Research methods

Question 1

What is an independent variable?

Answer 1

What the researcher manipulates in the experiement

Question 2

Whats a dependent variable?

Answer 2

What the researcher measures in the experiment

Question 3

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 3

the hypothesis states the direction, Eg. more, less, larger, smaller

Question 4

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

Answer 4

the hypothesis does not specify the expected direction, Eg. difference, affect

Question 5

Whats a laboratory experiment?

Answer 5

• conducted in a tightly controlled environment
• experimenter deliberately manipulates the independent variable
• experimenter measures the dependent variable

Question 6

Whats a Field experiment?

Answer 6

• conducted in a natural, ‘real world’ environment Eg. park, hospital
• the experimenter deliberately manipulates the independent variable
• the experimenter measures the dependent variable