Research Methods: Aims and Hypotheses
Steps needed to write a fully operationalised hypothesis
Possible Hypothesis Possible Hypothesis
People remember more when they study in People remember names better when
short bursts. presented with a picture.
The independent variable needs to have at least two conditions to make a comparison. These
conditions are known as the levels of the independent variable. A good hypothesis should
Levels always include
of the IV ‘time two (orstudying’
spent more) levels of the IV or a condition where the IV is absent.
Short bursts Levels of the IV 'presentation of a picture'
Longer session
Possible Hypothesis
Possible Hypothesis
____________________________________
People remember more when they study in ____________________________________
short bursts than when studying in longer _________
sessions
A good hypothesis must be in a testable from, i.e. a way that makes clear the specific way
the experiment tests the hypotheses. In particular we need to operationalise the IV and
DV.
Operationalising the variables Operationalising the variables
IV: shorts bursts = 10 minutes repeated IV:
three times over three hours.
IV: Longer sessions = one 30 minute session IV:
Operationalising the variables Operationalising the variables
DV: remember more = will get more DV: =
questions right on a test of recall.
Fully Operationalised Hypothesis Fully Operationalised Hypothesis
People get more questions right on a test
of recall when they study in short bursts
(ten minutes at a time repeated three
times) than when studying for longer
sessions (one 30-min session
Steps needed to write a fully operationalised hypothesis
Possible Hypothesis Possible Hypothesis
People remember more when they study in People remember names better when
short bursts. presented with a picture.
The independent variable needs to have at least two conditions to make a comparison. These
conditions are known as the levels of the independent variable. A good hypothesis should
Levels always include
of the IV ‘time two (orstudying’
spent more) levels of the IV or a condition where the IV is absent.
Short bursts Levels of the IV 'presentation of a picture'
Longer session
Possible Hypothesis
Possible Hypothesis
____________________________________
People remember more when they study in ____________________________________
short bursts than when studying in longer _________
sessions
A good hypothesis must be in a testable from, i.e. a way that makes clear the specific way
the experiment tests the hypotheses. In particular we need to operationalise the IV and
DV.
Operationalising the variables Operationalising the variables
IV: shorts bursts = 10 minutes repeated IV:
three times over three hours.
IV: Longer sessions = one 30 minute session IV:
Operationalising the variables Operationalising the variables
DV: remember more = will get more DV: =
questions right on a test of recall.
Fully Operationalised Hypothesis Fully Operationalised Hypothesis
People get more questions right on a test
of recall when they study in short bursts
(ten minutes at a time repeated three
times) than when studying for longer
sessions (one 30-min session
