Research Methods - Two lessons pack - Experimental Design and Controlling Variables

First Lesson: Experimental Design

Do Now: IV vs DV Quiz

Introduction to Experimental Design

Key Terms: Independent Groups, Repeated Measures, Matched Pairs

Teaching slides on the three experimental designs

Strengths and weaknesses of each design

Participant variables, order effects, demand characteristics

Counterbalancing explained

Reading: Experimental Designs – How Psychologists Organise Participants

Comprehension questions

Examples from key studies (Loftus & Palmer, Milgram, Ainsworth, Watson & Rayner)

Exam questions:

2-mark (Repeated Measures)

4-mark (Independent Groups application)

8-mark (Discuss experimental design)
Success criteria for all exam questions

Second Lesson: Controlling Variables & Scientific Principles

Do Now: Retrieval questions on sampling, ethics, reliability & validity

Introduction to extraneous and confounding variables

Teaching slides on controlling variables

Key terms sheet: standardisation, control group, random allocation, etc.

Reading: Validity and Reliability

Reading: Controls and the Scientific Values of Psychology

Comprehension questions on scientific principles

Main task: Rewrite a flawed experiment using controls

Applied task: Where are the extraneous variables? scenario analysis

Exam questions (data response, 4-mark, 8-mark)

Exam technique guidance and structured support