Research Methods; Hypothesis

Question 1

Independent Variable:

Answer 1

The variable being manipulated (cause). How participants are grouped.

Question 2

Dependent Variable:

Answer 2

The variable being measured (effect).

Question 3

Covariables:

Answer 3

The variables in a correlation, effectively two dependent variables.

Question 4

Operationalisation:

Answer 4

clearly defining your variables in terms of how they are responded to.

Question 5

How do I write a hypothesis?

Answer 5

• Are the variables a relationship (DV + IV) , or correlative (DV + DV) ?
• What are the variables? How are they quantified?
• Operationalise these.
• Is it directional or non-directional? One-tailed or two-tailed?
• Is there previous evidence?
• Correlation/relationship or experiment/difference?

Question 6

Non-directional model:

Answer 6

There will be a significant relationship/correlation between variable/co-variable (operationalised) and other variable/co-variable (operationalised).

Question 7

Directional model:

Answer 7

There will be a significant relationship/correlation between variable/co-variable (operationalised) and other variable/co-variable (operationalised), where this will be positive/negative.

Question 8

Null hypothesis

Answer 8

A null hypothesis predicts no significant effect or relationship between variables.

Question 9

Alternate hypothesis

Answer 9

Predicts a significant difference or relationship between variables.

Alternate hypothesis include:

• one-tailed hypothesis -has a steady direction; we know what will happen
• two-tailed hypothesis -we don’t know the direction but we know there will be a difference.