Research methods Flashcards
Aim
A statement of a study’s purpose
When are aims stated?
Before the research begins - to make it clear what the study intends to hypothesis
One-tailed hypothesis
States the direction of a difference or a relationship e.g. more/Less, higher/lower, faster/slower
Examples of one tailed hypothesis
People who drink Red Bull become more hyperactive than people who don’t
When would you use a one-tailed hypothesis?
When pre-existing research supports aim
Two tailed hypothesis
The nature of a difference between conditionals/groups is not specified
Example of two tailed hypothesis
There will be a difference in memory recall for chocolate and no chocolate.
When would you use a two-tailed hypothesis?
When there is no pre-existing research to support an aim
Null hypothesis
When we assume there’s no difference in between variables
Null hypothesis key features
We assume there’s no difference in between variables.
Any data collected will either back this assumption or not: If it doesn’t, you reject it and go with your alternative hypothesis
Example of null hypothesis
No difference on a person’s memory between eating chocolate and not eating chocolate
Operationalisation
How we intend to measure our independent and dependent variables
Extraneous variables
Any variables impacting the dependent variables that aren’t independent variables
