7.2: Hypotheses

Question 1

The cognitive interview is designed to improve recall in police interviews. Researchers had some confederates perform a fake assault in front of an audience of witnesses who had replied to an advert to take part in the study. Half were interviewed using the standard police interview procedure and half by the cognitive interview technique. The amount of accurate recall was compared.

Suggest an appropriate non-directional hypothesis for this investigation (2 marks)

Answer 1

An appropriate non-directional hypothesis for this investigation is that there will be a significant difference between the amount of accurate recall produced by:

1. The participants interviewed using the standard police interview
2. The participants interviewed using the cognitive interview technique after witnessing a fake assault

Question 2

A team of researchers used a stress scale to measure the amount of stress that individual workers at a factory experienced and the number of days they were off sick over a 6 month period. The researchers found that as the amount of stress increased, the number of days absent also increased.

Compose a suitable non-directional correlational hypothesis for this study (2 marks)

Answer 2

A suitable non-directional correlational hypothesis for this study is that there will be a relationship between the amount of stress experienced and the number of days taken off sick over a 6-month period

Question 3

Explain the role of theory in scientific research (2 marks)

Answer 3

The role of theory in scientific research is that it generates testable hypotheses and gives purpose and direction to research

Question 4

Explain one role of hypothesis testing in psychology (2 marks)

Answer 4

One role of hypothesis testing in psychology is to test a theory: if the predictions are not confirmed when tested (the hypothesis is not supported), then the theory is not supported and if the predictions are confirmed (the hypothesis is supported), then the theory is supported