experimental methods! Flashcards
What is an aim?
An aim is a general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study.
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a clear, precis, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated.
What is a directional hypothesis?
A hypothesis that states the direction of the difference or relationship.
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
A hypothesis that does not state the direction of the difference or relationship.
What are variables?
Any ‘thing’ that can vary or change within an investigation. Variables are generally used in experiments to determine if changes in one thing result in changes to another.
What is an independent variable?
An IV is an aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher - or changes naturally - so the effect on the DV can be measured.
What is a dependent variable?
A DV is a variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the change of the IV.
What is a control variable?
It is variable that is kept the same during a experiment. Any change in a controlled variable would invalidate the results.
What does operationalisation mean?
Operationalisation is clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured. (more detail)
