Deciding on a research question

Aim

A broad statement of the purpose of research i.e. what the researcher would like to find out

Hypothesis

A testable statement that a piece of research attempts to support or reject

Directional hypothesis

Predicts the IV will affect the DV in one specific direction e.g. noise (IV) will lead to fewer words being recalled (DV) compared to silence

Non-directional hypothesis

Predicts the IV will affect the DV but doesn’t state a specific direction for results e.g. Noise (IV) will affect recall of words (DV)

Null hypothesis

Suggests there will be no causal relationship between an IV and a DV, any relationship in the results is due to chance

Independent variable

The variable the psychologist manipulates and controls to see how it affects behaviour

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured e.g. behaviour, as its been affected by the IV

Operationalisation

Giving a precise definition of the behaviour being manipulated, observed or measured. E.g. aggression could be operationalised on a scale of 1-10 ( 1 is not aggressive and 10 is very aggressive)

Co-variables

The two variables that may or may not change with each other i.e. as one increases so does the other, like the data on a scattergram

Extraneous variables

Variables in a study that are not being measured or manipulated by the researcher but affect the results of ALL participants behaviour equally. For example all participants are completing a questionnaire and a fire alarm goes off and they have to evacuate

Confounding variables

Things in a study which might affect SOME participants behaviour-these need to be controlled before study. For example if an independent groups design is taking place and and a lawn mower is in the background for only one group