Aims, Hypotheses and Variables

Question 1

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 1

States that the independent variable will have no affect on the dependent variable
e.g There will be no difference in the number of aggressive acts displayed between males and females

Question 2

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 2

States the exact prediciton of the outcome expected (one tailed), used when there’s previous research
e.g male ppts will display a higher number of aggressive acts than female ppts.

Question 3

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 3

States that there will be a difference but not the exact outcome
e.g thehre will be a dofference in the number of aggressive acts displayes between males and females

Question 4

What is an independent variable?

Answer 4

What we change, the conditions of the experiment

Question 5

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 5

What the researcher measures, the outcome

Question 6

What is operationalisation?

Answer 6

Making variables measurable

Question 7

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 7

Any variable other than the IV that might have an affect on the DV (cana ffect the validity of the study if not controlled)

Question 8

What is a situational variable?

Answer 8

Anything in the environment or set-up that might affect the study (controlled by standardised procedures)

Question 9

What is a participant variable?

Answer 9

Characteristics that might affect the study (controlled through the design of the study)

Question 10

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 10

They change systematically with the IV and can be the real cause of change in the DV
e.g personality

Question 11

WHat are demand characteristics

Answer 11

When ppts change their behaviour because they have guessed thae aim of the study

Question 12

What are investigator effects?

Answer 12

Any intentional or unintentional actions or characteristics that influence the ppts behaviour