Aims and Hypothesises Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is an aim
- Statement about what the researchers intend to investigate; the purpose of the study
For example: The aim of this study is to find out if colour can influence recall due to previous research showing exposure to green plants increased recall
What is a hypothesis
A precise and testable statement about the relationship between variables
For example: There is a difference in the number of words recalled by participants recalling in blue light compared to participants recalling in green light
What is operationalisation
- A clearly defining variable in terms of how they can be measured
- Make it testable and repeatable
E.g. Number of words recalled or Reaction time in milliseconds/ Average score on a questionaire
What is a directional/one tailed/ Alternative hypothesis
- States that there is a difference in the measurement of the dependant variable (as a result of the manipulation of the IV)
- Says which direction the results will go.
E.g. “There is an increase in the number of words recalled by participants recalling in green light compared to participants recalling in blue light”
- Usually includes words like more less higher or lower
What is a non directional/ two tailed hypothesis
- States that there is a difference in the measurement of the dependant variable (as a result of the manipulation of the IV)
- But not the direction the results will go.
E.g. “There is a difference in the number of words recalled by participants recalling in
green light compared to participants recalling in blue light”
- Looking for a change/difference
When is a one tailed hypothesis typically used by psychologists
- When the findings of previous research studies suggest a particular outcome
When is a two tailed hypothesis typically used by psychologists
when they don’t have a strong prediction about the direction of an effect or difference
More in general about hypotheses
They are not predictions they are competeing statements of facts that the research accepts or rejects based on the data collected
What is a null hypothesis (Not neccessarily needed to learn)
States there is no change (DIfference) in the measurement of the dependent variable as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable
Instead of using prove/proven
Use Evidence supports
What happens if the IV (independent variable) changes
Causes changes to the dependent variable (DV)
What is the Independent variable
The variable that is altered during a scientific experiment.
What is the Dependent variable
The variable being tested or measured during a scientific
What is the experimental method
It involves the manipulation of an IV to measure the effect on the DV
