Nursing Research Q50
When should a hypothesis be developed by the researcher during the research process?
A. Before development of the research question.
B. After development of the research question.
C. After a research design is determined.
D. Before any statistical analysis.
Correct Answer: B. After development of the research question.
The hypothesis is developed after development of the research question. Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that the researcher wants to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of the project.
Option A: The initial answer to the question should be based on what is already known about the topic. The researcher should look for theories and previous studies to help form educated assumptions about what the research will find. At this stage, the researcher might construct a conceptual framework to identify which variables will be studied and what the relationships are between them.
Option C: A research design encompasses the methodology and procedure employed to conduct scientific research. Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features distinguish scientific inquiry from other methods of obtaining knowledge.
Option D: If the research involves statistical hypothesis testing, the researcher will also have to write a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the default position that there is no association between the variables. The null hypothesis is written as H0, while the alternative hypothesis is H1 or Ha.