6. Research Methods

Question 1

What is an aim?

Answer 1

The general statement of what a researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study

Question 2

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 2

States the direction of the difference or relationship

Question 3

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 3

Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship

Question 4

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 4

A clear, precise, testable statement which states the relationship between the variables to be investigated

Question 5

What is operationalisation?

Answer 5

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

Question 6

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 6

Any variable, other than the independent variable that may effect the dependent variable if not controlled

Question 7

What are confounding variables?

Answer 7

A variable that varies systematically with independent variable. Difficult to tell if change in dependent variable is due to IV or confounding variable

Question 8

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 8

Any clue from the researcher or research situation that may be interpreted by participants, revealing purpose of investigation

Question 9

What are investigator effects?

Answer 9

Any effect of the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome

Question 10

What is standardisation?

Answer 10

Using exactly the same formalised procedures and instructions for all participants in a research study