Issues in Problem Questions vTvTvTvThe Role of Problem Questions vIvIvIvIsolation of Problems vCvCvCvComposing Problems

Issues in Problem Issues in Problem QuestionsQuestions

The Role of Problem The Role of Problem QuestionsQuestions

Isolation of ProblemsIsolation of Problems Composing ProblemsComposing Problems


Focus ResearchFocus Research Separate Relevant from Separate Relevant from Irrelevant BackgroundIrrelevant Background

To solve a problem, one To solve a problem, one must know what the must know what the problem isproblem is




Problem Problem Statements and Statements and VariablesVariables

““The objective of our study is to offer a The objective of our study is to offer a framework for conceptualizing refusals framework for conceptualizing refusals and to assess the framework by and to assess the framework by examining the claim that refusal examining the claim that refusal effectiveness can be predicted by the effectiveness can be predicted by the refuser’s social perception abilities.”refuser’s social perception abilities.”

““The present study was designed to The present study was designed to correlate the hearing-specific self-report correlate the hearing-specific self-report measures of communication functioning measures of communication functioning from CPHI with general measures of from CPHI with general measures of depression, loneliness, and depression, loneliness, and suspiciousness in persons with profound suspiciousness in persons with profound postlingually acquired hearing loss.” postlingually acquired hearing loss.”

““The present study has two objectives:The present study has two objectives:

(1) to examine and describe the verbal (1) to examine and describe the verbal style in the conversations in the first style in the conversations in the first meetings of zero-history, task-oriented, meetings of zero-history, task-oriented, leaderless small groups; andleaderless small groups; and

(2) to investigate the relationship of (2) to investigate the relationship of verbal style and the process of rejecting verbal style and the process of rejecting certain participants as potential leaders certain participants as potential leaders in the initial interactions of the groups.”in the initial interactions of the groups.”

Use of Use of “Subproblems”“Subproblems”

““Does the act of disclaiming one’s Does the act of disclaiming one’s stated position influence others’ stated position influence others’ attributions of credibility?attributions of credibility?

If so, If so, [subproblem 1][subproblem 1] do hedges and do hedges and cognitive dislaimers differ in the cognitive dislaimers differ in the magnitude and/or direction of their magnitude and/or direction of their effect, and effect, and [subproblem 2] [subproblem 2] does the does the simultaneous use of a hedge and a simultaneous use of a hedge and a cognitive disclaimer have a stronger cognitive disclaimer have a stronger effect than the singular use of a effect than the singular use of a hedge or a cognitive disclaimer?hedge or a cognitive disclaimer?




Selecting areas for Selecting areas for problem questionsproblem questions What are some research areas that What are some research areas that

interest you?interest you? What topic areas first drew you to What topic areas first drew you to

the field?the field? What are some topic areas you have What are some topic areas you have

read about in some of your classes?read about in some of your classes? What do you think is the most What do you think is the most

personally meaningful issue that personally meaningful issue that makes communication studies most makes communication studies most important to you?important to you?

Format for Developing Problem Format for Developing Problem QuestionsQuestions

What is the relationship What is the relationship between ____________between ____________

and and ____________?____________?

Criteria for Problem Criteria for Problem QuestionsQuestions

Stated unambiguouslyStated unambiguously Include at least two Include at least two variablesvariables

TestableTestable No value judgmentsNo value judgments GrammaticalGrammatical

Logic in ResearchLogic in Research

Major Premise: If p, then qMajor Premise: If p, then q

Minor Premise: p Minor Premise: p

Conclusion: q Conclusion: q



Minor Premise: p Minor Premise: p oror not q not q

Conclusion: q Conclusion: q not p not p



Minor Premise: p Minor Premise: p oror not q not q

Conclusion: q Conclusion: q not p not p

Logic of Using Logic of Using HypothesesHypotheses

Major Premise: Major Premise:

If theory is true, data support If theory is true, data support hypotheseshypotheses

Minor Premise:Minor Premise:

Theory is true Theory is true

Conclusion: Conclusion:

Data support hypotheses Data support hypotheses




Theory is true Theory is true or or data will not support data will not support

hypotheseshypotheses Conclusion: Conclusion:


oror Theory is not true Theory is not true





Theory is true Theory is true or or data will not support data will not support

hypotheseshypotheses Conclusion: Conclusion:


oror Theory is not true Theory is not true





Method to Construct Method to Construct Hypotheses of Simple Hypotheses of Simple RelationshipsRelationships

There will be a____________There will be a____________

relationship betweenrelationship between

________________and________________and

_________________._________________.

Method to Construct Method to Construct Hypotheses to Predict Hypotheses to Predict DifferencesDifferences

Subjects who are________________Subjects who are________________

will have______________will have______________

than others who than others who are__________________.are__________________.

H1 (non directional)

Notation for Hypotheses

==



==



H1 (directional)

==



H1 (directional)

==



H1 (directional)<

==



H1 (directional)

H o (null)

==



H1 (directional)

H o (null)=

Logic of the Null HypothesisLogic of the Null Hypothesis

Major Premise: If null hypothesis isMajor Premise: If null hypothesis is

true, data will show notrue, data will show no

relationships/differencesrelationships/differences

Minor Premise: Data showMinor Premise: Data show

relationships/differencesrelationships/differences Conclusion: Therefore, nullConclusion: Therefore, null

hypothesis is not truehypothesis is not true

Variable TypesVariable Types

INputsINputs

ININdependent dependent VariablesVariables

OUTputsOUTputs

Dependent Dependent VariablesVariables

See you See you next Time!next Time!

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Issues in Problem Questions vTvTvTvThe Role of Problem Questions vIvIvIvIsolation of Problems vCvCvCvComposing Problems