lesson 11 - variables, aims and hypotheses

define aims

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

define hypothesis

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

define directional hypothesis

states the direction of the difference between two conditions

define non-directional hypothesis

states a difference between conditions but the direction of the difference is not made clear

when to use different hypotheses

non-directional when there is no previous research or previous studies are contradictory

directional when there is consistent previous research that indicates a direction

define IV

variable which is manipulates by the researcher to cause an effect on the DV to be measured

define DV

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

define co-variables

the variables investigated within a correlation to show a cause-and-effect relationship

define operationalism

clearly defining variables in terms of how they can be manipulated and measured