Aims And Hypotheses

Question 1

What is an aim?

Answer 1

• A statement of a study’s purpose.
• Aims are stated before the research begins to make it clear what the study intends to investigate.

Question 2

What is a one-tailed / directional hypotheses?

Answer 2

• States the directions of the difference or relationship, e.g. higher/lower, more/less, slower/faster.
• E.g. people who drink Red Bull become more hyperactive than people who do not.
• Would use it if there is published research on your theory.

Question 3

What is a 2-tailed / non directional hypotheses?

Answer 3

• States there is a difference between the conditionals or groups but the nature of the difference is not specified.
• E.g. there will be a difference between the groups in the memory task.
• Would use it if there is no published research on your theory.

Question 4

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 4

• What you assume is true during the study. Any data you collect either backs this assumption or not.
  
  • If data does not support your null hypothesis, you reject it and go with your alternative hypothesis.
  • There will be no differences between the variables.
• E.g. there will be no difference in eating chocolate or not eating chocolate in memory scores we will achieve.