Understanding Surveys and Samples - Essay Example

a hypothesis as “a tentative explanation of the research problem, a possible outcome of the research, or an educated guess about the research outcome” (Hatch, 2002). Thus, a hypothesis is a temporary prediction about the nature of the relationship that exits between two or more variables. The study has developed the following two hypotheses that take both the null and alternative approach. The analysis of two or more variables together makes it important for the researcher to point out the relationship between the two variables involved in the study.

Two variables are independent if a change in one does not consequently cause a change in the other. In the case that one of the variables causes a change in the other then the first variables is known as an independent variable and the latter a dependent variable (Sharp, Peters, & Howard, 2002). In the two questions identified above, domestic violence in the first question is the independent variable while psychological consequences are the dependent variable. In the second question, the independent variable is psychological problems while the dependent variable is the normal development.

The following definitions will act as operational definitions for the following variables used in the study. These are based on the various understandings by different scholars on the meaning of the terms and how they are used in day to day interactions. Domestic violence will be taken to mean developed pattern of assaultive and coercive behavior which could take the form of physical, psychological, emotional or economic coercion that is seen to occur between a couple (Champion, 2000). This definition will thus focus on the family where children exist and not any other adult relationship.

The definition will only consider what the children can see happen in the family and not what they are not able to observe. Psychological problems will be taken to represent patterns of behavior or psychological symptoms that have an effect