Aims and Hypotheses Flashcards
What is an aim?
A general statement outlining what the researcher intends to investigate (“to investigate whether…”)
What is a hypothesis?
A testable statement making a prediction about the result, from which the IV and DV and how they are measured should be identifiable
What is an experimental hypothesis?
A hypothesis predicting that the IV will have an effect on the DV
What is a directional hypothesis?
A type of experimental hypothesis that predicts the direction of results - can only be used if previous research has concluded these results
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
A type of experimental hypothesis that does not predict the direction of results - used when there has been no previous research or previous research was not conclusive
What is a null hypothesis?
A type of hypothesis predicting that results came about through chance (IV has no effect on DV)
Which types of hypothesis does a researcher always propose?
Experimental (either directional or non-directional) and null
What must happen to variables in a hypothesis?
They must be operationalised
What is the structure for writing a hypothesis?
Those participants who (half of IV) will (DV) than those participants who (other half of IV)
eg. Those pps who are aged over 70 will score lower in a simulation driving test than those pps who are aged 20-25
