The experimental method

what is an aim?

•  a general statement of what the researcher intends to investigate, the purpose of the study.

  ^ can be a research question, e.g. do computers help you learn?

  ^ or more formal: the aim is to investigate whether use of computers improve school achievement.

what is a hypothesis?

• a testable statement of what the researcher believes to be true.

^ a clear precise testable statement which states the relationship between the variables to be tested.

what are the 2 types of hypothesis?

• Directional – states the direction of the difference or relationship between the variables.

• Non-directional – simply states that there is a difference between the variables.

when should you use a directional hypothesis?

when previous research exists and indicates a direction

when should you use a non-directional hypothesis?

• No previous research.

• When there is previous contradictory previous research.

what is the dependant variable?

the variable that is measured by the researcher.

what is the independent variable?

some aspect of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the experimenter – or changes naturally

what are the 2 levels of the independent variable?

• change naturally (e.g. biological sex)

• change out of choice (e.g. note taking online or on paper)

what is operationalised?

ensuring that variables are in a form that can be easily tested or measured

this means they are:

• precise

• involve giving units

when does operationalising the independent variable often happen?

when identifying the levels