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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Writing Testable Hypotheses
Imagine you're a detective trying to solve a mystery. Before you start investigating, you need a theory about what might have happened. In psychology, this theory is called a hypothesis - it's your educated guess about what you expect to find in your research.
Key Definitions:
Hypotheses are the backbone of the scientific method in psychology. They:
Good hypotheses are based on:
In psychological research, we use two main types of hypotheses that work together:
The null hypothesis states that there is no relationship between the variables you're studying, or that any observed difference is due to chance alone.
Example: "There is no relationship between the amount of sleep teenagers get and their exam performance."
The alternative hypothesis states that there is a relationship between the variables and any observed difference is not due to chance.
Example: "There is a relationship between the amount of sleep teenagers get and their exam performance."
Alternative hypotheses can be further classified based on whether they specify the direction of the relationship:
Predicts the specific direction of the relationship between variables.
Example: "Teenagers who get more sleep will perform better in exams than those who get less sleep."
When to use: When previous research strongly suggests a specific direction of effect.
Predicts a relationship exists but doesn't specify which direction it will take.
Example: "There will be a difference in exam performance between teenagers who get different amounts of sleep."
When to use: When you're unsure about the direction or when exploring a new area.
A good hypothesis isn't just a random guess - it needs to be formulated in a way that can be scientifically tested. Here's how to make your hypotheses testable:
Clearly identify the variables and the relationship between them. Avoid vague terms.
Poor: "Music affects mood."
Better: "Listening to upbeat music for 10 minutes will increase self-reported happiness scores."
Variables must be operationalised so they can be observed and measured.
Poor: "Video games make people more aggressive."
Better: "Playing violent video games for 30 minutes will increase scores on the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire."
It must be possible to prove the hypothesis wrong through observation or experimentation.
Poor: "Some people are naturally more intelligent than others."
Better: "Participants who complete the daily brain training app will show higher scores on cognitive tests than the control group."
To make your hypothesis testable, you need to operationalise your variables - this means defining them in a way that allows them to be measured or manipulated.
Let's say you want to test: "Anxiety affects memory performance."
To operationalise this, you need to define:
Operationalised hypothesis: "Participants with STAI scores above 40 will recall fewer words from a 20-word list after a 5-minute delay compared to participants with STAI scores below 40."
Even experienced researchers can make mistakes when formulating hypotheses. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:
Before finalising your hypothesis, ask yourself:
This famous study investigated how language affects memory of events.
Research question: Does the wording of a question affect eyewitness testimony?
Variables:
Directional hypothesis: "Participants who are asked how fast the cars were going when they 'smashed' into each other will give higher speed estimates than those asked about cars that 'contacted' each other."
This hypothesis is testable because both variables are clearly operationalised and can be measured.
Once you've formulated a testable hypothesis, you'll collect data and analyse it to determine whether to accept or reject your null hypothesis.
Reject the null hypothesis: Your data shows a significant relationship between variables, supporting your alternative hypothesis.
Fail to reject the null hypothesis: Your data doesn't show a significant relationship, so you cannot support your alternative hypothesis.
Remember: We never "prove" hypotheses in psychology - we can only find evidence that supports or fails to support them.
A good hypothesis should:
Formulating testable hypotheses is a crucial skill in psychological research. Remember these key points:
With practice, you'll become skilled at developing hypotheses that can be tested through psychological research methods, allowing you to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of human behaviour.
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