PSYC107- EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY S.

Y 2023 - 2024

Lesson6: FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS

PROFESSOR: SIR BENJAMIN HERNANDEZ TRANSCRIBED BY: GACILAN, ALTHEA

Alternatives to Experimentation:

FORMULATING HYPOTHESIS
WHAT IS HYPOTHESIS?
 A hypothesis is an explanation of a
relationship between two or more variables.
Example of hypothesis:
"Students who eat breakfast will perform
better on a math exam than students who
do not eat breakfast.
WHAT IS AN EXPERIMENTAL HYPOTHESIS?
 An experimental hypothesis is a tentative
explanation of an event or behaviour. It is a
statement that predicts the effect of an
independent variable on a dependent
variable.
For example, cognitive behaviour therapy
(CBT) produces less relapse than
antidepressants
WHY MUST A HYPOTHESIS BE A SYNTHETIC
STATEMENT?
WHY SHOULD A HYPOTHESIS BE A
PARSIMONOUS?
 Parsimony means that we prefer a simple
hypothesis over one requiring many
supporting assumptions.
 A simple hypothesis allows us to focus our
attention on the main factors that influence
our dependent variable.
THE INDUCTIVE MODEL
 Induction is reasoning from specific cases
to general principles to form a hypothesis.
 Researchers use inductive reasoning to
construct theories by creating explanations
that account for empirical data
(observations).
HOW CAN WE BUILD A THEORY USING
INDUCTION

 When we state a hypothesis, we then gather
data that either support or contradict it.
 For this reason, a hypothesis must be
capable of being true or false, which is a
property of synthetic statements.
 Scientists can use the results of extensive
experiments designed to test hypotheses to
construct a theory that unifies their
findings.
THE DEDUCTIVE MODEL

WHAT IS TESTABILITY AND WHY IS IT

IMPORTANT?
 Deduction is reasoning from general
principles to specific predictions. This
 An experimental hypothesis is testable approach is used to test the assumptions of
when it can be assessed by manipulating an a theory.
IV and measuring the results on the DV.

 Without testability, we cannot evaluate the

validity of hypothesis
COMBINING INDUCTION AND DEDUCTION

 Develop propositions using induction by
examining specific cases. Then, make
predictions using deduction.
Three promising strategies are:
 Walster et al. formulated equity theory
based on specific observations (induction)
and then tested predictions from this
theory (deduction).
BUILDING ON PRIOR RESEARCH
 Review research that has already been
published. Both experimental and non-
experimental studies can prove helpful
A review of prior experiments helps in five
ways:
 Identifies questions that have not been
conclusively answered or addressed at all
 Suggests new hypotheses
 Identifies additional variables that could
mediate an effect
 Identifies problems other researchers have
experienced
 Helps avoid duplication of prior research
when replication is not intended
SERENDIPITY AND WINDFALL HYPOTHESIS
 A scientist who is open to unexpected
results and who is sufficiently informed can
understand the significance of unexpected
findings.
 However, a dogmatic scientist would be less
likely to “see” or appreciate the significance
of serendipitous events.
WHAT ARE THE HELPFUL STRATEGIES FOR
DEVELOPING EXPERIMENTAL HYPOTHESIS?
1. Read an issue of a psychology journal
2. Observe how people behave in public places
3. Choose a real-world problem and try to
identify its cause.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE
INTRODUCTION SECTION OF APA - FORMAT
PAPER?
 The introduction section provides a
selective review of research findings related
to the research hypothesis.
 This section identifies which questions have
not been definitively answered by previous
studies and helps show how your
experiment advances knowledge in this are.
VALUE OF A META ANALYSIS
 A meta-analysis can provide helpful
information about your topic.
 A meta-analysis is not an experiment, but
rather a statistical analysis of many similar
studies
 A meta-analysis measures the average effect
size of an independent variable across
studies that share similar methodologies.
 This statistical procedure helps establish
the strength and external validity of a
causal relationship

INTUITION

 Intuition is knowing without reasoning, or

unconscious problem-solving. Intuition
guides what we choose to study in an
experiment
 Intuition must be directed by our literature
review