I describe an in-class activity designed to meet the needs of research methods students who frequently encounter survey research and multiple regression. Groups of students receive the common task of developing a small number of questionnaire items to predict a specified criterion. Students then receive descriptive statistics and multiple regression results demonstrating the ability of their items to predict the specified outcome. In a sample of 8 groups, reactions to the activity were highly positive. In addition, students who participated in the activity (n = 30) scored slightly (although not statistically significant) higher on a subsequent exam than those in a control group (n = 18).
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