Formulating Problem
Concept, Indicator and VARIABLE
Concerns in Formulating Problem
Two issues are important in Formulating
Research Problem:
1. The Use of Concepts
2. Construction of Hypothesis
Concepts or ideas are subjective and not
measurable while Hypothesis is measurable
which can be tested and measured.
Concept
When we make judgment about an object or
situation, for example:
The food is excellent
The program is effective
This is a waste of time
Excellent,
Effective and waste of time are concept
and judgments and hence these are called
Concepts
Variable
If
a perception, concept or idea is capable of
measurement this is called Variable
Concepts are mental images which vary from
person to person but Variables have certain
values which are measurable such as Age,
Price, Weight, Religion, Sex etc.
However, concepts can be converted to
variable or measurable conditions.
Indicators
Concepts sometimes have indicators through which
is possible to convert for operationalization, such as
Richness is a concept but we can make judge of
richness by possessing some valuable objects,
House, Car, Bank Balance etc.
How much the house and car is worth of or what is
the price of these.
House and car are indicators
Converting Concept to Variable
Concept Indicator Variable Definition
Rich Income Income per year > Rs. 1,00,000
Assets Total value of Assets > Rs. 4,00,000
Ability Marks % of marks > 80%
Program Use How many are Numbers or %
Effective satisfied
Types of Variable
Variable can be classified in different ways,
three of these are listed here:
1. the causal relationship
2. the design of the study
3. the unit of measurement
Each of these criteria provides basis for types
of variables
Types of Variable - Causal Rel.
Causal
Relationship
Independen
Dependent Extraneous Intervening
t
Types of Variable – Causal Rel.
Independent Variable (IV)
Cause supposed to be responsible to bring change
Dependent Variable (DV)
Change which is the effect of Independent Variable
Extraneous Variable
Factors involved which may affect changes in Dependent Variable
Intervening Variable
Factors necessary to establish relationship between IV and DV
Example Causal Relationship
“People say that product sells well because of quality but we say the
product sells well because of effective advertisement.”
Response
(E.g. Cultural)
Advertisement Intervening Product Sale
(Assumed Change) Variable (Assumed Output)
Independent Dependent
Variable Variable
Affect Relation
(Assumed Factors)
• Advertising Medium
• Economic Status
• Education Level
Extraneous
Variable
Types of Variable - Study Des.
Study
Design
Active Attribute
Types of Variable – Study Des.
Active Variable
Variables which can be manipulated, changed or controlled; such as
Teaching Method, type of Experiment etc.
Because the teaching method and Experiment can be changed accordingly.
Attribute Variable
Variables which cannot be manipulated, changed or controlled; such as
Age, Gender, Religion, Attitude etc.
Types of Variable - Casual Rel.
Measuremen
t Unit
Qualitative Quantitative Continuous Categorical
Types of Variable – Mes. Unit
Quantitative Variable
Variables measured on interval or ratio scales
Qualitative Variable
Variables which are measured on ordinal scale
Continuous Variable
Like Quantitative Variables, it is measured on interval or ratio scales
Categorical Variable
Like Qualitative Variables, categories are made
HYPOTHESIS
Introduction
Thesecond consideration in Formulating a
Research Problem is Hypothesis.
Itbrings clarity and focus to a research
problem.
However, it is not necessary for all researches
But some research studies can have more than
one hypotheses.
Definition
Hypothesis is an assumption, supposition or
assertion about a situation
Itis a tentative statement about something, the
validity of which is unknown but can be tested
on valid data
Itis a pre-tested Solution to a Problem or
Answer to a Question which can be verified to
be True, Partially True or Wrong.
Types of Hypothesis
Theoreticallythere should be only one type of
hypothesis; that is a Research Hypothesis; also
called Working Hypothesis.
However, in scientific circles, there is another
type of hypothesis; the Alternative Hypothesis
also called Null Hypothesis.
A Research Hypothesis can further be classified
into Null, Point of Difference, of Association
Formulating Hypothesis
“IF” Format: (If the Situation is So the Result will be
So)
Example:
If the Advertising is Effective the Sale will be Increased.
Question Format: (How the outcome can be Changed)
Example:
How an advertising can change sale in the market?
Affirmative Statement:
Example:
A product sells well because of an effective advertising.
Thank You
Now
ASK
If You're Not Clear
