Students will experience real-world social influence phenomena, analyze core Social Psychology studies and terms, and develop focused, investigable research questions aligned to AP standards. By the end of the phase, each student will produce a defensible, researchable question grounded in psychological theory and ready for formal investigation.

Students will design a rigorous, AP-level investigation plan that systematically tests a focused Social Psychology research question. They will refine variables, construct a defensible methodology, anticipate limitations and ethical concerns, and participate in structured peer critique before submitting a formal research proposal that serves as the milestone gate to data collection.

Students will systematically collect quantitative and/or qualitative data aligned to their approved Social Psychology research questions, document procedures with transparency, and ensure ethical and methodologically sound evidence gathering before moving into analysis.

Students will analyze their collected data using appropriate statistical and qualitative techniques, identify meaningful patterns related to social influence, and construct evidence-based interpretations grounded in AP Social Psychology terminology. They will engage in structured peer critique, refine their analyses, and complete a milestone data analysis check before moving to formal conclusions.

Students will synthesize their analyzed data into evidence-based conclusions, explicitly acknowledge methodological limitations and alternative interpretations, revise their written and visual products through structured peer critique, and present their findings at a formal Social Psychology Symposium to an authentic audience.