Operationalisation of variables Flashcards
1
Q
What is operationalisation
A
defining a variable to make it measurable
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
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
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
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
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
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”
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
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
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
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 :)
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
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
14
Q
Situational extraneous variables
A
- room
- temperature
- lighting
- noise
- time of day