Research methods - experimental methods

what is an experimental method ?

this involves the manipulation of an IV to measure the effect of the DV. These could be lab, field, natural or quasi experiments

What is an Aim in psychology

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

e.g. to investigate whether drinking energy drinks i.e. speed upp makes people more talkative

what is a hypothesis

A clear precise, testable statement that states the relationship between the variables investigated. stated at the outset of any study

What is a directional hypothesis ?

use an example of the participants drinking 300ml of speed upp

this states the direction of the difference in relationship

e.g. people who drink 300ml of of Speedup are more talkative in the next 5 minuets after than participants who drink 300 ml of water

what is a non directional hypothesis ?

use an example in terms of drinking 300ml of speedupp compared to 300 ml of water

this does not state the direction or the difference in relationship

people who drink 300ml of speedup differ in talkativeness to those who drink 300ml of water over the next 5 minuets

What is a variable ?

any thing that can vary or change within an investigation

variables are generally used in an experiment to determine if changes in one thing results in a change in another

what is an independent variable

some aspects of the experimental situation that is manipulated by the researcher or changes naturally so the effect of the DV can be measured

what is dependant variable

the variable that is measured by the researcher. any effect on the DV should be caused by the IV

what does operationalisation mean

clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be measured

why are different conditions used in experiments

this is because it allows for a control condition and an experimental condition which allows for the researcher to compare each group to see the difference in talkativeness