Deciding on a research question Flashcards
Independent variable definition?
This is the variable that the researcher changes/ manipulates to see if it has an effect on the DV
Dependent variable definition?
The variable that the researcher measures
Variable definition?
An element, feature or factor that may vary or change
Co- variables definition?
The two variables measured in a correlation study
Extraneous variables definition?
Variables in a study that are not being measured or manipulated by the researcher but affect the results (DV) of all ALL participants behaviour equally
Confounding variable definition?
Variables in a study that are not being measured or manipulated by the researcher, that affect SOME participants behaviours but not others, having negative consequences for validity
Operationalisation definition?
Turning general questions about the study into testable, measurable predictions
EV facts and example?
- 1000’s of possible E.V’s
- unwanted, extra random variables that COULD affect ALL CONDITIONS
- E.g. age, IQ, time of day, noise, distractions
- don’t vary systematically with the IV so they don’t act as an alternative IV but may have an effect on the DV
Confounding variable definition + examples
- unwanted, extra variables that VARY SYSTEMATICALLY with the IV (changes in the same way as the IV does), so they affect one condition and not the other
- this means the change in results could be due to the CV
- E.g.: individual differences - all males in one condition, all females in the other
- or all high IQ in one condition and low IQ in the other
- each condition being done on a differnt day
What do EVs and CVs do for the results?
They lower the validity of the results if it is not controlled for.
So… the aim is to control these before the research is conducted
Validity definition
Truthfulness/ legitimacy
The 4 different types of E.V are?
OPIS
Order effects, participant variables, investigator effects, situational variables
Participant variables- examples, how could affect results, how a researcher could deal with these
- related to individual characteristics of each participants that may imlact how he or she responds
E.g: background differences, mood, anxiety, intelligence, awareness + other characteristics unique to a person - using a REPEATED MEASURES design (same participants in both E & C conditions) or MATCHED PAIRS DESIGN (matching participants based on abilities, characteristics, background in each condition)
Order effects - examples, how could affect results, how to deal with
- refers to differences in participants responses that result from the order in which experimental materials are presented to them..
- E.g. in questionnaire research people may answer questions differently depending on the orser in which questions are asked, SPECIAL CONCERN in REPEATED MEASURES EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
- to deal, the researcher counter balances the order of the conditions for the ppts. Alternating the order in which ppts perform in diff conditions should counterbalance any effects of getting better or bored of repeating an activity
- sometimes called the ABBA design
Research effects- examples, how could affect results and how researcher could deal
- occurs when researcher unintentionally or unconsciously influneces the outcome of any research they are conducting
- by non verbal communication- raised brow, physical characteristics- gender, bias in interpretation of data - extent is dependent on data collected
- would not occur if DV was something like reaction time as this is objective method of measurement
How could a researcher deal with researcher effects?
- double blind design- participants + researcher don’t know the aim of the experiment -> researcher cannot effect aim of experiment
Situational variables
- factors in the environment that can unintentionally affect the DV
- E.g. noise, other people, temperature, odours, lighting, time of day
- these extraneous variables controlled using standardized procedures to ensure that all participants are tested under the same conditions -> environment controlled
What is the difference between an aim and a hypothesis?
An aim is a general statement about the purpose of the research but a hypothesis is a precise and testable statement about the relationship/ difference between 2 variables that the researcher AIMS TO SUPPORT OR REJECT
What is a null hypothesis?
A hypothesis that states nothing will happen - there will be no difference between the 2 conditions of the experiment
Hypothesis for correlation?
INCLUDE THE WORD RELATIONSHIP OR CORRELATION
What is Operationalising variables?
Defining variables in form so they can easily be manipulated or measured e.g. operationalising intelligence as an IQ score
The 4 main type causes of extraneous variables?
- Situational factors
- Participant variables
- Experimenter variables
- Order effects
What is an Aim?
A statement of what a researcher intends to find out in their research study
What is a a research hypothesis?
A prediction of the outcomes (findings) of a research study- NOT WRITTEN AS A QUESTION
Experimental hypothesis - reseach hypothsis for experiments - difference in IV when DV is changed
Alternative hypothesis- hypothesis for non experiments e.g. correlation studies
What is a null hypothesis?
A prediction that any difference or correlation is not significant and is due to chance
What is a directional hypothesis?
Predicts the direction a DV will change when the IV is manipulated, or the direction of relationship (+ or -) in a correlation study
USED WHEN SURE OF OUTCOME OF STUDY
Non directional hypothesis definition?
Simply predicts that there will be a change on the DV when an IV has been manipulated or that there will be a relationship in a correlation study. DOES NOT PREDICT A DIRECTION
used when UNSURE of outcome of a study
Recipe for writing hypothesis… how to start?
‘There will be’ to ensure you have written a prediction rather than a question. Remember to fully operationalise your variables
Writing a non- directional hypothesis?
- Identify the method (experiment or correlation)
- Identify the OPERATIONALISED variables in this scenario (IV & DV or co- variables) you will need yo include the variables in your hypothesis
- Say that there will be a SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE/ CORRELATION but don’t say WHICH WAY IT WILL GO
Writing a directional hypothesis?
- Identify the method (experiment or correlation)
- Identify the OPERATIONALISED variables in this scenario (Iv and DV or co- variables) you will need to include the OPERATIONALISED variables in your hypth.
- Say that there will be a SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE/ CORRELATION & say in WHICH DIRECTION it will go. Which condition will do better or positive/ negative correlation?
Writing a null hypothesis?
- Identify the method (experiment or correlation)
- Identify the OPERATIONALISED variables in this scenario (IV and DV or co variables). Need to includd variables (operationalised in hypothesis)
- Say that any DIFFERENCE in the DV or RELATIONSHIP between co- variables will be due to chance
It’s called an experimental hypothsis when?
An actual experiment is conducted
Otherwise an ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHSIS
Null hypothesis key phrase?
No difference
Directional hypothesis definition?
- has a specific outcome- because you are saying that this specific thing will happen
Non directional hypothsis?
- identify that there will be a difference- difference not specified though
What makes a precise hypothesis?
- experimental- looking for differences in conditions
- includes both conditions in the wording
- operationalised variables
- directional or non directional
- significant- only if certain of findings
- correlation hypothesis- looking for a relationship
