Lecture - 6 16.04.12

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The research process: theoretical framework and hypothesis development

CHAPTER 4

Compiled By: Muhammad Yasir Rafiq

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Chapter Objectives Identify and label variables associated

with any given situation. Establish the links among the variables

and evolve a theoretical framework. Develop a set of hypotheses to be

tested and state them in the null and the alternate.

Apply what has been learned to a research project.


Theoretical Framework

A theoretical framework represents your beliefs on how certain phenomena (or variables or concepts) are related to each other (a model) and an explanation on why you believe that these variables are associated to each other (a theory).

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Yasir Rafiq


Basic steps: Identify and label the variables

correctly State the relationships among the

variables: formulate hypotheses Explain how or why you expect

these relationships

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Variables

Any concept or construct that varies or changes in value

Main types of variables: Dependent variable Independent variable Moderating variable Mediating variable (or intervening)


(In)dependent Variables Dependent variable (DV)

Is of primary interest to the researcher. The goal of the research project is to understand, predict or explain the variability of this variable.

Independent variable (IV) Influences the DV in either positive or

negative way. The variance in the DV is accounted for by the IV.

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Examples

List the variables, and label them as dependent or independent, explaining why they are so labeled.

Example 1 An applied researcher wants to

increase the performance of organizational members in particular bank.


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Answer to Example 1

The dependent variable is organizational performance because it is the primary variable of interest to the applied researcher, who wants to increase the commitment of the members in the bank.


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Example 2

A marketing manager wonders why the recent advertisement strategy does not work. What would be the dependent variable here?

Answer: The dependent variable is advertisement strategy because the marketing manager is interested in knowing why the recent strategy does not work.


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Example 3

Research studies indicate that successful new product development has an influence on the stock market price of the company. That is, the more successful the new product turns out to be, the higher will be the stock market price of the firm.


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Answer to the Example 3

Independent Variable is the success of the new product.

Dependent Variable is the stock market price.



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Example 5

A manager believes that good supervision and training would increase the production level of the workers.

Answer Dependent V.: Production ( Main

variable of interest) Independent V.: Supervision and

Training ( Help to explain the variance in production)


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Example 6

A consultant is of the opinion that much benefit would accrue by buying and selling at the appropriate times in a financial environment where the stocks are volatile.

Answer Dependent V.: Gains (variable of

primary interest). Independent V.: Buying at right time

and Selling at right time (Explain the variance in gains or benefit).


More Terminology

Presumed cause Presumed effectStimulus ResponsePredicted From Predicted toAntecedent ConsequenceManipulated Outcome response

Predictor Criterion


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The Moderating Variable

Is one that has a strong contingent effect on the independent variable-dependent variable relationship.

The presence of the moderating variable modifies the original relationship between the independent and dependent variables.


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Example 8

Students and library, the moderating variable is their attitude.


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The Intervening Variable

Is one that surfaces between the time the independent variables start operating to influence the dependent variable and the time their impact is felt on it.


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Example


Sometimes we want to understand the process or variables through which one variable affects another variable .

This brings us to the idea of intervening variables (also called mediator or mediating variables) .

Intervening variables are variables that occur between two other variables. For example, tissue damage is an intervening

variable in the smoking and lung cancer relationship. We can use arrows (which mean causes or affects) and

draw the relationship that includes an intervening variable like this:Smoking---->Tissue Damage---->Lung Cancer.

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Having examined the different kinds of variables that could operate in a situation and how the relationships among these can be established, it is now possible to see how we can develop the conceptual model or the theoretical framework for our research.


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The theoretical framework is the foundation on which the entire research project is based.

It is a logically developed, described, and elaborated network of associations among the variables deemed relevant to the problem situation.


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The components of the theoretical framework

1. The variables considered relevant to the study should be clearly defined.

2. A conceptual model that describes the relationships between the variables in the model should be given.

3. A clear explanation of why we expect these relationships to exist.


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The Relationship Between the Literature Survey and the Theoretical Framework

The literature survey provides a solid foundation for developing the theoretical framework.

The literature survey identifies the variables that might be important, as determined by previous research findings.


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The Relationship Between the Literature Survey and the Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework elaborates the relationships among the variables, explains the theory underlying these relations, and describes the nature and direction of the relationships.

