Experimental method AO1

Question 1

what are the aims of experimental method?

Answer 1

• a general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
• aims are developed from theories
• puts in place the purpose of an investigation

Question 2

explain what an hypotheses are in experimental method

Answer 2

• happens after writing an aim
• is a statement made at the start if a study
• it clearly describes the relationship between variables as stated by the study.

Question 3

what are the two different types of an hypothesis

Answer 3

• directional= researcher makes it clear the sort of difference that is anticipated between two conditions/two groups of people.
• non-directional= simply states that there is a difference between conditions or groups of people, unlike a directional hypothesis, the nature of the difference is not specified.

Question 4

what does ‘variables mean’?

Answer 4

• any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation
• they are generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing result in changes to another.

Question 5

explain what an independent variable is

Answer 5

some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher - or changes naturally - so the effect on the DV can be measured.

Question 6

explain what the dependant variable is

Answer 6

The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the change in the IV

Question 7

what are the things needed within the independent variable?

Answer 7

• need experimental conditions to be able to compare.
• control condition
• experimental condition

Question 8

what is operationalisation?

Answer 8

• clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.
• making is as measurable as possible