Experimental method

• What is an aim?

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


  A clear, precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables to be investigated
• Where is the hypothesis stated in a study?

  At the outset
• What are the two types of hypothesis?

  Directional and non-directional
• What is a directional hypothesis?


  States the direction of the difference or relationship - has previous research support
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  Does not state the direction of the difference or relationship - no previous research support
• What are variables?


  Any 'thing' that can vary or change within an investigation
• Why are variables generally used in experiments?

  To determine if changes in one thing result in changes to another
• What are the two main types of variables?

  Independent and dependent
• What is an independent variable?


  Variable manipulated by the research (or changes naturally) so the effect on the dependent variable can be measured
• What is operationalisation?


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

  Operationalised
• What is a dependent variable?


  Variable that is measured by the research
• Any effect on the dependent variable should be caused by the change in the independent variable
• When will researchers use a directional hypothesis?

  When there is previous research support
• When will researchers use a non-directional hypothesis?

  When there is no previous research support