Phase 2

Theory and Hypotheses

Phase 2 involves a general process that explains your research question. This process contains two related concepts. You should focus on answering the following questions:

I. What is the theory involved in your research project? How are the general concepts (e.g. X and Y) related? What is the theoretical connection between your concepts?

Example: Your theory should include statements pertaining to why your selected groups are expected to be different. For instance, if your topic involves attitudes toward health care (National vs. Private), you must explain why people have different attitudes. Is it class difference? If so, what is it about class differences that would impact attitudes towards health care? Is it because some classes would benefit more from health care? In what ways would different classes benefit?

In your theory section you may want to answer why concept Y is related to concept X1.

You can use academic sources (articles and books) to support your argument, although this is not a requirement.

Derive your main hypothesis. This is the main hypothesis you will be testing. For example, you could hypothesize that people from lower classes will support a national health care system more than people from higher classes because they will tend to benefit the most.

Main Hypothesis: Lower class people will favor a national care policy more than high class people.

II. Rival Explanation 1 (Rival theory)

Come up with an alternative explanation (X2) to your theory above. (Think another explanation that might account for the phenomenon of your interest.)

Derive a hypothesis based on the alternative explanation. You need to use another concept (i.e. X2) to write this hypothesis. Note that there is no mention of class differences (X1) in the example below.

Alternative Hypothesis 1: People who believe that a national health care policy hurts the economy are more likely to oppose than people who do not.

III. Second rival hypothesis.

Generate another explanation (X3). Create the second rival hypothesis.

Alternative Hypothesis 2:___________

-Make sure to come up with three concepts to explain the phenomenon of your interest (i.e. three Xs). This also means that you will be dealing with four variables (Y, X1, X2, and X3) in your research paper.

-Each hypothesis should involve two concepts.

-Each hypothesis should state that there is a relationship between Y and X. Make sure to specify direction.

-Three independent variables should represent three different concepts.

-Label each hypothesis clearly (Main hypothesis, Alternative hypothesis 1, etc.)

-Each hypothesis should use the same dependent variable.

-You can only use a single dataset.

-You are not analyzing data in this phase.

IMPORTANT

-Check the datasets in SPSS and see if you can represent your concepts. In other words, you should check whether or not your hypotheses are testable.

-Read Ch2 carefully.

Note:

1. Phase 2 should be about 2 page(s) using 12 point font (Use either Times New Roman or Arial). Do not adjust margin sizes.

2. Attach Assignment 3 (Prep Phase 2).

3. Staple (Do not use a binder).

4. Save your work in disks (Make sure to have multiple backups). You will be responsible for a lost disk.

5. At the end of the semester, you will turn in your paper by combining the phases. You will be asked to turn in the original phases with your final paper. In other words, you need to keep your original phases with my comments after I return them to you.

6. Overall, present your paper professionally.

7. Please do not send your assignments over e-mail.

8. Do not forget to write down your name and section number.