Experimental Method

Question 1

What is the experimental method?

Answer 1

The manipulation of variables

Question 2

What is an aim?

Answer 2

A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate: purpose of an experiment

Question 3

What is the independent variable?

Answer 3

The variable the researcher manipulates and it has a direct effect on the dependent variable

Question 4

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 4

The variable a researcher measures and is affected by by the changes in the independent variable

Question 5

What are the 2 levels of the IV?

Answer 5

1. Control condition
2. Experimental condition

Question 6

What is operationalisation?

Answer 6

Clearly defining variables in term of how they can be measured

Question 7

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 7

A clear and precise statement/prediction about the difference/relationship between the variables in the study

Question 8

What is a directional hypothesis (one tailed)?

Answer 8

States the specific direction of the difference/relationship between variables
Includes words like lower, higher, less, more
When there is previous research that suggests a particular outcome

Question 9

What is a non-directional hypothesis (two tailed)?

Answer 9

Doesn’t state a specific direction of the difference/relationship between variables
When there is no previous research

Question 10

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 10

States there is no difference/relationship between the variables
Only used if the study is found to be insignificant