Research Methods :Experimental Method Flashcards
theories are based on
understanding
Where may we get our understanding from
newspapers,articles, research studies
Aims are developed from
theories
What are Aims
general statements
describe purpose of the investigation
Give an example of an aim ( to investigate)
to investigate whether drinking energy drinks makes people more talkative
what do we formulate after writing an aim
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is
statement made @ the start of stuy
describes relationship between variables as stated by theory
Give an example of a hypothesis
drinking coke causes people to become more talkative
What are the two types of categories a hypothesis can be
directional
non directional
What is a directional hypothesis
researcher makes clear
the difference anticipated
between two conditions/groups
directional hypothesis includes words like
more /less
higher/ lower
faster/slower
give an example of a directional hypothesis
people who drink coke are more chatty than those who don’t
what is a non directional hypothesis
states difference between conditions
but the nature not specified
give an example of a non directional hypothesis
people drink coke differ in terms of chattiness compared to who don’t
what is the experimental method
manipulation of the IV to measure effect of DV
What can be the different types of experiments
laboratory
field
natural
quasi
when do you use a directional hypothesis
theory /findings of previous research studies suggest particular outcome
when do you use a non directional hypothesis
when there’s no theory/previous research
or
findings from earlier studies are contradictorary
the effects of caffeine are well documented therefore what type of hypothesis will we use
directional hypothesis
When writing a hypothesis what do you have to check for
IV DV - clear & measurable
relationship between the IV and DV
right type of hypothesis
What is the IV
Variable a researcher changes or manipulates
What is the DV
variable you record and MEASURE the effect of
Any effect of the DV is caused by ?
the change in the IV
All other variables that may effect the DV should remain ?
constant/controlled in a properly run expermiment
Why should variables, may affect the DV remain constant in a properlu run experiment
researcher confident change in the DV soley down to IV
To test the effect of the IV what do we need
different experimental conditions
if we just gave participants coke we wouldnt know…
so we need a
how talkative they were
comparison
if we just gave participants coke we wouldnt know how talkative they were so we need a
comparison
how would we be able to compare particpants chattiness
2 marks
copmare chattiness before and after drinking coke
compare two groups of particpants - those who drank coke, and those who drank water
in either case 2 conditions are either no coke or drinking coke these are what …
the two levels of the IV
What are the two levels of the IV
control condition : no coke /drink of water
experimental condition : energy drink
A well written hypothesis should make it well easy to
tell what the IV and DV are
give an example of the directional hypothesis comparing two groups of participants
the group that drinks an energy drink will be chattier than those who drink water
What is operationalisation
clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
why do we operationalise variables
to make it testable
give an example of a good operationialised variable
after drinking 300 ml of coke , participants say more words in the next 5 minutes
than particpants who drink 300 ml of water
When our variables are operationalised we are free to concentrate on?
more important things
