Aims and hypotheses

Question 1

What is a hypotheses?

Answer 1

making a specific prediction of what will be found in terms of a change in variables (usually based on theories)

Question 2

In an experiment, what is the researcher’s main hypotheses known as and often referred to as?

Answer 2

Experimental hypotheses or H1

Question 3

In a non-experiment, what is the researcher’s main hypotheses known as?

Answer 3

Alternative hypotheses

Question 4

what does the aim of a study refer to?

Answer 4

initial statements of what the researchers plan to investigate

Question 5

what is a null hypothesis?

Answer 5

states that there is no relationship between the two variables being studied (one variable does not affect the other) H0

Question 5

what is a directional hypothesis? (one tailed)

Answer 5

predicts the nature of the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. It predicts in which direction the change will take place (smaller, greater, less or more)
e.g there will be a difference in how many numbers are correctly recalled by children and adults

Question 6

what is a non-directional hypothesis? (two-tailed)

Answer 6

predicts that the independent variable will have an effect on the dependent variable but the direction of this effect is not specialised.
e.g there will be a difference in how many numbers are correctly recalled by adults