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Assumptions about Survey Questions and Data
When writing survey questions, the researchers assume that:
The respondents will interpret the questions in a certain way
There is an assumption that the respondent will see the question in the context intended by the researcher
They will receive enough data for reliable results
The problem with theses assumptions could be:
The researchers may not understand their own bias when creating questions
Participants may interpret the context of the question differently
These assumptions impact the survey’s reliability and the ability of the question to show internal consistency
Theory Assumptions
Research views are based on philosophical assumptions of ontology and epistemology which describe how we view the world and how we want to study the world. As these concepts are subjective, we must understand that there are going to be underlying assumptions as to the context and layered realities of those views.
As research is used to test theories, the assumptions held in those theories need to be addressed, such as:
The boundaries of a theory, or in what context will this theory work, socially, culturally etc.
Theories also assume a certain set of values are held and understood. Misinterpretation of the assumptions held by theories can lead to misapplying theories and creating problems in research
As health care providers, assumptions can be made in terms of the care provided and the training we have. We assume that nurses and other health care providers have a baseline of education, have access to quality equipment, facilities and infrastructure. These systemic assumptions can impact nursing research and how we apply the results into practice.
In relation to the case study, there is the assumption that all participants will interpret the questions in the same way. There is an assumption that the amount of data gleaned from the research will be enough to inform the change needed to implement new policies with HCA. The context for some of the health care staff may be different depending on what type of physical escalation events they have witnessed and how they interpreted the role of the security in the past during those episodes, however the general assumption being made for the survey is that the context for the health care staff would be similar.
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