Asking Questions

Checklist for the Research Question

• Short and direct• Doable• Starts with words, why or do• It interests me• It is important• It is a puzzle

What is a variable?

What is interesting to you?

Question

Forming a hypothesis

1. A hypothesis is an arguable proposition; that is, a statement about which reasonable people can disagree, on the nature of something or a relationship between things. Often a hypothesis is framed out of a question.

• Example: Younger U.S. citizens are less likely to vote than older ones.

Operationalizing the concepts

2. How do we define the terms in the hypothesis so that it can be tested?

• In this example, we have to define what we mean by young and old. The hypothesis must be refined so that it can be tested:

• U.S. Citizens aged 18-24 are less likely to vote than those aged 45-55.

Identifying independent & dependent variables

3. Identifying independent & dependent variables. • Age and voting are our two variables. We are

claiming there is a relationship between the two. • Independent variable: something that affects

something else. [age]• Dependent variable: something that is affected

by something else. [voting]

Measurement criteria

• 4. Measurement criteria. What methods do we use? In this example, we use exit polls or other public opinion surveys, asking people about their voting behavior and their age. That would provide our evidence.

A causation or correlation?

• Younger people are less likely to vote. Why might this be the case? Does youth cause a lower likelihood of voting?

• All we can say is that the two variables correlate. What other factors may affect lower voting turnout for younger people?