Aims and types of hypotheses

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate; the purpose of the study

Based on theories

Question 2

Hypotheses

Answer 2

A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between variables to be investigated: a prediction

Question 3

Directional Hypothesis

‘One-tailed’

Answer 3

When a researcher has a good idea of what is going to happen in a study they will predict a specific outcome and state the direction of the difference or relationship

• Typically when previous research has been carried out
• ‘more’, ‘less’, ‘higher’, ‘lower’, ‘faster’, ‘slower’

Question 4

Non-directional Hypothesis

Answer 4

When a researcher is less sure what is going to happen in a study they will not state the direction and predict a more general outcome.

They will state that there will be a difference between conditions or groups of people but the nature of the difference is not specified

Question 5

Null Hypothesis

Answer 5

When a researcher is confident that there will be no relationship between the variables that are being investigated