hypotheses + types of data, validity and reliability

Question 1

null hypothesis

Answer 1

assume no link between IV and DV / no difference

due to potential bias in research

there will be no effect of the IV upon the DV

Question 2

experimental hypothesis

Answer 2

statement that predicts there will be a difference between 2 conditions

there will be an effect of the IV upon theDV

Question 3

directional experimental hypothesis

Answer 3

one tailed

states exactly how the DV will be affected by the IV

1. state condition of IV
2. state the operationalised DV
3. state the 2nd condition of the IV

Question 4

non directional experimental hypothesis

Answer 4

two-tailed

does not predict direction of results

there will be a difference between (1st condition) and (2nd condition) in terms of (state the DV)

Question 5

test of difference

Answer 5

research establishing a difference between 2 groups

Question 6

directional for difference

Answer 6

state which group will be better;faster; more able etc.

Question 7

non-directional for difference

Answer 7

state the two groups will perform differently

Question 8

test of correlation

Answer 8

is the research about establishing a correlation between 2 variables

Question 9

directional correlation

Answer 9

state whether the correlation will be positive or negative

Question 10

non-directional correlation

Answer 10

simply state there will be a correlation between 2 variables

Question 11

reasons for directional hypothesis

Answer 11

direction of results is clear with findings from past studies predicting their likely direction

Question 12

reasons for non-directional

Answer 12

direction of results is unclear as previous research has not been carried out

direction of results is unclear as previous research has conflicting findings

direction of results is unclear as previous research is heavily criticised

Question 13

primary data

Answer 13

collected first hand by experimenter which intends to specifically meet the aim of a particular study

collected for purpose of investigation

normally expensive and time consuming to gather

e.g. conducting interviews, performing observations

Question 14

secondary data

Answer 14

collected by somebody other than experimenter and has normally already been published

easy and inexpensive to gather, may be biased as it has been through process of interpretation by other researchers

e.g. published research in journals, books etc

Question 15

quantitative data

Answer 15

numerical data that can be easily and objectively analysed using inferential statistics

e.g. statistics, measures of central tendency (mean, mode etc)

Question 16

qualitative data

Answer 16

rich, subjective, non-numerical data often in the form of written or recorded descriptions which is detailed but more difficult to analyse

e.g. diaries, pictures

Question 17

reliability

Answer 17

extent to which a procedure produces consistently similar findings using the same participants when repeated

methods which are well structured will be easy to replicate and tend to be considered more reliable as it gives the researcher more control over variables

but, less likely to reflect real life so results may not be as valid

Question 18

validity

Answer 18

2 types - internal and external

internal -extent to which a study successfully measures what it intended and

external - extent to which findings can be applied to different settings