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The Experimental Method

Non experimental research methods =

  • Interview/ Questionnaire

  • Observation

  • Case study

  • Correlations

  • Content Analysis

Experimental Method -Has an IV and DV. IV- Condition for experiment DV- Element that can be measured.

Independent Variable (IV) - Conditions of the experiment (always at least two!), variables which can be manipulated.

Dependent Variable (DV) - Researcher measured, can be affected by IV, must be measurable.

Operationalization - Should mean the study is replicable! Be specific about the IV and DV. IV= What exactly is being compared? DV= How exactly will it be measured?

Hypothesis - A statement which predicts the potential results of a study.

Experimental/ Alternative Hypothesis - An educated guess based on research. Always has an IV affecting a DV. Must be operationalized. Can have a directional (one tailed) or non directional (two tailed) hypothesis.

Directional/ One tailed Hypothesis - States which direction the results are predicted to go, eg males will complete the puzzle in less minutes than females.

Non Directional/ Two Tailed Hypothesis - States there will be an effect but leaves it open ended, eg there will be a difference in the time taken to complete the puzzle by males and females.

Null Hypothesis - States there will be no effect (IV won’t affect DV). Must be operationalized, and has no directions or tails.

All experiments require:

  • An independent variable which serves as the ‘conditions’ of the experiment. (cause)

  • A dependent variable that the researcher can measure. (effect)

This is in order to establish if there is a cause - effect relationship between the IV and DV → does the IV have an effect on the DV?

All research starts with a research aim (to investigate…).

There are two types of hypotheses - all studies will have two - at the end of the study one will be supported, and one will be rejected (depending on the findings).