The Experimental Method - Conducting Research

• What are the steps to conducting research?

  1. Deciding upon the aim of the research (area of research)
  2. Stating your hypothesis (what you predict you will find)
  3. Deciding on the IV (being changed) and the DV (being measured)
  4. Operationalising variables (making them specific and measurable)
  5. Selecting participants and designing the procedure (what they will do)
  6. Conducting the investigation
  7. Recording the results
  8. Drawing conclusions from the results
  9. Evaluating own practice
• What are aims?

  • Aims are based on theories and prior research
  • An aim is a general statement that describes the purpose of an investigation
  • They will usually start with the phrase 'to investigate', for example to investigate the effect of eating chocolate on mood
• What are hypotheses?

  • A clear and precise statement which predicts the relationship between the variables which are about to be investigated
  • A null hypothesis predicts there will be no difference found between the variables
  • An alternative hypothesis will predict there will be a difference found between the variables and can be directional and non-directional
  • Hypotheses should always be written in the future tense