Hypothesis and Operational Definition

Exercise

Provide the same information for each hypothesis (answer the following five questions for each hypothesis).

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

2. Graph and label the relationship you predict. State a prediction based on the relationship shown by your

graph.

3. 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: The size of a meeting is related to the length of the meeting.

Hypothesis 4: Frequency of child abuse is related to the parents' ages when they married.

Hypothesis 5: Political orientation is related to attitude toward gun control.

Hypothesis 6: Visual imagery improves memory.

Hypothesis 7: Jury decisions are influenced by the attractiveness of the defendant.

Hypothesis 8: Exercise is related to levels of stress.

Hypothesis 9: Age of instructor is related to students' evaluation of the instructor.

Hypothesis 10: Number of hours worked is related to the number of hours spent studying.