Chapter 6: Formulating Hypotheses

3 Types of Research hypotheses

1. Attributive 2. Non experimental/Associative 3. Experiment/Causal

What is a Meta-Analysis?

A meta-analysis statistically pools the results from previous studies into a single quantitative analysis that provides the highest level of evidence for an intervention's efficacy. Measures average effect size.

Attributive

Descriptive knowledge. States behavior exists, can be measured, and can be distinguished from similar behaviors. Univariate hypothesis (one variable)

When are meta-analyses applicable?

For research that is empirical, quantitative results, have findings that are comparable (effect sizes), constructs are comparable, can compute or estimate effect size.

A hypothesis must be testable

Means that there must be some way to collect the data to evaluate the hypothesis

A hypothesis must be falsifiable

Means the research hypothesis can be possibly wrong. Cannot be a prediction that is always correct

Purpose of a literature review

Narrow down general idea to a specific research question

Probabilistic evidence

Probabilistic: because we may or may not have gotten the correct answer Evidence: because non one study is ever conclusive

Non experimental/Associative Research

Predictive knowledge. States a relationship exists between two behaviors, traits, or events. Uses statements like "predict", "estimate", "anticipate", "related", "associated".

A hypothesis should be Parsimonious

Prefer simple hypotheses--can focus attention on direct factors that influence the DV

Purpose of the Introduction section

Provides a selective review of research directly related to the research hypothesis , and identifies which questions have not been definitely answered.

Deduction

Reasoning from general principles to specific predictions. Used to test assumptions of a theory (bottom-up)

Experimental/Causal Research

States that differences in the amount or kind of one behavior or characteristic causes/produces/changes/ etc. differences in amount or kind of the other.

Induction

The reasoning from specific cases to general principles to form a hypothesis. Used to construct theories by creating explanations that account for empirical data (top-down)

Hypothesis

an explanation of a relationship between two or more variables