Variables and Hypothesis Testing

Question 1

What is an experiment?

Answer 1

A tradtional *method of a scientific enquiry *

Question 2

What is an aim?

Answer 2

The purpose of the experiment; a general statement of what the research intends to do.

Question 3

What is a Variable?

Answer 3

Anything that can be measured (all experiments have this)

Question 4

Independent Variable

Answer 4

The variable that is manipulated by the experimenter or naturally occuring e.g gender

Question 5

Dependent Variable

Answer 5

The *variable that is measured *to show the effect of the IV

Question 6

What is a Hypothesis?

Answer 6

A precise and testable statement of the relationship/difference between 2 variables

Question 7

What are the 2 types of hypothesis?

Answer 7

1) Alternative Hypothesis
2) Null Hypothesis

Question 8

Alternative Hypothesis

Answer 8

A prediction at the beginning of the study that the IV will affect DV
Its split into 2 types a one-tailed (directional) and a *two-tailed *(non-directional) hypothesis

Question 9

What is a One-tailed Hypothesis?

Answer 9

This predicts the direction of the results e.g specific —-> faster, better, more
**Its used when previous research has found similar findings. **

Question 10

What is a Two-tailed Hypothesis?

Answer 10

This *predicts the difference *between the variables, without indicating a direction
Its used when research is new or previous findings are inconclusive

Question 11

What is a Null Hypothesis?

Answer 11

There will be no difference or correlation found in the data so the IV doesn’t affect the DV

Question 12

What is Operationalisation?

Answer 12

How variables are defined and measured
Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

Question 13

What is Standardisation?

Answer 13

*Ensuring all participants have the same experience *by giving them the same instructions and formalised procedures

Question 14

What is Randomisation?

Answer 14

The use of chance to decide the order of the conditions to reduce invegator effects/researcher bias

Question 15

What is an Extraneous Variable?

Answer 15

Variables other than the IV that might affect the DV (Nuisance Variables)

Question 16

What are the 3 types of Extraneous Variables?

Answer 16

1) Participant Variables
2) Situational Variables
3) Experimental Variables

Question 17

Participant Variables & ways to control it

Answer 17

Any *characteristic of a participant that may influence results *e.g. age, gender, personality, height, race, mood, experience etc
**Prevention: **
* Ensure groups have similar participants in
* Randomly allocate participants to groups

Question 18

Situational Variables& ways to control it

Answer 18

Concern *the experimental setting, surrounding/environment *e.g temperature, noise, time of day, seating and room arrangements, lighting, space
**Prevention: **
* Keep factors (e.g time+temp) constant
* Use a single blind technique

Question 19

**Experimental Variables **& ways to control it

Answer 19

This concern changes in the personality, appearance and conduct of a researher e.g. giving participants clues
This can be due to the age, gender, ethnicity, experience, age and clarity of instructions
Prevention:
Use a double blind technique

Question 20

What is a Single Blind technique?

Answer 20

Paricipants are not aware of the study’s aims until the end to eliminate demand characteristics

Question 21

What is a Double Blind technique?

Answer 21

Neither researcher or ppts know the aims of the study