Research methods Flashcards
(11 cards)
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.
