Aims & Hypotheses PDF

Research methods LITERACY OUTCOMES Aim, hypothesis, independent variable, dependent variable, operationalisation, directional/non-directional hypothesis, alternative/null hypothesis Aims & hypotheses C/...

Research methods LITERACY OUTCOMES Aim, hypothesis, independent variable, dependent variable, operationalisation, directional/non-directional hypothesis, alternative/null hypothesis Aims & hypotheses C/W Wednesday, 11th September 2024 ALL (D-A) MOST (C-A) SOME (B-A) To define the terms ‘aim’, To operationalise To explain four types of ‘hypothesis’, variables hypotheses ‘independent variable’ & ‘dependent variable’ Research methods Aims and hypotheses What is an aim? ○ An aim is a general statement that explains the purpose of a study. E.g. ○ To see the effects of stress on our memory. ○ To see if listening to music has an effect on our memory. Once we have a research aim, we need to turn it into a more precise statement called a hypothesis. Research methods Aims and hypotheses (hypothesis = singular hypotheses = plural) What is a hypothesis? ○ A hypothesis is a testable statement that predicts what we expect to find in a study. E.g. ○ Aim: to see the effects of stress on our memory ○ Hypothesis: the more stressed we are, the worse our memory will be. Research methods Variables A variable is anything that can change or vary within an investigation. Hypotheses usually predict how one variable will affect another variable. E.g. ○ Stress will have an affect on memory. ○ Alcohol will have an affect on driving ability. These are called the independent variable and the dependent variable. Research methods Variables e.g. Alcohol will have an affect on driving ability. Independent variable (IV) – the variable that the researcher is manipulating (deliberately changing). ○ There are usually two ‘levels’ of the IV to enable comparisons. Dependent variable (DV) – the variable that is measured by the researcher. ○ The only thing that should affect the DV is the change in the IV. Research methods Variables MWB TASK: Identify the IV and the DV in the aims below. STRETCH & CHALLENGE: State how you can measure the DVs for each aim. Aim 1: To investigate whether male or female school children play more aggressive playground games. Aim 2: To find out whether people who suffer from anxiety have a higher heart rate. Aim 3: To find out whether people talk faster after consuming energy drinks. Research methods Variables MWB TASK: Identify the IV and the DV in the aims below. STRETCH & CHALLENGE: State how you can measure the DVs for each aim. Aim 1: To investigate whether male or female school children play more aggressive playground games. Aim 2: To find out whether people who suffer from anxiety have a higher heart rate. Aim 3: To find out whether people talk faster after consuming energy drinks. Research methods Operationalisation Variables must be clearly defined. To operationalise a variable is to make to make it measurable. E.g. drinking alcohol will affect driving ability. 𝙓 ○ = the units of alcohol consumed will have an affect on driving ability scores. ✔ Research methods Directional and non-directional hypotheses A directional hypothesis (one-tailed) states the expected direction of the results, based on previous research findings. ○ E.g. people who have lots of sleep have higher marks in class than people with a lower sleep average. A non-directional hypothesis (two-tailed) states that there will simply be a difference between two conditions but does not state the direction of difference. ○ E.g. there will be a difference in grades between people who have lots of sleep and people with a lower sleep average. Research methods Alternative and null hypotheses The alternative hypothesis - whether it is directional or non-directional - states that there is a relationship/difference between the two variables being studied (one variable has an effect on the other). What if our study finds that there is no relationship/difference between amount of sleep and school performance? ○ Then we must accept our null hypothesis The null hypothesis states that there is no relationship/difference between the two variables being studied (one variable does not affect the other). Research methods Writing hypotheses Hypotheses must state the (operationalised) DV and both conditions of the IV AND the relationship between them… ○ ND: There will be a difference in the psychology test scores (out of 24) between students who revised for more than 6 hours and students who revised for less than 6 hours. ○ D: Students who revised for more than 6 hours will score higher out of 24 on a psychology test than students who revised for less than 6 hours Research methods KNOWLEDGE 1. What is an aim? CHECK: Answer the A general statement about the research 2. What is a hypothesis? following questions on A precise/testable statement about the research (prediction) your MWB. 3. Distinguish between independent and dependent variables. STRETCH & Independent variables are deliberately manipulated by the CHALLENGE: When researcher whereas dependent variables are just measured by the researcher would a directional 4. Which term describes making a variable (IVs and DVs) clearly hypothesis be used by a measurable? researcher? Operationalisation 5. Distinguish between an alternative hypothesis and a null hypothesis. An alternative hypothesis predicts there will be a difference whereas a null hypothesis predicts there will not be a difference Research methods KNOWLEDGE 1. What is an aim? CHECK: Answer the A general statement about the research 2. What is a hypothesis? following questions on A precise/testable statement about the research (prediction) your MWB. 3. Distinguish between independent and dependent variables. If previous research Independent variables are deliberately manipulated by the researcher whereas dependent variables are just measured by the findings indicate an researcher expected direction for 4. Which term describes making a variable (IVs and DVs) clearly the results measurable? Operationalisation 5. Distinguish between an alternative hypothesis and a null hypothesis. An alternative hypothesis predicts there will be a difference whereas a null hypothesis predicts there will not be a difference Research methods TASK: a) Copy each of the below aims below into your books. Then, state how you would operationalise the variables. b) Write a directional and a non-directional hypothesis using your operationalised variables. 1. To see if the amount of work students do is affected by when they do it. 2. To see if the amount of stress people are under affects their health. 3. To see if the age of a child affects how much rough and tumble play they engage in. 4. To see whether spending time on social media affects people’s sociability. 5. To see whether an audience affects how hard a bee will work.