Hypothesis

• What is an independent variable? 


  -Variable the experimenter manipulates of changes

  -Has a direct effect on DV
• What is a dependent variable? 


  -Variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment
• Operationalisation- 


  -Clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured
• What is a hypothesis? 


  -Clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated
• Alternative hypothesis- 


  -States that there is a relationship/difference between the 2 variables being studied (1 variable effects the other)
• Null hypothesis- 


  -States there is no relationship/difference between the 2 variables being studied (one variable does not affect the other)

  -States results are due to chance alone
• Directional Hypothesis - 


  -Predicts the direction in which the results are expected to occur
• When do we write a directional hypothesis ? 


  -When there is previous research to suggest the direction of a relationship
• Non-Directional Hypothesis- 


  -Simply states that there is some kind of difference between 2 variables
• When do we write a non directional hypothesis ? 


  When there is no previous research or previous research is contradictory
• Writing Directional alternative- 


  There will be a significant (increase/decrease) in (DV) for (condition 1 of IV) compared to (condition 2 of IV)
• Writing non directional alternative- 


  There will be a significant difference in (DV) between (condition 1 of IV) and (condition 2 of IV)
• Writing nulll- 


  There will be no significant difference between (IV) in terms of (DV). Any difference will be due to chance