1. Aims and Hypotheses Worksheet:
The worksheet 3_Evaluation_of_research_methods.doc can be used as a template for students to evaluate any theory or research study in Research Methods.
Image credit:
Image © dragon_fang, shutterstock.com
Aims and Hypotheses

2. You will need:
A booklet
2 treasury tags
A folder
An assessment calendar
PSYA1 past paper

3. Keep organised – bring a folder with your notes to every lesson
Our Expectations
Keep organised – bring a folder with your notes to every lesson
Attend all lessons – if you miss a lesson ask your study buddy to collect the notes for you
Complete all homework – consistent lack of homework results in a letter home
Revise for timed tests
Attend Psychology drop-in sessions on if you feel unsure or stuck on any topic

4. Mock Exam is w/c 26th January 2015 PSYA1 Exam is 11th May 2015 (pm)
September - January
Vicki
Mark
Mock Exam is w/c 26th January 2015 PSYA1 Exam is 11th May 2015 (pm)

7. This is why you need that C in GCSE Maths…
Candidates should be able to:
Arithmetic and numerical computation
recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form
use ratios, fractions and percentages
make estimates of the results of calculations (without using a calculator)
Handling data
use an appropriate number of significant figures
find arithmetic means
construct and interpret frequency tables and diagrams, bar charts and histograms
have sufficient understanding of probability, e.g. to understand how genetic ratios arise
understand the principles of sampling as applied to scientific data
understand the importance of chance when interpreting data
understand the terms mean, median and mode
use a scatter diagram to identify a correlation between two variables
use a simple statistical test
make order of magnitude calculations
Algebra
understand and use the symbols: =, <, <<, >>, >, ∝, ~
substitute numerical values into algebraic equations using appropriate units for physical quantities
Graphs
translate information between graphical, numerical and algebraic forms
plot two variables from experimental or other data

8. By the end of this section students will be able to:
Learning objectives
By the end of this section students will be able to:
Describe the aim of a study
Identify directional, non-directional and null hypotheses
Icons key:
For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation
Flash activity (not editable)
Teacher’s notes (in Notes Page)
Accompanying worksheet
Web links
Extension activity
Sound
Video

9. Aims and hypotheses
What is the difference between the aim of a study and the experimental hypothesis?
The aim of a study describes its purpose.
For example, the aim of Loftus & Palmer (1974) could have been:
“to investigate whether leading questions can alter people’s memory of a car crash”.
The hypothesis is a testable statement about what will happen. It is more precise than the aim.
The hypothesis of Loftus & Palmer (1974) could have been: “participants that hear the word ‘smashed’ will estimate that the cars were travelling faster than participants that hear ‘contacted’”.
Reference:
Loftus, E.F. and Palmer, J.C. (1974) Reconstruction of automobile destruction: an example of the interaction between language and memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 13,

10. Task
Complete page 7 of your booklet.
You need to write 5 hypotheses using the key words given.
Make sure that they are ‘operationalised’. Do you remember that word from the taster session?

11. Writing hypotheses
There are two types of experimental hypothesis: directional and non-directional. There is also the null hypothesis.
A directional hypothesis predicts the direction of any differences in the way people behave.
For example, a directional hypothesis would predict that participants who eat chocolate before a test will achieve a significantly higher score than those participants who do not.
Teacher’s notes:
Students should have met the idea of hypotheses at KS4 in both Maths and Science, but they are unlikely to have encountered the idea of different types of hypothesis. An experimental hypothesis is one that predicts the outcome of the experiment, for example, a directional or non-directional hypothesis. A null hypothesis is an alternative type of hypothesis that is often used during significance testing to see if the results of an experiment differs enough from the null hypothesis to be evidence of an effect.
Researchers normally use directional hypotheses when previous research findings suggest which direction the results will go.

12. Writing hypotheses
A non-directional hypothesis predicts a difference in the way people behave but not which direction this will be in.
For example, a non-directional hypothesis would predict there will be a significant difference in participants’ test scores depending on whether they eat chocolate before the test or not.
A null hypothesis predicts that the independent variable will have no effect on the dependent variable.
For example, a null hypothesis would predict that there will be no significant difference in participants test scores depending on whether they eat chocolate or not.

13. Identify the hypothesis
Teacher’s notes:
The answers to the questions are:
Directional. This hypothesis is directional because it states which direction the difference will be in, that participants will recall more words before lunch.
Non-directional. This hypothesis is non-directional because its predicts a difference in the amount of words recalled between the morning and afternoon but not which direction the difference will be in.
Null. This is a null hypothesis because it predicts there will be no difference between the two conditions.
Directional. This hypothesis is directional because it predicts the direction a difference will be in.
Non-directional. This hypothesis is non-direction because it predicts a difference but not which direction it will be in.
Directional. This hypothesis predicts the directions of the difference between the conditions and so is a directional hypothesis.
Null. This hypothesis predicts there will be no difference between the two conditions.
Non-directional. This hypothesis predicts a difference but not what the difference will be and so is a non-directional hypothesis
Directional. This hypothesis is directional because it predicts how two conditions, being over 70 and being under 70, will affect the ability to learn a computer game.

14. Task
Complete page 8 of your booklet.
You need to decide whether the hypotheses are directional or non-directional.
Read the box about operationalising at the bottom of the page.
Extension: Fill in your key terms glossary.