PICOT research
Research Questions, Hypothesis, and Variables with Operational Definitions
- Research Question. State your question in PICOT format
- Hypothesis: Research and Null. The research hypothesis is a directional statement stemming from your PICOT question. See mine above. The research hypothesis might be: The use of a mattress overlay will reduce pressure injuries on unit xyz. The null hypothesis means my intervention won’t work. A null hypothesis might be: The use of a mattress overlay will not reduce pressure injuries on unit xyz.
- Identifying and Defining Study Variables. This is where you identify your independent and dependent variables. The independent variable is the intervention-in my case-the mattress overlay product. The dependent variable is what you are measuring-in my case-pressure injury prevalence rates.
- Operationalize Variables. You will need to define your variables. For example, I’ve got to define what I mean by mattress overlay and I have to define how I will calculate pressure injury rates (I won’t be just counting them, but counting them per 1,000 patient days).
- Label each of these sections!
Instructions
Research Proposal Draft
By the due date assigned write a 2-3-page paper addressing the sections below of the research proposal.
Introduction
- Background and Significance of the Problem
- Statement of the Problem and Purpose of the Study
Research Questions, Hypothesis, and Variables with Operational Definitions
- Research Question
- Hypothesis: Research and Null
- Identifying and Defining Study Variables
- Operationalize Variables
