research methods

• null hypothesis


  there will be no significant difference.... any difference will be due to chance
• alternative hypothesis


  there will be a significant difference.....
• directional alternative hypothesis


  predicts the direction of results
• non-directional alternative hypothesis


  just states that there will be a difference
• independent variable


  the variable that is manipulated by researcher
• dependent variable


  the variable that is measured by the researcher
• extraneous variable 


  other variables that can impact on the results
• participant variables


  characteristics of the participant
• situational variables


  factors in the environment
• controlling situation variables


  standardised procedure, counterbalancing, randomisation, single and double blind trials
• controlling for participant variables

  repeated measures design, random allocation, matched pairs design