirectional alternative hypothesis does not state the direction of the difference, it indicates only that a difference exists. In contrast, a directional alternative hypothesis specifies the direction of the tested relationship, stating that one variable is predicted to be larger or smaller than the null value.
Option C: A directional hypothesis is a prediction made by a researcher regarding a positive or negative change, relationship, or difference between two variables of a population.
Option D: A directional hypothesis is a one-tailed hypothesis that states the direction of the difference or relationship (e.g. boys are more helpful than girls).