Open Educational Resources
Document Type
Assignment
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
This assignment uses a hypothetical society to help students understand the idea of “controlling for a variable” and practice applying it to a real-world research question. Students design a research approach to examine whether income differences are better explained by family background or by systemic prejudice, working within clear data limits. ChatGPT is used as a research guide to help students brainstorm, test, and revise their methods, while encouraging them to critically evaluate the usefulness and limits of AI-generated suggestions. The assignment emphasizes careful reasoning, clear research design, and thoughtful use of AI as a support for learning rather than a substitute for analysis.
Creative Commons License
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Comments
For context and a deeper discussion of this assignment’s design and learning goals, please visit the Pressbook Flipping the Pyramid: Developing Critical Thinking Skills with GenAI, where it is featured and analyzed in detail.
https://pressbooks.cuny.edu/flippingbloomai/