Ch6: Formulating the Hypothesis

Question 1

Hypothesis forms the basis of research report

Answer 1

True.

(It also begins with the Introduction section)

Question 2

It is the thesis or main idea

Answer 2

Hypothesis

Question 3

What is the difference between nonexperimental and experimental hypothesis?

Answer 3

Nonexperimental hypothesis is a statement of the predicted relationship between events or behavior.

While, experimental hypothesis is a statement about cause-and-effect

//(it is a statement that explains the effects of a specified antecedent on measured behavior)

Question 4

What are some nonexperimental research designs?

Answer 4

• correlation
• ex post facto
• non-equivalent groups
• longitudinal
• cross-sectional

Question 5

Hypotheses should be__

Answer 5

synthetic

(Synthetic statements are those that can either be true or false)

Question 6

2 categories of non-synthetic statements

Answer 6

1. Analytic (always true)
2. Contradictory (always false)

Question 7

Hypothesis should be concise enough to be proven __.

Answer 7

wrong

Question 8

What is the form of a synthetic statement?

Answer 8

“if…then” form

Question 9

What are the characteristics of a synthetic statement?

Answer 9

1. Testable (manipulatable/measurable)
2. Falsifiable (disprovable)
3. Parsimonious (simple)
4. Fruitful (leads to new studies)

Question 10

What are some indications that a hypothesis is fruitful?

Answer 10

When we can think of new studies that will become important if the hypothesis is supported

Question 11

How are induction and deduction combined?

Question 12

The basic tools for theory building

Answer 12

Induction

Question 13

Where can hypotheses be found?

Answer 13

• induction
• deduction
• prior researches
• intuition
• serendipity
• research from specific area of interest
• everyday observations
• real world problems

Question 14

How does nonexperimental research suggest experimental hypotheses?

Answer 14

After finding out significant relationships between variables, nonexperimental studies can suggest cause-and-effect explanations that can be translated into experimental hypotheses .

Question 15

Why are prior experimental studies an excellent source of hypotheses?

Answer 15

Because these studies can provide blueprints for new studies: (1) suggestions on what to improve, (2) new applications, or (3) what other researchers have missed when replicating studies.

Question 16

What is serendipity?

Answer 16

It is the knack for finding things that are not being sought after.

(Accidental discovery)

Question 17

A hunch or knowing without reasoning.

Answer 17

Intuition

Question 18

Intuition is closest to __

Answer 18

Phenomenology

Question 19

Intuition should NOT _ objectivity

Answer 19

destroy

Question 20

If you feel completely lost in search for hypotheses, what should you do?

Answer 20

1. Pick a psychology journal in libraries and read through issues. (Begin focusing on fields of interest then narrow it down to the latest studies)
2. Try observation in public places
3. Turn your attention to a real world problem and try to figure out the cause.

Question 21

What are the purposes of RRL?

Answer 21

1. Help develop good ideas for procedures to use in one’s own experiment.
2. Gives tips for measuring observations

Question 22

Name sources of literature to review

Answer 22

1. Psychological journals
2. Edited volumes
3. Research reviews
4. Meta-analysis

Question 23

Should you also read popular books and magazines?

Answer 23

No, if possible, skip them

Question 24

For what purpose does the cited studies in your introduction do?

Answer 24

1. Provide empirical background
2. Guide reader to the research hypothesis

Question 25

What goes in the discussion part?

Answer 25

• implications of findings
• what the results mean

Question 26

What are the roles of a research report?

Answer 26

1. Advance knowledge
2. Increase generalizability of known effects
3. Contradict past findings