Principles of Research Flashcards
What is research aim?+ give example
A statement of what the researcher intend to find out in research study
Example:If i wanted to investigate the effect of alcohol on memory then my aim would be ‘to find out if alcohol has an effect on memory’
What is research hypotheses?
A predictive statement about what the researcher expects to find in their research
What is Alternative hypothesis?
Any hypothesis except the null hypothesis. It is an alternative to null hypothesis. It is predictive statement of what the researcher expects to find in their study
What is Experimental hypothesis?+ give example
Term to describe alternative hypothesis in an experiment. It predicts relationship or difference between the IV and DV
Example:There will be a difference in mathematical ability between those who eat bananas and those who do not
What is Independent Variable?
Variable that is directly manipulated by an experimenter in order to test its effect on another variable
What is Dependent Variable?
Variable measured by the experimenter to see if it has been affected by IV
What is Directional hypothesis?+ give example
States the direction of the predicted difference or relationship between two conditions or two groups of participants
Example:Those who eat bananas will have higher mathematical ability than those who do not
What is Non-Directional hypothesis?+ give example
Predicts simply that there is a difference or relationship between two conditions or two groups of participants, without stating the direction of the difference
Example:There is a difference in mathematical ability between those who eat bananas than those who do not
What is a Null hypothesis?+ give example
The assumption of no relationship between variables being studied
Example:There is no difference in mathematical ability between those who eat bananas than those who do not. Any difference is a result of chance factors
What are Co-Variables?+ give example
Variables in a correlation, must be continuous and related
Example:In a correlational study of the relationship between stress and illness the two co-variables would be person’s stress score and a tally of the numbers of illnesses experienced
What are Extraneous Variables?+ give example
Variables that do not vary systematically with the IV and therefore do not act as an alternative IV but may have an effect on the dependent variable.They are nuisance variables that muddy the waters and make it more difficult to detect a significant effect
Example:The time of day that an experiment takes place may or may not have an effect on its outcome
What are Confounding Variables?+ give example
Variable that is not the IV under the study but which varies systematically with the IV. Changes in the DV may be due to the confounding variable rather than the IV and therefore the outcome is meaningless. To confound means to cause confusion.
Example: If the time of day that an experiment takes place effects and distorts its outcome
What is operationalisation of variables?+ give example
Defying a variable to measure it
Example: Mathematical ability=scores in maths test
