This document discusses hypotheses in research methods. It defines a hypothesis as a prediction or idea about what may happen in an experiment based on prior knowledge. An example hypothesis is provided about students who eat chocolate before an exam scoring higher. Variables are identified as things that change in experiments, with the independent variable being what is manipulated, like chocolate intake, and the dependent variable being what results from this, like exam scores. Readers are asked to develop their own hypotheses and identify the independent and dependent variables.
1. Research Methods in Psychology Lesson Aim: What is a hypothesis and how do I develop one?
2. In your pairs, make a note of any research that you know about. In feedback, explain what you think the point of research is.
3. What is a hypothesis? All research in science needs one An idea or prediction about what might happen during the experiment or study Is based on what we already know about a topic Can predict that there will be a difference in two experiments or that something specific will happen Helps us to say whether we are right or wrong about our predictions The outcome can help us to formulate new hypotheses or predictions
4. An example of a hypothesis Students who ate a bar of chocolate immediately before taking their psychology exam will get a grade higher than those students who did not eat any chocolate
5. Identifying your variables Variables are things that will change in any experiment In most experiments you will have a variable that you change (manipulate) eg. The amount of chocolate you give to the student Independent Variable
6. You will also have a variable that will change as a result eg. The results of the exams due to the amount of chocolate eaten. This result depends on your Independent Variable Therefore this is called your Dependent Variable
7. Now let’s identify the Independent and Dependent variables Students who ate a bar of chocolate immediately before taking their psychology exam will get a grade higher than those students who did not eat any chocolate
8. Independent and Dependent Variables Students who ate a bar of chocolate immediately before taking their psychology exam will get a grade higher than those students who did not eat any chocolate
9. Your turn Now it’s your turn to come up with your own hypothesis In your pairs develop a theory about anything you like within psychology Think about what might happen if you carried out a study in this area Develop your hypothesis Get ready to present back
10. RAG the following questions: I know what a hypothesis is I know when we use a hypothesis I know what an independent variable is I know what a dependent variable is Phew, I’m exhausted after all that work!
11. To finish Home learning: Write 3 hypothesis for research studies Label each with IV and DV
