Aims and Hypotheses Flashcards
What is an aim?
A precise statement of why a study is taking place/what is being studied.
An aim should include what is being studied and what the study is trying to achieve.
What is a hypothesis?
A precise, testable statement or prediction about the expected outcome of an investigation.
The hypothesis tells us what findings the experimenter expects will happen in the study.
What are the two types of hypothesis?
The experimental/alternative hypothesis
The null hypothesis.
What is the experimental/alternative hypothesis?
A prediction of what the researcher thinks will happen to the dependent variable when the independent variable changes.
An alternative hypothesis can be used to refer to all hypothesis that are not null hypotheses.
If the experimental method is being used it also can be referred to as an experimental hypothesis.
What is the null hypothesis?
The hypothesis of no differences.
States results could be due to chance and are not significant in terms of supporting the idea being investigated.
A null hypothesis is needed for precision and proof.
It predicts that the IV will not affect the DV.
What happens to the null and experimental/alternative hypothesis during an investigation?
One of the two hypotheses, null or experimental, will be supported by the findings and thus be accepted, with the other one being rejected.
What are two types of experimental/alternative hypothesis?
Directional (‘one-tailed’) hypothesis.
Non-directional (‘two-tailed’) hypothesis.
What is the directional (‘one-tailed’) hypothesis?
Only made if a large body of research/ evidence is available to allow for an educated prediction.
You must predict which group will experience something.
What is the non-directional (‘two-tailed’) hypothesis?
It is made when there is not already enough evidence to make an informed prediction.
You may predict a difference between groups, but have no idea which way the difference will fall.
