The Experimental Method Flashcards
What is an aim?
General statements that describe the purpose of an investigation
What is a hypothesis?
A statement made at the start of a study that clearly describes the relationships between variables.
What is a directional hypothesis?
What sort of words may be seen in a directional hypothesis?
The researcher establishes the clear difference anticipated between 2 variables.
Include words like more/less, higher/lower etc
What is a non directional hypothesis?
A hypothesis that states there is a difference between 2 variables, but does not state what this difference is.
What is the independent variable?
Some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher, or changes naturally, so effect on the dependent variable can be measured.
What is the dependent variable?
The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any effect on the DV should be caused by the IV only.
What is the control condition in an experiment?
The condition that the experimental condition is measured against. Does not experience any experimental change.
What is the experimental condition?
The group that experiences the IV.
What is operationalisation of variables?
Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured.
