Psychology: Research Design and Implementation

What is an aim?

-The aim is the purpose of investigation, what the investigation intends to discover

Indpendent variable?

These are variables that are deliberately manipulated to create a change in the dependent variable

Dependent variable?

Are variables that alter in response to indepedent variables

What is a hypothesis?

-A hypothesis is a testable statement

What is an alternative hypothesis?

-Experimental hypothesis: It predicts something other than chance alone has produced the results found. In a well-designed experiment this will be the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

Directional Hypothesis?

-A directional hypothesis is an alternative hypothesis that predicts the direction in which investigation results are intended to occur

Non-directional Hypothesis?

-A non-directional hypothesis is an alternative hypothesis that does not predict the direction in which investigation results are intended to occur

Null Hypothesis?

-Predicts that there will be no difference between the results from different conditions of an experiment-->any differences would be due to chance.

Requirements of hypothesis?

-It must be a general prediction at the beginning of an experiment, must be clear and testable

Important elements in research designs?

1)Research method

2)Sample size

3)Sample method

4)How to brief participants

5)Medium of recording data

6)Technique for recording behaviour

Important aspect of designing experiments?

1)Provides an experimental plan

2)Ensure precision of measurement

3)Results can be fully analysed

4)Avoids potential ambiguity, confusion

5)High level of control over variables

What designs types are there?

1)Independent group designs: DIFFERENT PARTICIPANTS USED EACH TIME

2)Repeated measures designs: SAME PARTICIPANTS USED IN EACH CONDTION

3)Matched participants designs: PARTICIPANTS MATCHED IN EACH CONDITION ON VARIABLES RELEVANT TO THE EXPERIMENT

What are Independent Group Designs?

IGD involve using different participants in each experimental condition:

1)A CONTROL CONDITION AND ONE OR MORE EXPERIMENTAL CONDTIONS

2)TWO OR MORE EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS

*controled conditions are those that dont experience experimental treatment