Active learning ideas
Research methods are the 'how' of psychology. This topic focuses on the initial stages of an investigation: formulating a clear, testable hypothesis and identifying the variables involved. Students learn to distinguish between independent variables (what we change) and dependent variables (what we measure).
Activity 01
Groups are given a series of 'bad' research questions (e.g., 'Does music help you study?'). They must work together to turn these into formal, operationalised hypotheses and identify the IV, DV, and potential extraneous variables.
What makes a good psychological hypothesis?
Activity 02
The teacher 'performs' a simple experiment, like testing reaction times with and without a distraction. Students must act as the researchers, identifying the variables and suggesting ways to control for things like noise or age.
How do we operationalise variables?
Activity 03
Students are given abstract terms like 'intelligence,' 'happiness,' or 'aggression.' They must work in pairs to come up with three different ways to operationalise (measure) each term for a psychological study.
Why must extraneous variables be controlled?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
A hypothesis is just a 'guess' about what will happen.
In psychology, a hypothesis must be a precise, testable statement that predicts the relationship between variables. Using a 'hypothesis checklist' in peer-review sessions helps students refine their definitions.
The independent variable is the one we measure.
The independent variable is the one the researcher manipulates or changes; the dependent variable is the one being measured. A simple 'IV = I change, DV = Data' mnemonic, reinforced through hands-on practice, helps clear this up.
Methods used in this brief
Experimental Designs and Sampling
This topic introduces different experimental designs, including independent groups and repeated measures. Students will also evaluate various sampling methods used to select participants.
8 methodologies
Ethical Issues in Psychology
Students will examine the ethical guidelines set by the British Psychological Society (BPS). They will analyse historical case studies to understand the importance of informed consent and protection from harm.
8 methodologies