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English lesson plan · 11th grade (Year 12 in England) · 45 minutes

Does the study design support the claim?

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RI.11-12.8CCSS RST.11-12.8England: SAT Reading and Writing (Command of Evidence)England: A-level Psychology and Science (research methods)England: Media literacy

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Does the study design support the claim?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Spotting misleading statistics and graphs; Which finding would weaken (or strengthen) a claim?

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Spotting misleading statistics and graphs; Which finding would weaken (or strengthen) a claim?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? A company shows only the three months when its sales rose and leaves out the nine months when they fell. What is this called? → cherry-picking data (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Ask: how many people or cases is this based on, and who was asked?
  2. Is the proposed answer correct? A researcher claims that playing music to cows increases the amount of milk they produce. Which finding would most directly SUPPORT this claim? → In a controlled study, cows that heard calm music produced more milk than similar cows that heard no music. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Restate the claim exactly. What would have to be true if it were right?
  3. Read the question and choose. An online poll on a cycling website finds 85% of people want more bike lanes. Why should we be careful? (bike lanes are popular everywhere / 85% is too high to be real / the people answering are not representative of everyone / online polls are illegal) → the people answering are not representative of everyonePrompt: Ask: how many people or cases is this based on, and who was asked?

Hook · 5 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Does the study design support the claim?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: A study tracked 50,000 adults for ten years and found that those who walked daily had fewer heart problems. The researchers adjusted for age, smoking and diet, and said walking 'may help protect' the heart. Why is the researchers' wording appropriate?
  • Step 1: Strong evidence for a cause comes from fair comparisons (ideally randomised, with control groups) on large, representative samples; claims should match the strength of the evidence.
  • Step 2: Observational data, however large, justify cautious language.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: Even a large, careful observational study can suggest but not prove cause, so 'may help' is suitably cautious.
  • Answer: Even a large, careful observational study can suggest but not prove cause, so 'may help' is suitably cautious.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is the proposed answer correct? To test a new memory app, researchers randomly assigned 200 students either to use the app or to use a version with the memory games removed. After a month, the app group recalled more words. Why is this design fairly strong evidence that the app helps? → Random assignment and a comparison group make other explanations less likely. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Ask: Was there a fair comparison group? How big and representative was the sample?
  2. A study tracked 50,000 adults for ten years and found that those who walked daily had fewer heart problems. The researchers adjusted for age, smoking and diet, and said walking 'may help protect' the heart. Why is the researchers' wording appropriate? (The study was too small to say anything. / They should have said walking definitely cures heart disease. / Ten years is too short to study health. / Even a large, careful observational study can suggest but not prove cause, so 'may help' is suitably cautious.) → Even a large, careful observational study can suggest but not prove cause, so 'may help' is suitably cautious.Prompt: Ask: Was there a fair comparison group? How big and representative was the sample?

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Researchers tested whether background music helps concentration. The same 60 students did puzzles in silence one week and with music the next. Scores were higher with music. What is a possible problem with this design? (Puzzles can't measure concentration at all. / Students may simply have improved with practice by the second week. / 60 students is too many. / Music is always distracting.) → Students may simply have improved with practice by the second week.Prompt: Ask: Was there a fair comparison group? How big and representative was the sample?
  2. Is the proposed answer correct? A headline says: "Eating breakfast makes children smarter." The study behind it found that children who ate breakfast had higher test scores, but it did not control for family income or sleep. What is the main weakness in the headline's claim? → The study shows a link, but other factors could explain it, so it doesn't prove breakfast causes higher scores. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Ask: Was there a fair comparison group? How big and representative was the sample?

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Spotting misleading statistics and graphs.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-11.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Does the study design support the claim?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    A company asked 15 of its own employees whether its new chair reduced back pain. Twelve said yes. The company now advertises that "80% of users report less back pain". What is the biggest problem with this evidence?

    • A. Back pain is not a real problem.
    • B. 80% is not a real percentage.
    • C. The sample is tiny and made up of people who may want the product to succeed.
    • D. Chairs can't be tested.

  2. Question 2

    Is the proposed answer correct? A headline says: "Eating breakfast makes children smarter." The study behind it found that children who ate breakfast had higher test scores, but it did not control for family income or sleep. What is the main weakness in the headline's claim? → The study shows a link, but other factors could explain it, so it doesn't prove breakfast causes higher scores.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  3. Question 3

    To test a new memory app, researchers randomly assigned 200 students either to use the app or to use a version with the memory games removed. After a month, the app group recalled more words. Why is this design fairly strong evidence that the app helps?

    • A. The students all liked apps.
    • B. It tested words instead of numbers.
    • C. Random assignment and a comparison group make other explanations less likely.
    • D. It lasted exactly one month.

  4. Question 4

    Is the proposed answer correct? To test a new memory app, researchers randomly assigned 200 students either to use the app or to use a version with the memory games removed. After a month, the app group recalled more words. Why is this design fairly strong evidence that the app helps? → Random assignment and a comparison group make other explanations less likely.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  5. Question 5

    An article claims a herbal tea cures colds because 'most people who drank it felt better within a week'. What is the main flaw?

    • A. Most colds get better within a week anyway, so there's no comparison to show the tea did anything.
    • B. Herbal tea is too hot to drink.
    • C. The article doesn't name the tea's colour.
    • D. A week is too long to measure.

  6. Question 6

    Is the proposed answer correct? A study tracked 50,000 adults for ten years and found that those who walked daily had fewer heart problems. The researchers adjusted for age, smoking and diet, and said walking 'may help protect' the heart. Why is the researchers' wording appropriate? → Ten years is too short to study health.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  7. Question 7

    A study tracked 50,000 adults for ten years and found that those who walked daily had fewer heart problems. The researchers adjusted for age, smoking and diet, and said walking 'may help protect' the heart. Why is the researchers' wording appropriate?

    • A. They should have said walking definitely cures heart disease.
    • B. Even a large, careful observational study can suggest but not prove cause, so 'may help' is suitably cautious.
    • C. The study was too small to say anything.
    • D. Ten years is too short to study health.

  8. Question 8

    Is the proposed answer correct? Researchers tested whether background music helps concentration. The same 60 students did puzzles in silence one week and with music the next. Scores were higher with music. What is a possible problem with this design? → Students may simply have improved with practice by the second week.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

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Answer key: Does the study design support the claim?

  1. 1. C. The sample is tiny and made up of people who may want the product to succeed.

  2. 2. A. yes, it is correct

  3. 3. C. Random assignment and a comparison group make other explanations less likely.

  4. 4. A. yes, it is correct

  5. 5. A. Most colds get better within a week anyway, so there's no comparison to show the tea did anything.

  6. 6. B. no, it is not correct

  7. 7. B. Even a large, careful observational study can suggest but not prove cause, so 'may help' is suitably cautious.

  8. 8. A. yes, it is correct