The scientific process

• Aims 


  general statement describing what the study intends to investigate. needs to be informative, concise and accurate.
• Variables 


  A researcher usually intervenes directly in the situation being investigated by manipulating at least one variable.
• Variables

  Independent variable- variable that's manipulated

  Dependent variable - variable that's measured

  Variables must be operationalised and this is described in a measurable form that is objective and quantifiable.

  only the IV should be having an effect in the DV and everything else should be controlled.

  Extraneous variables- any variable that is not the IV that may influence the DV.

  Confounding variables- extraneous variable that has influenced the DV. Changed systematically with the IV.
• Random errors 


  the effects can't be predicted and are hard to control which includes:

  PP state of mind

  PP level of motivation

  room temperature
• constant errors


  these affect the DV in a constant way and are very serious problems as affect conditions which includes

  failure to counterbalance and randomise order of conditions

  individual differences affect one condition more than another.
• Hypotheses 


  is a testable statement which the investigator is attempting to find support for. It should be one sentence long and will be dependent on the aim of the study and what the researcher is looking for.

  Information about the IV and DV must include both condition.
• Non-directional


  two-tailed states there will be a difference in results, doesn't say what the difference will be.
• Directional 


  one tailed states that there will be a difference in results and predicts the difference.
• Alternative hypothesis

  states that there will be a significant difference/correlation association between variables, can be directional or non-directional
• null- hypothesis


  states that there won't be a significant difference/correlation association between the variables (due to chance).