Experimental method

Question 1

What is experimental method?

Answer 1

Involves the manipulation of the IV to measure the effect on the DV

Question 2

What is an aim?

Answer 2

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate (the study’s purpose)

Question 3

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 3

A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables being investigated

Question 4

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 4

States the direction of the difference or relationship (e.g. people who watched tropical fish were MORE likely to have a REDUCED heartbeat than those who did not watch the fish)

Question 5

What is a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 5

Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship (e.g. watching tropical fish has an effect on heartbeat)

Question 6

What is an independent variable (IV)?

Answer 6

Change- manipulated by researcher or occurs naturally

Question 7

What is a dependant variable (DV)?

Answer 7

Measure-the thing the researcher aims to record

Question 8

What is operationalisation?

Answer 8

Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured