Research Questioms

Question 1

What is an aim?

Answer 1

• statement of purpose of study

Question 2

What are the 3 types of research?

Answer 2

Comparative, correlational and descriptive.

Question 3

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 3

A testable statement, often a general prediction made at the beginning of an investigation.

Question 4

Describe an experimental/alternate hypothesis.

Answer 4

• predicts that any difference or effect found will not be due to chance, but caused by the IV
• DV as a result of manipulation of the IV
• clear what they aim to prove/disprove
  EG there will be a significant difference in reaction time due to alcohol consumption

Question 5

What are the 2 types of experimental/alternate hypothesis? Describe them.

Answer 5

• one tailed/directional: state the direction of the results. EG - significant increase in reaction time. Used when research is fairly conclusive
• two-tailed/non-directional: IV will affect DV, but doesn’t state exactly how. Used when research is limited.

Question 6

Describe a null hypothesis.

Answer 6

• predict that the IV will not affect the DV
• results simply due to chance
  EG: there will be no difference in reaction time as a result of alcohol consumption

Question 7

Define a variable

Answer 7

A quantity whose value can change

Question 8

Define an independent and dependant variable

Answer 8

• independent: variable deliberately manipulated by the experimenter, assumed to influence the DV
• dependant: variable that is measured and hoped to be affected by manipulation of the IV

Question 9

What is an extraneous variable?

Answer 9

• variable that is not measured or manipulated but affects what you are trying to measure
• if not controlled, they are confounding variables
• reduce internal validity and compromise acceptance of hypothesis

Question 10

What are co-variables?

Answer 10

• variables within a correlation
• refer to the two variables being correlated

Question 11

What are operationalise variables?

Answer 11

• define the process by which the variable is measured
• eg how will you manipulate IV? how will you measure DV?
• allow for repetition and reliability

Question 12

Why would a null hypothesis be accepted?

Answer 12

• the null hypothesis is possible
• the results are consistent with the null hypothesis
• the experiment was a good effort to find an effect

Question 13

Why would a psychologist accept the null hypothesis?

Answer 13

• did not have a significant result
• findings from inferential test did not reach minimum signif level to be accepted