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