Psychology

• Whats an experimental hypothesis

  Predicts changes will happen when the independent and dependent variable is manipulated
• Whats an alternative hypothesis


  A hypothesis that opposes a null hypothesis. Stating some kind of relationship between the. variables not down to chance
• What are operationalising variables

  How you change/measure variables
• What are the two types of variables in an experiment?

  Independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV)
• What does the researcher manipulate in an experiment?

  The independent variable (IV)
• Why should extraneous variables remain constant in an experiment?


  To ensure that the effect on the DV is due to the IV alone
• What is a confounding variable?

  A variable that can affect the DV and confuse the results
• What is the definition of an independent variable (IV)?

  • The variable you ‘change’
• What is the definition of a dependent variable (DV)?

  • The variable you ‘measure’
• What does operationalising variables mean?

  • How you will change/measure the variables
  • Both should be included in your hypothesis
• What is an example of an IV and DV in the hypothesis "There will be a difference between gender and intelligence"?

  IV: Gender; DV: Intelligence
• How might we operationalise the IV in the hypothesis about gender and intelligence?

  By stating there is a difference between males and females and intelligence
• How might we operationalise the DV in the hypothesis about gender and intelligence?

  By stating there is a difference between males and females and the number of A grades they achieve
• What is the hypothesis in the statement "Younger people will use Facebook more than older people"?

  IV: Age; DV: Facebook usage
• How might we operationalise the IV in the Facebook usage hypothesis?

  By stating people aged 13-18 use Facebook more than those aged 31-50
• How might we operationalise the DV in the Facebook usage hypothesis?

  By stating people aged 13-18 post more comments/photos on Facebook than those aged 31-50
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  • It specifies the anticipated difference between two conditions or groups
  • Includes terms like more, less, higher, lower, etc.
• What is an example of a directional hypothesis?

  "Boys will use more swear words than girls" (IV: Gender, DV: Swearing)
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  • It states that there is a difference between conditions or groups
  • Does not specify the direction of the difference
• What is an example of a non-directional hypothesis?


  "There is a difference in the amount of swear words used by boys and girls" (IV: Gender, DV: Swearing)
• What is a null hypothesis?

  • It states that there will be no difference between the conditions or groups
• What is an example of a null hypothesis?

  "There is no difference in the amount of swear words used by boys and girls" (IV: Gender, DV: Swearing)
• What is the difference between a hypothesis and an aim in research?

  • An aim is the purpose of the study
  • A hypothesis is a testable statement predicting the outcome
• How should an aim be written?

  It should start with 'To find out whether...' or 'To investigate whether...' and be in the present tense
• What is the IV in the hypothesis "Taller people will run the 100m faster than shorter people"?

  Taller people
• What is the DV in the hypothesis "Taller people will run the 100m faster than shorter people"?


  The time taken to run the 100m
• How might we operationalise the IV in the hypothesis about height and running speed?

  By stating taller people (180cm+) run the 100m faster than shorter people (less than 179cm)
• How might we operationalise the DV in the hypothesis about height and running speed?

  By stating taller people (180cm+) run the 100m in fewer seconds than shorter people (less than 179cm)