Research Methods Flashcards
What is an aim?
A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate
The purpose of the study
What is an hypothesis?
A clear, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated
What is a directional hypothesis?
States the direction of the difference of relationship
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
Does not state the direction
What is operationalisation?
Clearly definition variables in terms of how they can be measured
‘To investigate whether drinking energy drinks makes people more talkative’
Aim or (directional/non-directional) hypothesis?
Aim
‘People who drink SpeedUpp become more talkative than people who don’t’
Aim or (directional/non-directional) hypothesis?
Directional hypothesis
‘People who drink SpeedUpp differ in terms of talkativeness compared with people who don’t drink SpeedUpp’
Aim or (directional/non-directional) hypothesis?
Non-directional hypothesis
Is this operationalised?
‘After drinking 300ml of SpeedUpp particiants sat more words in the next 5 minutes than participants who drink 300ml of water’
Yes
What is extraneous variable?
Any variable, other than the IV that may have an effect of the DV if it not controlled.
What are confounding variables?
Any variable other than IV that may have affected the DV so we cannot be sure of the true source of the changes to the DV.
What are demand characteristics?
Participants change their behaviour to present themselves in a good way or because they have guessed the aim of the research
Is age and lighting in the lab a confounding variable or extraneous variable?
extraneous
Is personality a confounding variable or extraneous variable?
confounding
What are investigator effects?
Any effect of the investigators behaviour (conscious or unconscious) on the research outcome (DV). E.g. interaction, design of study