research methods

• experimental methods seek to identify causality

  when we conclude one thing has had a direct effect on another
• the aim states the purpose of the study
• hypothesis is a testable statement that predicts what the researcher expects to happen in their research
• the three types of hypotheses are:

  non-directional

  directional

  null
• non-directional hypothesis states there will be an effect but does not state which way the effect will go
• directional hypothesis states there will be an effect but also states which direction that effect will go
• null hypothesis predicts that there will be no significant effect
• directional is used when previous research suggests that the findings will go in a particular direction
• non-directional is used when past research is unclear or when there as been no previous research in the area
• one tailed and two tailed hypotheses are known as alternative hypotheses
• researchers always keep a null and alternative hypothesis for investigation
• an independent variable is what the experimenter is going to manipulate/change to see the influence/effect this has
• a dependent variable is what the experimenter observes/measures as a consequence of the manipulation of IV
• operationalisation of variables is when you make the variables stated in the aims/hypothesis, measurable and quantifiable so that they can be precisely tested