Research methods

Question 1

Define alternative hypothesis

Answer 1

= A clear, precise, testable statement which states the relationship between the variables being investigated
→ ∴ Predicts the outcome of the experiment

∴ Is always specific
& can’t be written as a question

Question 2

Why can a hypothesis not be a question ?

Answer 2

∵ A question can’t be right or wrong, whereas a hypothesis can be

Question 3

What is an experimental hypothesis ?

Answer 3

= When you do an experiment

Question 4

What tense does a hypothesis have to be in ?

Answer 4

Present tense

Question 5

What are the types of hypotheses ?

Answer 5

1) Alternative hypothesis
→ Experimental hypothesis
→ Directional (one-tailed) hypothesis
→ Non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis

2) Null hypothesis

Question 6

What is a directional hypothesis also known as ?

Answer 6

One-tailed hypothesis
→ ∵ You state one definitive outcome of the hypothesis

Question 7

What is a non-directional hypothesis also known as ?

Answer 7

Two-tailed hypothesis
→ ∵ You state two possible outcomes of the hypothesis, given that things can only go one way or the other

Question 8

What is a directional (one-tailed) hypothesis ?

Answer 8

= A type of alternative hypothesis that specifies the direction of the relationship of the experiment
→ Whether it’s better or worse

E.g. ‘People who do homework without the TV on produce BETTER results than those who do homework with the TV on’

Subtler example:
E.g. ‘Coffee will have an effect on the reaction time of participants’
→ It is specified that there is a relationship

Question 9

What is a non-directional (two-tailed) hypothesis ?

Answer 9

= A type of alternative hypothesis that predicts that there will be a difference, however does not specify the direction of the relationship of the variables

E.g. ‘There is a difference in work produced in noisy vs silent conditions’

Subtler example:
E.g. ‘Coffee will change the reaction times of participants’
→ Whether it will increase or decrease is NOT specified

Question 10

How to differentiate between directional VS non-directional hypothesis

Answer 10

In exams, you may be asked what type of hypothesis was used, or you may be asked to write one yourself.

Directional:
→ When there is previous research so that you know what to expect

VS

Non-directional:
→ When there is no previous research on the topic
→ When there is previous research but the studies have conflicting results

Question 11

Define a null hypothesis

Answer 11

= Predicting that there will be no difference/association between the variables that you’re studying

(Opposite of an alternative hypothesis)

Question 12

What type of hypotheses are the following:

→ ‘Students who have a computer at home do better in exams than those who don’t have a computer at home’
→ ‘Hamsters are rated better as better pets than budgies’
→ ‘People given a list of emotionally charged words recall fewer words than participants given a list of emotionally neutral words’

Answer 12

Directional (one-tailed) hypotheses

→ Words such as: better, worse, more, fewer etc are leading, hence they’re one-tailed and directing you to the relationship between the two variables

Question 13

What type of hypotheses are the following:

→ ‘Boys score differently on aggressiveness tests than girls’
→ ‘Words presented in a written form are recalled differently from those presented in a pictorial form’
→ ‘There will be a difference in male and female performance in a driving test’

Answer 13

Non-directional (two-tailed) hypotheses

Question 14

What type of hypotheses are the following:

→ ‘There will be no significant difference in amount of daily meditation and the incidence of depression’
→ ‘Serotonin levels have no effect on ability to cope with stress’
→ ‘There is no difference between the amount of sleep and an individuals ability to tan’

Answer 14

Null hypotheses

→ Always states there’s no relationship between the two variables, in any wording

Question 15

Define an aim

Answer 15

= The objective or purpose of the experiment (a desired outcome)

Question 16

Difference between a hypothesis VS an aim

Answer 16

→ Aims can be a vague statement or question
→ Whereas a hypothesis can only be a precise statement, never a question

Question 17

What type of statements are the following:

→ ‘To see if blondes have more fun than brunettes’
→ ‘Do people who sleep with a teddy bear sleep longer than people who don’t?’
→ ‘Lack of sleep may affect schoolwork’

Answer 17

Aims

‘Do people who sleep with a teddy bear sleep longer than people who don’t?’
= Aim ∵ hypotheses can’t be a question

‘Lack of sleep may affect schoolwork’
= Aim ∵ hypotheses are clear and precise statements, whereas the word ‘may’ is too vague

Question 18

What type of statements are the following:

→ ‘Younger people will have a higher memory store than older people’
→ ‘There will be a difference in performance when the person has positive expectations compared to negative expectations’
→ ‘Men with beards have a higher attractiveness rating than men without beards’

Answer 18

Hypotheses
∵ They all predict the outcome of the experiment

Question 19

Why are null hypotheses used in psychology ?

Answer 19

The research is conducted to try to prove this hypothesis wrong

Question 20

Define operationalisation

Answer 20

=

Question 21

Operationalise the directional hypotheses:

1 → ‘…’
2 → ‘…’
3 → ‘…’

Answer 21

1 → ‘…’
2 → ‘…’
3 → ‘…’

Question 22

Operationalise the non-directional hypotheses:

1 → ‘…’
2 → ‘…’
3 → ‘…’

Answer 22

1 → ‘…’
2 → ‘…’
3 → ‘…’

Question 23

Operationalise the null hypotheses:

1 → ‘…’
2 → ‘…’
3 → ‘…’

Answer 23

1 → ‘…’
2 → ‘…’
3 → ‘…’

Question 24

Example of an alternative hypothesis

Answer 24

‘It takes longer to read a list of random words than related words’

The two variables are:
1) Random words
2) Related words

The relationship between the two variables is that one takes longer to read than the other

Question 25

Tip: Writing directional hypothesis

Answer 25

Easiest option:
Compare two variables in context and say which outcome of the variables is BETTER or WORSE

Difficult context questions:
Use POSITIVE adjectives for the variable that is BETTER
and NEGATIVE adjectives for the variable that is WORSE

Positive adjective example:
→ More 
→ Longer (amount of time)
→ Higher (amount)

Negative adjective example:
→ Fewer
→ Less
→ Shorter (amount of time)
→ Lower (amount)

Question 26

Tip: Writing non-directional hypothesis

Answer 26

Most important thing to do is state the relationship of the variables (difference or correlation), however don’t state WHAT the relationship is

Easiest option:
Simply state the relationship
→ ‘There is a differencebetween this and that’
→ ‘There is a correlationbetween this and that’

Difficult context questions:
Use the context of the question and say the variables are performed
…
differently

…
similarly

Question 27

Tip: Writing null hypothesis

Answer 27

…