Research methods Flashcards
What is an aim?
Research aims are the stated intention of what questions you plan to answer and what you hope to find out.
What is a dependent variable?
This is the variable that we measure.
What is the independent variable?
This is the variable that the researcher manipulates so that there will be a change in the dependent variable.
What does it mean to operationalise?
To make the dependent variable measurable.
What is a hypothesis?
A general statement of prediction. Experiments are then designed to test these predictions.
What is an experimental hypothesis?
A prediction of what will happen.
What is a null hypothesis?
A prediction that nothing will happen.
What is a directional hypothesis?
It predicts the direction of the results, i.e. there will be a positive correlation.
When is a directional hypothesis used?
When there is prior research that indicates that this will be the case.
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
It does not predict the direction: there will be a correlation.
When is a non-directional hypothesis used?
When there is no prior research or any prior research is conflicting.
