aims and hypotheses

• What is an aim?

  A general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate; the purpose of the study.
• What is a hypothesis?

  A testable statement of what the research believes to be true.
• What does a hypothesis need to be?

  It should be clearly defined and operationalised (made measurable).
• What is a Null hypothesis?

  States that there will be no difference. This is what the research sets out to disprove.
• What is an alternative hypothesis?

  The alternative hypothesis states that there is a relationship between the two variables being studied (one variable has an effect on the other)
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  States that there will be a difference and the direction of the effect.
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?


  States that there will be a difference but not the direction of the effect.
• What is directional hypothesis is used for?

  Directional hypothesis is used when the findings of previous research suggest an outcome.
• What is non-directional hypothesis used for?


  Non-directional hypothesis is used when there are no previous research or findings.
• An example of directional hypothesis

  Students who listen to music while revising will achieve a higher score in a test than those who don't listen to music.
• An example of non-directional hypothesis

  There will be a significant difference in test scores between students who listen to music and those who don't.
• What is variables compromise a hypothesis?

  Independent variable

  Dependent variable
• Independent variable

  The variable that is manipulated
• Dependent variable

  The variable that is measured.