Psychology Research Methods: Variables and Hypotheses

Vocabulary flashcards covering Independent Variables (IVs), Dependent Variables (DVs), operationalisation, and hypothesis formulations based on lecture notes.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated or changed by the researcher to observe its effect.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable in an experiment that is measured by the researcher to determine the outcome or results.

Ben's Mood Study Variables

IV: Whether it is a sunny or rainy day. DV: The score on a mood questionnaire.

Lizzy's Music Study Variables

IV: Gender of the participant (boys or girls). DV: The participant's favourite type of music / music genre.

Frances's Attention Study Variables

IV: Lesson timing (Friday morning compared to Friday afternoon). DV: The number of students who are messing about in the lesson.

Joe's Talking Study Variables

IV: Gender of the participant (girls or boys). DV: The amount of time spent talking.

Marty's Sleep Study Variables

IV: Amount of time slept (8 hours compared to 4 hours). DV: The participant's reaction time.

Tom's Tomato Growth Study Variables

IV: Planter location / temperature (greenhouse compared to a shaded part of the garden). DV: How tall the tomatoes have grown each Friday.

Lisa's Memory Recall Study Variables

IV: Participant age / identity (her little brother compared to her dad). DV: The number of words recalled from a learned list after one hour.

Cameron's Call of Duty Study Variables

IV: Time point relative to gameplay (before compared to after playing Call of Duty). DV: The number of times friends hit each other in an hour.

Mrs. Gray's Quiz Performance Study Variables

IV: Classroom incentive condition (rewarded with a chocolate bar per correct answer compared to punished with minutes kept back at lunch per wrong answer). DV: The number of questions students get right on a quiz.

Miss Smith's Essay Writing Study Variables

IV: Music environment (writing an essay in silence compared to writing while listening to music on phones). DV: The rating / performance of how well students did on the essay.

Non-Directional (Two-Tailed) Hypothesis

A hypothesis used when research in a field is inconsistent or limited; it predicts that a difference will exist between conditions without stating which direction the difference will go.

Directional (One-Tailed) Hypothesis

A hypothesis used when existing research or literature clearly indicates an outcome trend; it predicts the specific direction of the outcome (e.g., higher, lower, better).

Operationalised Variable

A variable defined in specific, measurable terms rather than vague descriptions (for example, specifying 'reaction time in milliseconds' or 'number of penalties scored out of 10' instead of 'performance').

Study 2 (Fast Food & Reaction Time) Model Hypothesis

'There will be a difference in the reaction time between participants who eat food from Mcdonald's and participants who eat a healthy recipe.' (Non-directional and fully operationalised).

Study 3 (Positive Imagery & Sporting Performance) Model Hypothesis

'The team who are given the positive mental imagery technique will score more penalties out of 10 than those who did not receive the same technique.' (Directional and fully operationalised).