Operationalisation of variables Flashcards

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1
Q

What is operationalisation

A

defining a variable to make it measurable

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2
Q

What is an aim

A
  • the study’s purpose
  • the aims are usually more general than the hypotheses
  • they help to explain reasons for the investigator deciding to test some specific hypotheses
  • the aims tell us why a given study is being carried out
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3
Q

What is the hypothesis

A
  • a precise, testable statement or prediction about the expected outcome of an investigation
  • the hypothesis tell us what findings the experimenter expects will happen in the study
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4
Q

What is a null hypothesis

A
  • one that states results could be due to chance and are not significant in terms of supportinf the idea being investigated
  • sometimes its easier to state the null hypothesis in relation to group differences
  • we need a null hypothesis for precision and proof
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5
Q

What is an alternative/experimental hypothesis

A
  • a prediction or forecast of what the researcher thinks will happen to the dependent variable when the independent variable changes
  • alternative-basically any hypothesis that is not a null hypothesis
  • if the experimental method is being used it can also be referred to as an experimental hypothesis
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6
Q

What is a directional (one tailed) hypothesis

A
  • a hypothesis might predict that instead of saying there will be a difference between groups in the amount they remember, you predict which group will remember most
  • often used when previous research findings suggest which way the results will go
  • “those in the loud noise condition will be able to remember less information from the textbook”
  • predicted
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7
Q

What is a non-directional (two tailed) hypothesis

A
  • the direction of results is not predicted
  • e.g. you may predict a differences between groups but have no idea which way the differences will fall
  • “loud noise will have an effect on people’s ability to learn information from a textbook”
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8
Q

What is a variable

A
  • something that vaires
  • in an experiment there will be two variables-pthe one manipulated by the experimenter and the one affected by the changes
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9
Q

What is the dependent variable

A
  • the variable affected by the changes in the IV
  • variable being measured
  • e.g. behaviour that is going to be measured
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10
Q

What is the independent variable

A
  • the variable directly manipulated by the experimenter
  • e.g. ‘whether or not a revision guide is used’-directly under the control of the researcher
  • the experimenter will decided whether or not the IV has caused a change in the DV
  • IV is CHANGED
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11
Q

no answer just that controlled variable is the one that is the same :)

A

no answer just that controlled variable is the one that is the same :)

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12
Q

What are controlled variables

A
  • ones that stay the same
  • other variables than IV and DV must aim to be controlled so we can assume the only variable causing the change in the DV is the IV
  • e.g. Baddeley had to make sure word lists in all conditions had words of the similar length, frequency of occurrence in the language etc
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13
Q

What are extraneous variables

A
  • variables other than the IV and DV in an experimental condition
  • they can get in the way of the link between the IV and DV unless acknowledges
  • they must be controlled otherwise they run into the risk of becoming confounding variables-the effect they have on the DV confounds the accuracy of the data
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14
Q

Situational extraneous variables

A
  • room
  • temperature
  • lighting
  • noise
  • time of day
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