Aims and hypothesis

Question 1

Pilot Study - definition + example

Answer 1

• A small scale trial run of the investigation/experiment beforehand. This is done to found out if everything in the study works
• e.g Have we given the correct dosage?

Question 2

Confederates - definition + example

Answer 2

• A member of the research team who pretends to be a participant. They are playing a role
• e.g. the students in milgrams study

Question 3

Aim - Definition

Answer 3

a broad statement based on what is going to be investigated

Question 4

Aim - example

Answer 4

the aim of the study was to investigate how neurozan affects performance in school

Question 5

Hypothesis - definition

Answer 5

a prediction of the findings. It is a precise and testable statement of the relationship between the two variables

Question 6

Hypothesis - example

Answer 6

participants who are given {10mg’s} of neurozan {3 times a day} will score more marks on a {memory test out of 20} compared to those who do not take neurozan

Question 7

Operationalising - definition

Answer 7

turning a hypothesis into a testable form where the variables have to be precisely defined and unambiguous

Question 8

Independent Variable - definition + types

Answer 8

• the variable the researcher manipulates or alters. Always has two conditions
  1- Experimental - the IV that’s changed
  2- Control - the IV is controlled or held constant

Question 9

Dependent Variable - definition

Answer 9

• The measurements taken by the researcher, the variable that you are studying
• It always has to be raw and numerical

Question 10

Alternative (experimental) hypothesis - definition + example

Answer 10

• A prediction of what the researchers think will happen to the DV when the IV changes
• This can be directional or not directional
• e.g. females will drive round a 100 m track at a lower average speed than males

Question 11

Null hypothesis - definition + example

Answer 11

• The null hypothesis states that the IV will have no effect on the DV and any observed differences will be due to chance
• e.g there will be no difference in the average speed round a 100 m track between males and females

Question 12

Non-directional Hypothesis - definition + example

Answer 12

• Predicts that there will be a difference between two conditions or groups of participants, without stating which direction, also known as two tailed
• e.g. There will be a difference in average speed round a 100m track between men driving and women driving

Question 13

Directional hypothesis - definition + example

Answer 13

• States the direction of the predicted difference between two conditions of participants, also known as one-tailed
• needs past research
• e.g. females will drive round a 100 m track at a lower average speed than males