Variable + Hypothesis Testing

Question 1

What is the aim?

Answer 1

An aim is a general statement made by the researcher which tells us what they plan on investigating, the purpose of the study

Question 2

What is the hypothesis?

Answer 2

A hypothesis is a precise statement which clear states the relationship between the variables being investigated

Question 3

What are the two different types of hypotheses?

Answer 3

Directional hypothesis and Nondirectional hypothesis

Question 4

What is the directional hypothesis known as?

What is the nondirectional hypothesis known as?

Answer 4

The directional hypothesis is known as “one tailed”

The nondirectional hypothesis is known as “two tailed “

Question 5

What is another type of hypothesis?

Answer 5

Another type of hypothesis is a null hypothesis

Question 6

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 6

A null hypothesis states that the study will not work, that there will be no correlation or difference found in the data

Question 7

What is a directional hypothesis?

Answer 7

A directional hypothesis is a precise statement which states the sort of difference that is anticipated between the two conditions or groups of people etc

Question 8

What is a nondirectional hypothesis?

Answer 8

A nondirectional hypothesis is a statement that states there is a difference between conditions or groups of people, however the nature of the difference is not specified

Question 9

When data collected is significant what type of hypothesis is used?
When data collected is insignificant what type of hypothesis is used?

Answer 9

Data significant = experimental alternative hypothesis (directional/non directional hypothesis)

Data insignificant = null hypothesis

Question 10

What are variables?

Answer 10

Variables are things that can be changed or altered

Question 11

What are the two types of variables?

Answer 11

There is a independent variable and dependent variable

Question 12

What is an independent variable?

Answer 12

A variable within the experiment that is manipulated by the researcher or (changes naturally) so the effect on the DV can be measured

Question 13

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 13

The variable which is measured by the researcher

Question 14

Identify the IVs and DVs in the examples below:

1. Talking to a child will increase their language ability
2. People are more aggressive on hot days
3. Students may be late for school because they stayed up late the night before
4. Watching horror films will make children have nightmares
5. People will be rated as more attractive if they wear red

Answer 14

IV1. The amount of times the child is spoken to

IV2. Daily temperature (hot or cold)

IV3. Time child goes to bed (early or late)

IV4. Types of films watched

IV5. Wearing red or another colour

DV1. The language ability

DV2. Level of aggression

DV3. Punctuality at school

DV4. Frequency of nightmares

DV5. Attractiveness

Question 15

What is operationalisation?

Answer 15

Clearly defining the variables in terms of how they can be measured

Question 16

For the following aim of an investigation: operationalise the IV and DV and write a direction and non directional hypothesis

1. To investigate whether yawning is contagious

Answer 16

IV - to see whether participants see confederate yawning or not

DV - count how many participants yawn in the following five minutes

Directional hypothesis: The participants who see the confederate yawn are more likely to yawn as well in the following five minutes

Nondirectional hypothesis: There is a difference in the number of participants who yawn in the next five minutes depending on whether they saw a confederate yawn or not

Question 16

Operationalise the IV and DV within this hypothesis:
1. To investigate whether blondes have more fun

Answer 16

IV: getting people with blonde hair and other colours

DV: counting how many parties/social events they attend in a month