Return to hypotheses and other things

Question 1

Confederate definition?

Answer 1

An person who is “in on the study”. They are not a participant and have been instructed on how to behave by the investigator.

Question 2

directional hypothesis definition?

Answer 2

States the direction of the predicted difference between two conditions or two groups of participants.

Question 3

non-directional hypothesis definition?

Answer 3

Predicts that there is a difference between two conditions or two groups of participants, without stating the direction of the differences.

Question 4

pilot study definition?

Answer 4

A small-scale trial run of a study to test any aspects of the design, with a view to making improvements.

Question 5

“People who do homework with TV on produce better results from those who do homework with the TV off”. Is this statement a directional hypothesis or a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 5

Directional hypothesis

Question 6

“People who do homework with TV on produce different results from those who do homework with the TV off”. Is this statement a directional hypothesis or a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 6

Non-directional hypothesis

Question 7

Why would a scientist use a directional hypothesis?

Answer 7

If past research suggests that the findings will go in a particular direction.

Question 8

Why would a scientist use a non-directional hypothesis?

Answer 8

When there is no past research or if past research is contradictory.

Question 9

Why would a researcher conduct a pilot study?

Answer 9

To find out if any aspects of the design do not work.

Question 10

How could you conduct a pilot study?

Answer 10

By gathering only a few participants (so as to not invest a large amount of time or money) and trailing the study.