Post a critique of the research study in which you:
- Evaluate the research questions and hypotheses using the Research Questions and Hypotheses Checklist as a guide
- Identify the type of quantitative research design used and explain how the researchers implemented the design
- Analyze alignment among the theory, problem, purpose, research questions and hypotheses, and design.
This is the checklist that should be used as a guideline.
Research Questions and Hypotheses Checklist
Use the following criteria to evaluate an author’s research questions and/or hypotheses.
Look for indications of the following:
- Is the research question(s) a logical extension of the purpose of the study?
- Does the research question(s) reflect the best question to address the problem?
- Does the research question(s) align with the design of the study?
- Does the research question(s) align with the method identified for collecting data?
If the study is qualitative, does the research question(s) do as follows?
- Relate the central question to the qualitative approach
• Begin with What or How (not Why)
- Focus on a single phenomenon
- Use exploratory verbs
- Use nondirectional language
- Use an open-ended format
- Specify the participants and research site
If the study is quantitative:
- Do the descriptive questions seek to describe responses to major variables?
- Do the inferential questions seek to compare groups or relate variables?
- Do the inferential questions follow from a theory?
- Are the variables positioned consistently from independent/predictor to dependent/outcome in the inferential questions?
- Is a null and/or alternative hypothesis provided as a predictive statement?
Research Theory, Design, and Methods Walden University
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- Is the hypothesis consistent with its respective research question?
- Does the question(s) and/or hypothesis specify the participants and research site?
If the study is mixed methods, do the research questions and/or hypotheses do the following?
- Include the characteristics of a good qualitative research question (as listed above)
- Include the characteristics of a good quantitative research and/or hypothesis (as listed above)
- Indicate how the researcher will mix or integrate the two approaches of the study
- Specify the participants and research site
- Convey the overall intent of the study that calls for a mixed methods approach
