Research Process, Aims and Hypotheses
Move from psychological background evidence to a focused aim and operationalised, testable hypothesis.
How to study Higher Psychology
Build each answer from accurate psychological knowledge, named evidence, application to behaviour, analysis and justified evaluation.
Core concepts
Concept 1
stages of the research process
Exam cue: Make the aim specific about the behaviour or relationship investigated.
Concept 2
background research and rationale
Exam cue: Name measurable variables in the hypothesis.
Concept 3
research aims
Exam cue: Ensure the hypothesis matches the chosen method.
Concept 4
experimental, alternative, null and correlational hypotheses
Concept 5
operationalisation
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Writing an aim that predicts a result instead of stating the investigation.
Guardrail: Avoid deterministic claims, unsupported causation and generic evaluation disconnected from the named evidence.
Using causal language for a correlational method.
Guardrail: Avoid deterministic claims, unsupported causation and generic evaluation disconnected from the named evidence.
Calling a hypothesis operationalised when key variables remain vague.
Guardrail: Avoid deterministic claims, unsupported causation and generic evaluation disconnected from the named evidence.
Memory anchors
Research process
Background research, aim and hypothesis, plan, ethical review, data collection, analysis, conclusion and evaluation.
Aim
A focused statement of what the research investigates.
Alternative hypothesis
Predicts a difference or relationship between operationalised variables.
Null hypothesis
Predicts no difference or relationship beyond chance.
Correlational hypothesis
Predicts an association, not a causal effect.
Operationalisation
Defines a variable in observable or measurable terms.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
What should a research question do?
Why is background research conducted before planning a study?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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