Aims and Hypotheses

Question 1

What is an aim

Answer 1

A precise statement about the purpose of the study and what it intends to find out, including what is being studied and what the study is trying to achieve

Question 2

What is operationalisation

Answer 2

Defining variables in a way that makes them easy to measure

Question 3

What are the types of hypotheses (4)

Answer 3

• Null hypothesis
• Alternative/Experimental hypothesis: this can be either of the next 2 categories
• Non directional hypothesis (two tailed)
• Directional hypothesis (one tailed)

Question 4

What is a null hypothesis

Answer 4

This states that the IV will have no effect on the DV

Question 5

What is an alternative/experimental hypothesis

Answer 5

This predicts that the IV will affect the DV

Question 6

What is a non-directional hypothesis (two tailed)

Answer 6

This doesn’t state the direction of the predicted differences between conditions (e.g saying eating chocolate will significantly affect mood but not what mood)

Question 7

What is a directional hypothesis (one tailed)

Answer 7

This states the direction of the predicted difference between conditions (e.g. eating chocolate will increase a person’s mood’).