Research Methods 1

Question 1

What is a research method

Answer 1

It’s an experiment that aims to find the cause and effect (if the independent variable has an effect on the depends variable

Question 2

Independent or dependent

Answer 2

Independent- one you change (has conditions)
Dependent- one you measure (always have to operationalise it)

Question 3

Alternative hypothesis (experimental)

Answer 3

Predicts a difference (eg. There will be a difference (DV) (Condition 1&2 IV)

Question 4

Null hypothesis

Answer 4

Predicts no difference (eg. There will be no difference (DV) (Condition 1&2 of IV)

Question 5

Operationalising the DV

Answer 5

Make sure it’s specific ( has conditions) and measurable (numerical)

Question 6

Alternative can be split into two type

Answer 6

Directional / one tailed
Non directional / two tailed

Question 7

Directional/ one tailed

Answer 7

States which specific direction the results will go in (eg. There will be a greater increase…)

Question 8

Non directional/ two tailed

Answer 8

Less clear of the direction the results will go in (eg. There will be a difference..)

Question 9

Extraneous variables

Answer 9

Participants variable
Situational variable
Experimenter variable

Question 10

Participant variable

Answer 10

Differences between participants which could affect the results (eg. Age, gender, prior knowledge n experiences)

Question 11

Situational variable

Answer 11

Differences such as the time of day or temperature of the room (eg. Too noisy, distractions, too hot/too cold)

Question 12

Experimenter variables

Answer 12

Tone of voice the experimenter uses, body language or bias

Question 13

Control extraneous variables

Answer 13

One method is standardisation- keeping as many aspects of the study the same across the experiment (eg. Control participant variable by using the same group of people for each condition)