Nursing Research Q44
Which statement is most accurate regarding hypotheses?
A. Hypothesis operationally defines the dependent variables.
B. Hypotheses are statements about the relationships among variables.
C. Hypotheses describe the effect of the dependent variable on the independent variable.
D. Hypotheses must include a definition of the treatment or intervention used.
Correct Answer: B. Hypotheses are statements about the relationships among variables.
Hypotheses are statements about the relationships between two or more variables that suggest an answer to the research question. A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. It is a specific, testable prediction about what the researcher expects to happen in a study.
Option A: Hypotheses are not concerned with operationally defining the variables involved in the study. In the scientific method, whether it involves research in psychology, biology, or some other area, a hypothesis represents what the researchers think will happen in an experiment.
Option C: The independent variable is not affected or changed by the dependent variable. A variable is a factor or element that can be changed and manipulated in ways that are observable and measurable. However, the researcher must also define how the variable will be manipulated and measured in the study.
Option D: Hypotheses are not concerned with operationally defining the variables involved in the study, including treatments or interventions. These precise descriptions are important because many things can be measured in a number of different ways. One of the basic principles of any type of scientific research is that the results must be replicable.