Research Methods

• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  A non-directional hypothesis states that there will be a significant difference in the dependent variable (DV) measurements between two conditions of the independent variable (IV).
• What does the phrase "significant difference" imply in a non-directional hypothesis?

  It implies that the difference observed in DV measurements is unlikely to have occurred by chance.
• How does the structure of a non-directional hypothesis differ from a directional hypothesis?

  A non-directional hypothesis does not specify the direction of the difference, while a directional hypothesis predicts the specific direction of the difference.
• What is the format of a non-directional hypothesis?

  • "There will be a significant difference in DV measurements between Condition 1 of IV and Condition 2 of IV."