Practise turning research questions into measurable studies by defining hypotheses and variables, controlling procedures, selecting samples and interpreting data.
A study has the hypothesis 'Four-year-old children make more language mistakes than eight-year-old children.'
State whether this hypothesis is a:
- directional hypothesis
- non-directional hypothesis
- null hypothesis.
directional hypothesis (definitive)
1
3(b)
Explain the reason for your choice in part (a).
It says which level of the IV will be better/higher; (generic) It says which IV level, in this case older children, will be 'better'; (link)
As it states the causal effect of older age causing fewer mistakes; (link)
2
Generic response = 1
Linked response =2
'Shows direction of results' =0= REP
Dr Bakar is investigating the effect of boredom on people's estimation of time. Her participants were separated into two groups and did different activities:
- Group A watched an exciting film (non-boring activity)
- Group B moved small boxes from one pile to another (boring activity).
Both activities lasted 30 minutes. Each participant was asked to estimate how long the activity had lasted.
Outline the dependent variable in Dr Bakar's study.
Outline the dependent variable in Dr Bakar's study.
Outline of dependent variable =1
Operationalisation = 1
- Estimation of time; (DV)=1
- (Estimation of) how long the activity lasted; (operationalisation) =2
Dr Bakar is concerned about possible differences between individuals in Group A and Group B that could affect the validity of her study.
Suggest why two possible differences between individuals in Group A and Group B could lower validity.
difference 1
difference 2
Suggestion of difference in participant variables =1[×2]
Why =1[×2]
- Watch more films / more interested in films; (suggestion)
- Likely to get involved (so time passes faster); (justification)
- Do box moving type job / shelf stacker; (suggestion)
- Even more bored so time moves extra slowly; (justification)
- Better at timing; (suggestion)
- Better timing when bored / in box condition; (justification)
- It may be that one person really likes moving boxes/stacking shelves more than another (suggestion)
- So they really get involved in the task (so time passes more quickly)
For one of the differences you suggested in part (b)(i):
Suggest how Dr Bakar could change her study to improve validity.
Suggested change = 1
Detail (e.g. how to achieve / how it helps) = 1
Watch more film/enjoys moving boxes:
- Use a questionnaire to match Ps; (suggestion)
- Then used matched pairs, one in each condition; (how it helps)
Shelf stacker:
- Randomly allocate people to conditions; (suggestion)
- so not all shelf stackers in one group; (detail)
Better at timing:
- Do a timing test first (and allocate accordingly); (suggestion)
- So differences due to IV/activity not timing ability; (detail)