Non-Tobacco Cigarettes: Combatting the Effects of Tobacco Smoking on Endothelium and Platelets

• Kerlinger defines research “is a systematic, controlled, empirical, and critical investigation of hypothetical propositions about the presumed relations among natural phenomena”

• Emory defines research as “any organized inquiry designed and carried out to provide information for problem solving”

• Best defines research as “systematic and objective analysis and recording of controlled observations that may lead to the development of generalizations, principles or theories, resulting in prediction and possibly ultimate control of events”

• Clover and Balsley define research as “the process of systematically obtaining accurate answers to significant and pertinent questions by the use of scientific method of gathering and interpreting information”

• Zikmund(1991) defines research as “the systematic and objective process of gathering, recording and analysing data to aid business decisions making”

A research hypothesis is a prediction of the outcome of a study. The prediction may be based on an educated guess or a formal theory.
E.g. 1) first grade girls will show better reading comprehension than first grade boys.
2) An increase in labour affects productivity
Statement about the relationship between 2 or more variables
Converts the question into a statement that predicts an expected outcome
E.g. For example, if one were asked to predict which students would obtain higher achievement scores on a test, a group who used cooperative learning or a group who received lecture-only, most would guess--hypothesize--that the cooperative learning group would obtain the higher achievement scores. Theory – According to McClelland’s Human Motivation Theory, People motivated by affiliation work best in a group environment. Hypothesis - The Giver (ENFJ) personality will would prefer to work in the team rather than The Mechanic (ISTP) personality
Observation – observation of price behaviour in the market, relationship between the price and demand for an article can be hypothesised.
Intuition/ Culture
Findings of studies
Consistent with previous research: Hypotheses that contradict previous research, especially a large body of research, must have sound reasoning in order for it to be acceptable by the reader. For example, it would seem odd, to hypothesize that the lecture group would have higher achievement scores given that much of the research on cooperative learning supports the notion that cooperative learning results in better student achievement.