Research Methods - Variables

Question 1

What is an Aim?

Answer 1

Purpose of the study.
General statement about the purpose of the piece of research.
Example - To see the affect almonds have on memory.

Question 2

What are Independent Variables?

Answer 2

The variable that can be manipulated by the researcher.

Example - Earning above or below average salaries.

Question 3

What are Dependent Variables?

Answer 3

The variable that you can measure, this comes after the IV.

Example - In a study looking at participant’s test scores, the DV is the Participant’s test scores.

Question 4

What is Operationalisation?

Answer 4

It defines variables - Says what they mean about the variable.
It is measurable.
How a variable is clearly defined by the researcher.

Question 5

What is the Extraneous Variable?

Answer 5

Anything other than the IV, which can affect the DV.

Examples - Time of day, weather, temperature etc.

Question 6

What are Confounding Variables?

Answer 6

Something other than the IV, which influences the DV.
Example - In a caffeine study, it is possible that the students who received caffeine had more sleep than the control group (those who didn’t have coffee).

Question 7

What are Hypotheses?

Answer 7

A clear and precise statement with operationalised variables.

Question 8

Types of Hypotheses
Directional
Non-Directional

Answer 8

Directional - States the direction of results. Previous research suggests direction of results.
Example - Participants who have consumed 50g almonds will recall MORE words from the list than those who didn’t consume almonds.

Non-Directional - Direction of the results is not predicted. No previous research that suggests the direction of results.
Example - There is a difference is words recalled when participants have consumed 50g almonds than the participants who didn’t consume 50g almonds.