aims and hypothesis

• an aim is a statement of what researchers intend to find out in a research study - what we are hoping to achieve
• a hypothesis is a precise and testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables - what we expect to happen
• there are 2 types of hypothesis
• directional and non directional are the two types of hypothesises
• directional hypothesis states what exactly is going to happen (specific)
• non directional hypothesis states there will be difference between conditions but not what exactly the difference will be
• correlational hypotheses predict a relationship between two dependent variables
• hypotheses for tests of difference suggest an independent variable causes a dependent variable
• template for directional hypothesis:

  • there will be a significant positive correlation between the amount of time spent on a treadmill and the number of calories burnt
• template for non directional hypothesis:

  • there will be a significant correlation between the amount of time spent on a treadmill and the number of calories burnt