Hypothesis and Operational Definition Exercise

Provide the same information for each hypothesis.

1. What type of relationship would you predict (positive linear, negative linear, and so on)?

2. Which method (experimental or nonexperimental) would you use to test this hypothesis? Why?

4. Which is the independent or "cause" variable and which is the dependent or "effect" variable?

5. State an operational definition for each variable. If experimental, describe how the independent variable might be manipulated and the dependent variable measured. If nonexperimental, describe how both variables might be measured.

Hypothesis 1: Job stress is associated with absenteeism rates at work.

Hypothesis 2: A pregnant woman's diet affects the birth weight of her baby.

Hypothesis 3: Frequency of child abuse is related to the parents' ages when they married.

Hypothesis 4: Political orientation is related to attitude toward gun control.