aims and hypothesis

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

Deciding on the aims of the study is the first step in design.
The aim is what you are trying to find out, what the purpose of the study is. The aim is more general than the hypothesis.

Question 2

hypothesis

Answer 2

A hypothesis is a testable statement about what you expect to happen in the study.
This means that the aim is more general than the hypothesis - the hypothesis has to be a specific prediction.
The hypothesis defines how the study is going to test the aim and therefore needs to be clearly and precisely written.
The hypothesis predicts that there will be an effect of the IV on the DV (experiment) or a relationship between 2 variables (correlation).

Question 3

directional hypothesis

Answer 3

Used when predicting which way the results will go. For example, when you have a good idea on which group will do better.

Question 4

non-directional hypothesis

Answer 4

Sometimes we do not know what effect the independent variable will have, only that it will have an effect.

Question 5

operationalised hypothesis

Answer 5

Clearly defined hypothesis.