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1) Deciding on a Research Question-variables and hypothesis (Types of…
1) Deciding on a Research Question-variables and hypothesis
operationalisation of variables
How you plan out your investigation. Can be easily manipulated or measured e.g. operationalising intelligence as an IQ score (having a question, hypothesis and a test that is testable and measurable
Types of Variables (5)
Extraneous Variables (EV)
V in a study that are not being measured or manipulated by the researcher but affects the results (DV) of ALL ppts behaviour equally.
Dependent Variable (DV)
V where researchers changes or manipulates it to see i it has an effect on the DV (CHIN)
Co-Variable (C-V)
The 2 variables measured in a correlation study (Positive or Negative)
Confounding Variables (CV)
V in a study that are not being measured or manipulated by the researcher, this affect SOME Ppts behaviour but not all, having negative consequences for validity (how close we are to our target - accurate and legitimate)
Independent Variable (IV)
V that researchers measures (MEDE)
4 Main causes of EV
Situational factors
Definition : things to do with the environment the researcher carried out in e.g. temp, time of day, noise or demand characteristics
Advantages
Researcher deals it by using standardized procedure = tested under same condition. Therefore environment is controlled
Disadvantages
Factors in environment that unintentionally affect DV in study - E.g. noise, other people, temp, odor, lightning and even time of the day.
Order variables
Definition : Practicing or getting bored has an effect on Ppts results
Advantages
Researcher deals EV by counterbalancing them (alternating order) > ABBA design (GA start C1 then swap with G2 and G2 start with C2 then swap with GA) - Can also do the pre and post test (time dif)
Disadvantages
Refers to dif responses due to dif order of experimental materials represented to them - E.g. practice effect > repeated measures experimental design > repeating same experiment several times and let Ppts get higher score but also getting bored (demand characteristics)
Experimenter variables
Definition : Things to do with the researcher e.g. investigator effects
Advantages
could do double blind procedure to avoid this
Disadvantages
Researcher unintentionally, unconsciously influences outcome of DV. 1)Non-verbal communication > researcher communicate feelings without realising. E.g. raises eyebrow, Ppt think she said something wrong and changes their response. - 2) Physical characteristics = gender influences behavioural response (physical characteristics - muscular, age, gender, accent) - 3) Bias interpretation of data > experimenter unconciously affect report due to researcher's interpretation of data = bias.
Info : Also known as researcher effect
Participant variables
Definition : Things to do with the Ppts e.g. age, gender, IQ, eye sight, hearing, personality
Advantages
Researcher deals it by using repeated measures experimental design (same Ppts for both experiment and control condition) or match Ppts abilities (background, IQ etc)
Disadvantages
Related to individual characteristics of each Ppt impact responses - E.g. mood, background differences, anxiety, intelligence, awareness
How to deal with EV
Aims and Hypothesis
Aim = A statement of what a researcher intends to find out in their research study
E.g. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect that using mind maps for revision has on students' perform in exam
Research Hypothesis = A prediction of the outcome (findings) of a research study - not written as a question. - 2 types
Experimental hypothesis = research hypothesis for experiments - difference in DV when IV is changed
Alternative hypothesis = Hypothesis for non-experiments, e.g. correlation studies
Directional hypothesis (one-tail hypothesis) = Predicts the direction a DV will change when the IV is manipulated or the direction of relationship (+ or -)in a correlation study . Used when sure of the outcome of the study
E.g. Experimental hypothesis - students using mind maps for revising will achieve a significantly higher mark in their psychology exam than those who just read their notes
E.g. Alternative hypothesis - There will be a significant positive correlation between the number of hours students spend revising and the marks they achieve in their psychology exam
Non-directional (two-tail hypothesis) = simply predicts there will be a change on the DV when IV has been manipulated or that there will be a relationship in a correlation study. It does not predict the direction. Used when unsure of outcome of a study
E.g. Experimental hypothesis - There will be a significant difference in the marks achieved in a Psychology exam by using mind maps for revision compared to students who just read their notes
E.g. Alternative hypothesis - There will be a significant relationship between the number of hours students spend revising and the marks they achieve in their psychology exam
Null hypothesis = A prediction that any difference or correlation is not significant and is due to chance
E.g. Any difference in marks achieved in a psychology exam by students using mind maps for revision compared to students who just read their notes is due to chance
E.g. Correlation - Any relationship between the number of hours students spend revision and the marks achieve in a psychology exam is due to chance
