experimental methods

Question 1

define what an aim is

Answer 1

a statement of what the researcher is trying to find out in a study
(usually a very broad general statement)

Question 2

define what a hypothesis is

Answer 2

testable statements about the prediction of the results

Question 3

state some general rules when formulating a hypothesis

Answer 3

> written in future tense
include conditions of the independent variable
include the dependant variable

Question 4

define the word operationalised and give an example of operationalising a category

Answer 4

to be precise and clear about what is being measured (e.g - we can operationalise sex as male and female)

Question 5

name the four types of hypotheses

Answer 5

> null hypothesis
alternative hypothesis
one tailed (directional) hypothesis
two tailed (non directional) hypothesis

Question 6

what is a null hypothesis?

Answer 6

these predict there no difference will be found in the results between the conditions

Question 7

what is an alternative hypothesis?

Answer 7

these predict that there will be a significant difference in the results between the two conditions

Question 8

what is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 8

these state the specific direction the researcher expects the results to move in (e.g - higher/lower/more/less)

Question 9

what is a non directional hypothesis?

Answer 9

these state that a difference will be found between the conditions of the independent variable, but does not state the direction of the results