The theoretical framework provides the logical base for developing testable hypotheses.


Hypothesis

Definition: A testable kind of proposition is called hypothesis.

It is also called conjectural statement


Examples

1 -Teachers in The UOL have higher

than average level of commitment.

2 -Level of job commitment of the officers is associated with their level of efficiency.

3 -Level of job commitment of the officers is positively associated with their level of efficiency.

4 -The higher the level of job commitment of the officers the lower their level of absenteeism .


Types of Hypothesis

1 -Descriptive HypothesisMajority of students enrolled in MBA class are highly motivated.


Types of Hypothesis

2 -Relational HypothesisThis describes the relationship b/w the variables. It may be directional or non-directional.

A- Non- Directional

Job satisfaction and motivation are related.


Types of HypothesisB – Directional

In it direction of relationship is also specified. Use the words like as : Positive, negative, more than, less than etc.

C- Corrlational HypothesisVariable occurs in some specified manners without implying that one cause other.

e.g Level of job commitment of officers is +vely associated with their level of efficiency. Direction Not cause

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Types of Hyp. (cont.) Explanatory Hypothesis It is discussed under the frame work of

Correlational hypothesis. Also called the Causal Hypothesis. Relationship b/w X & Y is specified.

e.g. X cause change in Y:Change in one variable is explained by change in

another variable.High motivation cause high efficiency.


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Different way to state the Hypothesis Hi motivation cause hi efficiency. Hi motivation leads to hi efficiency. Hi motivation & hi efficiency are +vely

related. Hi motivation influence hi efficiency. Hi motivation is associated with hi efficiency. Hi motivation produce hi efficiency. Hi motivation results in hi efficiency. If Hi motivation then the hi efficiency.


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Null and Alternate Hypotheses

The null hypotheses is a proposition that states a definitive, exact relationship between two variables.

It states that the population correlation between two variables is equal to zero (or some definite number).

In general, the null statement is expressed as no (significant) difference between two groups.


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The Alternate Hypotheses

The alternate hypotheses is the opposite of the null hypotheses, is a statement expressing a relationship between two variables or indicating differences between groups.


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Examples for the Directional Relationships The null hypotheses: In past example were

we state that: Women are more motivated than men are. Then,

H0: µM = µw

Or H0: µM - µw = 0 Where H0 represents the null hypotheses, µM is the mean motivational level of the

men, µw is the mean motivational level of

women.Compiled By: Muhammad

Yasir Rafiq

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The alternate hypotheses for the above example:

HA : µM < µw

Which is the same as HA : µM > µw

Where HA represents the alternate hypotheses.


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Examples for the nondirectional relationship

There is a difference between the work ethic of American and Arabian employees.

The null hypotheses would be: Ho: µAM = µAR

Or Ho: µAM - µAR = 0 Where µAM is the mean work ethic value

of Americans and µAR is the mean work ethic value of Arabs.


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The alternate hypotheses for the above example would statistically be set as:

HA: µAM ≠ µAR

where HA represents the alternate hypotheses.


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For the example: The greater the stress experienced in the job, the lower the job satisfaction of employees.

The null hypotheses would be: Ho: There is no relationship between stress

experienced on the job and the job satisfaction of employees.

This would be statistically expressed by: Ho: P = 0 where P represents the correlation between stress and job satisfaction, which in this case is

equal to 0 ( no correlation).


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The alternate hypotheses for the above null, can be stated as:

HA: P<0 (the correlation is negative)


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For the example: There is a relationship between age and job satisfaction.

For this nondirectional statement, the null hypotheses would be statistically expressed as:

H0: p=0 The alternate hypotheses would be

expressed as: H0: P ≠ 0


Role of Hypothesis It guides the direction of study, i.e. identify

the variable and relationship b/w them. It identify the facts which are relevant and

which are irrelevant. Study design ( Descriptive, Correlation,

Quantitative, Qualitative etc.)


Charachterstics of Hypothesis Hypothesis must be conceptually cleared. Hypothesis should have empirically

references. Hypothesis must be specific. (Specific to

time, space, situation, population etc.)


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Lecture - 6 16.04.12