Alabama Social Studies SS24.P.2

SS24.P.2 is a cluster heading. These are the individual standards under it.

• SS24.P.2a

  Contrast the roles of independent, dependent, and confounding variables and the functions of control and experimental groups within the scientific method.

• SS24.P.2b

  Identify and explain systematic procedures necessary for conducting an experiment and improving the validity of results.*

• SS24.P.2c

  Describe the role of the American Psychological Association in setting ethical guidelines regarding the use of human and animal subjects in psychological resear...

01

What Students Need to Do

Students compare experiments, surveys, case studies, and observation. They identify variables and groups, then plan fair tests using tools such as questionnaires and recall tasks. They explain how APA guidelines protect human participants and research animals.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

In a music and word-recall study, a student identifies music as the independent variable, recall score as the dependent variable, and the quiet group as the control group. They spot unequal word lists as a confound and suggest random assignment and identical lists. They explain consent, privacy, and humane animal care.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may think the control group does nothing, rather than completing the same task without music. They may mistake a confound for the measured result or claim a survey proves cause. Some think consent alone makes a study ethical, overlooking privacy and the right to withdraw.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: A teacher tests whether music affects word recall. Name the independent and dependent variables, a control group, one confound, one way to make the test fair, and one APA guideline for human participants.

1. 01

   Have volunteers complete a word-recall task after random assignment to quiet or background music, then compare scores without using names.

2. 02

   Ask students to write why a volunteer must be allowed to quit and why research animals need humane care.

3. 03

   Sort cards labeled music, recall score, unequal word lists, and quiet group into variable and group roles.

4. 04

   Compare a phone-notification survey with a randomized notification test, then decide which could show whether notifications cause distraction.

• SS24.S.2

  Explain methods and tools of research used by sociologists.*

• SS24.HS.6

  Compare historical methods utilized for research and evaluate how these methods yield information regarding the selected historical subject.

• SS24.P.1a

  Investigate and describe the history of psychology from its beginning to the modern era, including key contributors to the field.*

• SS24.P.1c

  Describe how modern psychologists utilize multiple perspectives to understand behavior and mental processes, citing examples.*