aims and hypothesis

Question 1

what is an aim

Answer 1

a general expression of what the research intends to investigate

Question 2

independent variable

Answer 2

the thing that the researcher manipulates

Question 3

dependent variable

Answer 3

the thing that the researcher measures. the effect should be caused by the IV.

Question 4

extraneous variable

Answer 4

a variable other than the IV that may affect the DV and should therefore be controlled.

Question 5

what is a hypothesis

Answer 5

a precise, testable statement of what the researchers predict will be the outcome of the study.

Question 6

operationalisation

Answer 6

to make the hypothesis testable and measurable, need to ensure that someone else could come along and pick up your paper and repeat the experiment.

Question 7

null hypothesis

Answer 7

predicts no relationship between groups/conditions. and relationship will be due to chance.

Question 8

alternative hypothesis

Answer 8

also known as experimental - predicts a relationship between groups or conditions

Question 9

directional hypothesis

Answer 9

one tailed.
predicts a relationship between conditions and states the direction (eg which group will perform better or a positive correlation)

Question 10

non directional.

Answer 10

two tailed
predicts a relationship between groups or conditions but does not state the direction (eg there will be a difference or a correlation)

Question 11

when do you use directional

Answer 11

when the researcher wants a specific prediction about what they feel will happen in their research

Question 12

when do you use non directional

Answer 12

they can make a general or less specific prediction about the outcome of their research