Experimental Methods: Aims, IV's, DV's and Hypotheses

Question 1

● What does IV stand for in research methods?

Answer 1

Independent Variable

Question 2

● What does DV stand for in research methods?

Answer 2

Dependent Variable

Question 3

● What is the IV in an experiment?

Answer 3

The variable that is changed or manipulated

Question 4

● What is the DV in an experiment?

Answer 4

The variable that is measured

Question 5

● What does operationalising a variable mean?

Answer 5

Making it specific and measurable

Question 6

● Why do we operationalise variables?

Answer 6

To increase replicability/reliability

Question 7

● Give an example of an operationalised DV.

Answer 7

Number of words recalled out of 30

Question 8

● Give an example of an operationalised score.

Answer 8

Score out of 20

Question 9

● What does DV stand for?

Answer 9

Dependent Variable

Question 10

● What does operationalising improve?

Answer 10

Reliability

Question 11

● What does a hypothesis do?

Answer 11

Predicts what will happen between variables

Question 12

● What is an aim in research?

Answer 12

A general statement of what is being investigated

Question 13

● What word should an aim start with?

Answer 13

To investigate

Question 14

● What is a directional hypothesis also called?

Answer 14

One-tailed

Question 15

● What is a non-directional hypothesis also called?

Answer 15

Two-tailed

Question 16

● What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 16

Predicts no difference between conditions

Question 17

● When is a directional hypothesis used?

Answer 17

When previous research shows a direction

Question 18

● When is a non-directional hypothesis used?

Answer 18

When no previous research exists

Question 19

● Why is it important to state both sides of the IV?

Answer 19

To get full marks

Question 20

● What must you include in a hypothesis?

Answer 20

IV, DV, and both conditions

Question 21

▲ Which hypothesis would be used when previous research shows a clear trend?

Answer 21

Directional hypothesis

Question 22

▲ Which hypothesis would be used when there is no clear previous research?

Answer 22

Non-directional hypothesis

Question 23

▲ What type of hypothesis is this: ‘There will be a difference between the conditions’?

Answer 23

Non-directional

Question 24

▲ What type of hypothesis is this: ‘There will be no difference between the conditions’?

Answer 24

Null hypothesis

Question 25

▲ What type of hypothesis is this: ‘There will be significantly faster reaction times when drinking Red Bull compared to water’?

Answer 25

Directional hypothesis

Question 26

▲ Why must DVs be operationalised?

Answer 26

So they can be measured and replicated

Question 27

▲ What happens if variables are not operationalised?

Answer 27

Research cannot be repeated

Question 28

▲ What should you look for when identifying the IV in an experiment?

Answer 28

The different conditions

Question 29

▲ Why is ‘memory’ not an operationalised variable?

Answer 29

It is too vague

Question 30

▲ What is a better way to write ‘memory’ as a DV?

Answer 30

Number of words recalled out of 30

Question 31

▲ Which part of a hypothesis shows the predicted direction?

Answer 31

The comparison between IV conditions

Question 32

▲ Which type of hypothesis is this an example of: ‘There will be a significant difference in stress levels between students and teachers’?

Answer 32

Non-directional hypothesis

Question 33

▲ What does it mean to say a DV is 'vague'?

Answer 33

It is not clearly measurable

Question 34

▲ Why is ‘group 1 and group 2’ not acceptable in a hypothesis?

Answer 34

They are not specific

Question 35

✪ Why must a hypothesis be written before a study begins?

Answer 35

To ensure the prediction is not based on the outcome

Question 36

✪ How does operationalising variables improve replicability and reliability?

Answer 36

It allows other researchers to repeat the study in the same way

Question 37

✪ Why must a directional hypothesis include both conditions of the IV and an operationalised DV?

Answer 37

To make the prediction specific and testable

Question 38

✪ Why does using vague variables lower the internal validity of research?

Answer 38

Because results may not truly reflect what was intended to be measured

Question 39

✪ How does operationalisation relate to internal validity?

Answer 39

Clear variables ensure the DV reflects the effect of the IV

Question 40

✪ Why is writing a non-directional hypothesis more appropriate with limited previous research?

Answer 40

Because the outcome direction is unknown

Question 41

✪ What would happen to the reliability of a study if the IV and DV are not operationalised?

Answer 41

Other researchers could not replicate it accurately

Question 42

✪ Why is it inappropriate to use general labels like 'group 1' in hypotheses?

Answer 42

They do not clearly describe the IV conditions

Question 43

✪ Why must the scale or measurement be included in the DV?

Answer 43

So it is measurable and replicable