How do we test an idea?
Follow a prediction through a fair comparison, measurement and revision.
The picture in words
- Question
- Begin with something you want to explain.
- Prediction
- State the outcome your explanation leads you to expect.
- Fair comparison
- Assign conditions by chance and keep the final recall task the same.
- Measure
- Collect and compare the answers.
- Revise
- Use the result to refine the explanation and the next question.
Reading the illustration
The learning example is an original teaching scenario. The loop shows how observations can lead to a revised question.
Try a question
What would you keep the same when comparing the two ways of studying?
Show the explanation
Use the same material, total practice time and final recall task. A clear comparison makes it easier to interpret a difference in the outcome.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/2-3-analyzing-findingsSelected introductory passages inspected