Homeschool Guide: These lesson plans are a guide for parents. Content may contain errors — always cross-reference with official exam board specifications.

investigation design & constraints

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4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.

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Lesson Overview

Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA

Learning Objectives

Prerequisites

Materials & Equipment

Lesson 1: Introduction: investigation design & constraints

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about investigation design & constraints. Then check against the key terms: key terms from investigation design & constraints. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from investigation design & constraints.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: investigation design & constraints. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Statistics because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look

Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: explain the key ideas of investigation design & constraints

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about investigation design & constraints.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: investigation design & constraints

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on investigation design & constraints. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: Every statistical investigation has constraints that limit what is possible.
Key Fact: Time constraints affect how long you can spend collecting and analysing data.
Key Fact: Cost constraints limit the resources available — equipment, travel, printing, software.
Key Fact: Ethical issues include obtaining consent, avoiding harm, and being honest about results.
Key Fact: Confidentiality means personal data must be kept private and not linked to identifiable individuals.
Key Fact: The Data Protection Act and GDPR require personal data to be handled lawfully and securely.

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of investigation design & constraints

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.

Lesson 3: Application: investigation design & constraints

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: key terms from investigation design & constraints. Define each in one sentence.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.

Work through the practice questions on the revision notes page for this topic.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Error Review

Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.

Lesson 4: Exam Practice: investigation design & constraints

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Command Words

Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).

Main Content (35 minutes)

Extended Answer

Extended question: Full-Mark Response A student plans to investigate how much time Year 10 students spend on social media. Identify three constraints and explain how each affects the investigation design. <div class="

1. Time constraint: The student has only two weeks to collect data. This limits the sample size, so they may need to survey fewer students or use an online questionnaire to reach more people quickly. 2. Confidentiality: Students may not want others to see their social media usage. The questionnaire should be anonymous (no names) and data should be stored securely so responses cannot be linked to individuals. 3. Ethical consent: Participants must agree to take part and be told how the data will be used. The student should include a clear statement at the start of the questionnaire explaining the purpose and guaranteeing anonymity. Under-16s may need parental consent.

Exam Tips: When asked about constraints, be specific — give concrete examples relevant to the investigation. | Ethics questions often ask about consent and confidentiality — mention both. | Use the term 'pilot study' when discussing how to test an investigation design. | If evaluating an investigation, always comment on constraints and how they affect conclusions. | Remember that constraints are not just negatives — they shape good investigation design.
Common Errors: ✗ Saying 'cost' without giving a specific example ✓ Giving a specific example, e.g. 'the cost of printing 200 questionnaires may be too high for a school project.' ✗ Confusing anonymity and confidentiality ✓ Anonymity means participants cannot be identified at all; confidentiality means their data is kept private but the researcher may know who they are. ✗ Ignoring ethical issues in investigation design ✓ Always considering informed consent, right to withdraw, and data protection when planning. ✗ Thinking constraints are reasons to abandon an investigation ✓ Constraints are factors to work within — good design adapts to them, for example by reducing sample size or changing the method.
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how investigation design &amp; constraints connects to another Statistics topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of investigation design &amp; constraints
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in investigation design &amp; constraints?"

Plenary (5 minutes)

Assessment Criteria
  • Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
  • Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
  • Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2

Homework & Consolidation

Recommended Resources

🎓 Smart Lesson (Guided)