What is the aim of research?
The aim is a clear, general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate. It outlines the purpose of the study but does not make a specific prediction.
How is an aim different from a hypothesis?
An aim is broad and exploratory, whereas a hypothesis is specific, testable, and predictive. Aims guide the direction of research, while hypotheses allow for statistical testing.
Give an example of an aim.
“To investigate whether social pressure influences obedience in adults.”
What is a research hypothesis?
A precise, testable statement predicting the relationship between variables.
Why are hypotheses important?
They allow for empirical testing, objectivity, and statistical analysis, increasing scientific validity.
What is an alternative hypothesis?
A statement predicting that there will be a significant effect or relationship between variables.
Give an example of an alternative hypothesis.
“Participants exposed to loud noise will have higher stress levels than those in quiet conditions.”
What is a directional hypothesis?
A hypothesis that predicts the direction of the effect (e.g. increase/decrease, more/less).
Example of a directional hypothesis?
“Students who revise will score higher on tests than those who do not.”
When are directional hypotheses used?
When previous research supports a specific prediction, increasing precision but risking bias.
What is a non-directional hypothesis?
A hypothesis that predicts a difference or relationship but not the direction.
Example of a non-directional hypothesis?
“There will be a difference in test scores between students who revise and those who do not.”
Why use non-directional hypotheses?
Useful when there is little or conflicting prior research, reducing bias but being less precise.
What is a null hypothesis?
A statement that there is no significant effect or relationship between variables.
Example of a null hypothesis?
“There will be no difference in stress levels between participants exposed to noise and those who are not.”
Why is the null hypothesis important?
It provides a baseline for statistical testing and can be rejected or accepted using inferential statistics.
What is an independent variable?
The variable that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect.
Example of an IV?
Noise level (loud vs quiet).
What is a dependent variable?
The variable that is measured to assess the effect of the IV.
Example of a DV?
Heart rate or stress score.
What are co-variables?
Variables measured in correlational research to assess the relationship between them (no manipulation).
Example of co-variables?
Hours of sleep and concentration levels.
Limitation of co-variables?
Correlations do not establish causation due to lack of control.
What is operationalisation?
Defining variables in a way that makes them measurable and replicable.
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milgram and Kohlberg34
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research methods32
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methodologies54
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location of research16
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sampling20
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experimental design9
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levels of measurement11
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graphical representation18
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descriptive statistics11
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inferential statistics24
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reliability and validity22
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ethics21
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personal investigation x277
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role of the scientific community in validating new knowledge12
