Main -> In the Classroom: Research Methods -> Teaching Research Methods in Intro

What suggestions do you have for teaching research methods in Intro?  Add them here!

Erin Hardin "find[s] that students struggle with distinguishing experimental from correlational studies...,I ask students to consider these questions: 1. What is different between groups? 2. Did the researcher(s) CAUSE that difference? If yes, then it is likely to be an experiment. If no, then it is not. This seems to help students discern when the researcher has...manipulated the IV or not" (via PsychTeacher, April, 2010).

Cynthia Lofaso wrote that she has an in-class activity using an old wives tale. After lecturing on the topic, the students form small groups. Each group works on identifying how they would study their tale. Students must identify IV and DV,and discuss whether their study is experimental (via PsychTeacher, April, 2010).