Aims and Hypotheses

• What is an aim in psychological research?

  A general statement describing the investigation's purpose
• How is an aim developed in psychological research?

  From theories related to the investigation
• What is the aim of the experiment involving Speedup?

  To investigate if energy drinks increase talkativeness
• What is a hypothesis?

  A testable prediction about variable relationships
• What distinguishes a directional hypothesis from a non-directional hypothesis?

  A directional hypothesis predicts the effect's direction
• What is an example of a directional hypothesis?

  People who drink Speedup will be more talkative
• When is a non-directional hypothesis used?

  When previous research is inconclusive or absent
• What is the null hypothesis in an experiment?

  There is no relationship between the variables
• How should the null hypothesis be framed?

  There will be no significant difference between IV and DV
• What is the independent variable (IV) in an experiment?

  The variable that is manipulated by the researcher
• What is the dependent variable (DV) in an experiment?

  The variable that is measured to assess the effect
• Why is it important to control extraneous variables?

  To ensure the IV is the only factor affecting the DV
• What are the two levels of the IV in the Speedup experiment?

  Control group (water) and experimental condition (Speedup)
• What does operationalisation mean in research?

  Turning abstract concepts into measurable observations
• How might aggression be operationalised in a study?

  By counting the number of punches thrown
• What is an example of a non-directional hypothesis?

  There will be a difference in talkativeness
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables other than the IV that may affect the DV
• What is the difference between extraneous and confounding variables?

  Confounding variables systematically change with the IV
• What are examples of situational variables?

  Time of day, noise, temperature
• What are demand characteristics?

  When participants guess the aim and alter behavior
• How can demand characteristics be controlled in an experiment?

  By using an independent groups design
• What is a single-blind procedure?

  Participants do not know the study's aim
• How do investigator effects influence research outcomes?

  Through unintentional researcher behavior affecting results
• What is randomisation in research?

  Using chance methods to control for experimenter effects
• Why is standardisation important in experiments?

  To ensure consistency across all experimental conditions
• How can the mood of participants be controlled in an experiment?

  By monitoring their emotional state before testing
• How can investigator effects be minimized?

  By using a double-blind experimental technique
• What is the effect of telling students the test is for Year 10s?

  It may boost their confidence and performance
• How do investigator effects impact test scores?

  They can lead to biased results based on expectations