Relationship research questions include comparison (difference questions) and strength of association (associational):
Difference research questions are used when comparing scores (on the dependent variable) on two or more groups. These questions attempt to demonstrate that groups are not the same on the dependent variable.
Association research questions are used when the researcher wants to examine the association or relationship between variables. The approach is commonly used to see how two or more variables covary (vary together). For example, do higher values on one variable correspond to higher values on the other? These questions are also used to how one or more variables can be used to predict another variable.
Descriptive research questions do not use inferential statistics. Descriptive questions are used to summarize or describe the current data. No generalization to a larger population of individuals.
Please review the schematic diagram below:
Schematic Diagram
Figure 11. Schematic Diagram
For example:
Research Question 1:
Q: What is the relationship between family socioeconomic level and student state-mandated test performance?
Ho: A non-significant relationship will exist between family socioeconomic level and student state-mandated test performance.
Ha: A significant relationship will exist between family socioeconomic level and student state-mandated test performance.
Research Question 2:
Q: What is the relationship between family socioeconomic level, gender, and student state-mandated test performance?
Ho: A non-significant relationship will exist between family socioeconomic level, gender, and student state-mandated test performance.
Ha: A significant relationship will exist between family socioeconomic level, gender, and student state-mandated test performance.
Research Question 3:
Q: What is the effect of an intensive language immersion program on spoken English acquisition skills among high school ESL students?
Ho: An intensive language immersion program will result in a non-significant effect on spoken English acquisition skills among high school ESL students.
Ha: An intensive language immersion program will result in a significant effect on spoken English acquisition skills among high school ESL students.
Research Question 4:
Q: What is the effect of an intensive language immersion program on spoken English acquisition skills among high school ESL students by gender?
Ho: An intensive language immersion program will result in a non-significant effect on spoken English acquisition skills among high school ESL students by gender.
Ha: An intensive language immersion program will result in a significant effect on spoken English acquisition skills among high school ESL students by gender.
You will then need to explain the type of statistical analysis to be employed to analyze the relationships and effects between variables. Keep in mind, a statistical relationship analysis involving two variables often involves a Pearson r correlation or a simple regression while a statistical relationship analysis involving three or more variables often involves multiple correlations—or what is more widely known as multiple regression. A statistical analysis testing for effect involving two variables often involves some form of a t-test; on the other hand, a statistical analysis of effect involving three or more variables often involves some form of an ANOVA.
Carefully review the scenario and research questions provided below for you to develop the statistical analyses plans.
Scenario:
You are the new director of institutional research at a small state university, and you have been assigned the task of analyzing information for the dean of the School of Education regarding the performance of their undergraduate students on the often-controversial Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Many educators believe the GRE is a poor evaluator of undergraduate performance as well as a poor predictor of graduate