hypothesis

• What is a hypothesis?

  A testable statement
• Can both an alternative and null hypothesis be true at the same time?

  No, they cannot be true simultaneously
• What should happen to the alternative and null hypotheses?

  One should be accepted, the other rejected
• What does the alternative hypothesis state?

  • There will be a difference between the variables
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  • Predicts a specific difference
  • Uses terms like more, less, increase, decrease
  • Example: Participants who (IV condition) will (DV) than (other IV condition)
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  • States there will be a difference but not what it is
  • Experimental: Difference in (DV) between (both IV conditions)
  • Correlational: Relationship between (both co-variables)
• What does the null hypothesis state?

  There won't be a significant difference
• What does the null hypothesis imply if a difference is found?

  The difference was due to chance
• What are the requirements for a hypothesis?

  • One sentence long
  • Includes IV and DV information
  • Includes both conditions of the IV
  • Must be operationalised
  • Should not include explanations