(Not completed) Lecture 4: Research Methods

Question 1

What is a research hypothesis?

Answer 1

1. A statement of causation (e.g. x causes y)
2. Theory-based hypothesis
3. Research-based hypothesis (based on other people’s research)

Question 2

What are the types of variables?

Answer 2

1. Independent Variable: manipulated by the experimenter
2. Dependent Variable: measured/observed
3. Subject variables: traits and characteristics of the subjects (usually something that can be changed)
4. External variables: variables lying outside the x-> y relationship that the experimenter attempts to control (e.g weather, room condition, space constraint
5. Confounding variable: an “extra” variable that you didn’t account for. They can ruin an experiment and give you useless results (e.g. alcohol consumption by athletes)