SYLLABUS FOR PSY 301
Welcome to Psychological Statistics
CLASSES MEET IN COMPUTER LAB 205 – SECOND FLOOR
OF LOWREY HALL.
I.
Course Title:
PSY 301 -- Psychological Statistics
II.
Prerequisites:
Sophomore standing; PSY 201 or comparable
course.
III.
Course Description:
This is an introductory level course
which focuses on central tendency and variability; the normal curve and
transformations; probability theory; hypothesis testing to include one-way
analysis of variance and factorial designs. Computer-assisted approaches (SPSS
for Windows) to data processing and analysis are emphasized.
IV.
Rationale:
Today's students of education and
psychology need to have an in-depth understanding of the main concepts of
statistics in order to analyze data gathered using research procedures as well
as to read material from professional journals with some degree of confidence
and comprehension.
V.
Course Objectives:
As a result of taking this course,
the student should be able to:
1. Discuss and apply the basic terms
and concepts of statistics.
2. Differentiate between descriptive
and inferential statistics.
3. Compute measures of central
tendency and variability.
4. Analyze and explain the
relationship between probability and statistics.
5. Describe the
general characteristics of the normal curve and analyze when it is appropriate
to use the normal curve when analyzing data.
6. Discuss, with understanding, the
purpose of the null hypothesis
in
analyzing data in a research situation.
7. Formulate
directional and non-directional hypotheses as they relate to specific
hypothesis-testing situations synthesized from data collected by the class.
8. For a given
set of data, analyze the appropriate parametric or non-parametric statistical
test to be used, e.g., z-test, t-test,
9. Synthesize
research questions requiring One-Way ANOVA and Two-Way
ANOVA applications.
10. Compute a Pearson correlation
coefficient (r) and a Spearman Rho
correlation coefficient for given sets of
data and explain the significance
of the statistical results.
11. Explain the
process of making predictions using linear regression techniques, and compute
predicted values.
12. Demonstrate
an ability to read, with understanding, journal articles that feature the above
statistical procedures.
13. Carry out
various statistical procedures on the computer using the SPSS for Windows
statistics package.
VI.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
VII.
Course Topics:
The major topics to be covered in
PSY 301 are:
1. Introduction to descriptive and
inferential statistics
2. Frequency distributions
3. Central tendency
4. Variability
5. z-Scores
6. Probability
7. Samples and distributions of
sample means
8. Introduction to hypothesis
testing
9. Hypothesis tests with independent
samples
10. Hypothesis tests with related
samples
11. Estimation
12. Independent samples analysis of
variance
13. Related-measures analysis of
variance
14. Two-factor analysis of variance
15. Correlation
16. Regression
17.
Non-parametric tests, e.g.Chi-square tests for goodness of fit and independence
VIII.
Instructional Methods:
Instructional methods for PSY 301
will include lecture, large and small group discussion, individual and group
projects, and data analysis in the campus computer lab.
IX.
Assignments:
A. Homework
problems will be assigned for each topic discussed in class. The homework assignments will include manual
and computer-assisted work. Each assignment will be graded on a 0 - 10 point
scale. Students are expected to spend some time outside of class in the
computer lab. The homework assignments are due at the beginning of the next
class after they have been assigned by the instructor. (Note: once you have
accumulated 100 points of homework credit, you can stop doing homework. The 100 points are worth the equivalent of one
test grade, so earning them is vitally important).
B. Three
tests will be administered during the semester. The testing dates may be
found in the Course Calendar section. The course content will be divided into three
basic sections. Each test will cover one of these sections. Each test will
include questions, manual computation of data, and computer- assisted data
analysis.
C.
A cumulative final exam will be administered at the end of the
semester at the time designated in the MC class schedule. Any student who has earned an A on all three
tests, and who has earned the 100 homework points, will be exempt from the
final exam.
E.
Report on the research posters
from PSY 336.
X.
Instructional Materials and Bibliography:
A.
Required Textbooks:
Gravetter, F.
J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2004). Statistics for the behavioral sciences (6th
ed.).
Pavkov, T. W. ,
& Pierce, K. A. (2005). Ready, set, go!: A student guide to SPSS for Windows 12.0.
XI.
Evaluation:
Attendance: 60 possible points - 2 points per class session. You must be present to earn the points or present evidence of an excused absence to the instructor. Please be on time for class. If you arrive more than 5 minutes late to class it will be considered an absence and you will not receive the 2 points for that day.
Tests: 300 possible points - There are threee tests with 100 possible points for each test. Tests will consist of statistical problems to be solved by hand and by computer, as well as the ability to analyze and explain statistical concepts and terms. If a student misses a test, a grade of 0 is assigned unless the absence is excused. Because tests will be done by hand and by computer, it is important to purchase and become very familiar with the Ready, Set, Go text that highlights how to do the various statistical procedures on the SPSS software so that you will be familiar with the software when completing tests on the computer. Also, since statistical work often requires using a database, you may be provided with a database, if needed, that will be utilized for parts of certain tests. Finally, when writing up your work on tests, the calculations and results will need to be presented following certain specific steps that will be provided by the instructor. These steps will be covered in class prior to each test.
Final Exam: 100 possible points for the cumulative final exam that will be a combination of take home and in class work.
Research Poster Report – Optional assignment for extra credit: 20 possible points for the evaluation of Psy 336 research posters at the poster session,
Homework: 100 possible points. This is equivalent to one test!
Total possible points:
Attendance 60
Tests 300
Final Exam 100
Homework 100
Total 560
Grading Scale:
505 + points =
A
450-504 points =
B
395-449 points =
C
340-394 points =
D
0- 339 points =
F
XII.
Additional Course Information:
A.
Attendance Policy:
Class attendance is an essential part of your
education at
B.
Special Accommodations:
If you need special accommodations due to
learning, physical, psychological, or other disabilities, please contact Dr.
Buddy Wagner in the Counseling and
C.
Class Communications:
Dr. Bill Wheeler
Office: Lowrey 105
Office Telephone: 925-3841
E-Mail: wheeler@mc.edu
Web
page:
XIII. Course Content Calendar:
Classes will meet in the computer lab in room 205 of Lowrey Hall
from 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm. This course will follow the outline of the
Gravetter Textbook. Students will need
to complete chapter reading assignments prior to the date when the material is
discussed in class. The computers in the lab are to be used for running the SPSS
statistical package during class. Do not
use the computers for other purposes, such as
searching the web or doing word processing during class.
Session Date Topic
1 08/25/05 Introduction – Syllabus – Course
Overview / Chapter 1
2 08/30/05 Frequency Distributions and Graphs /
Chapter 2
3 09/01/05 Characteristics of Distributions:
Central Tendency / Chapter 3
4 09/06/05 Characteristics of Distributions:
Variability / Chapter 4
5 09/08/05 Characteristics of Distributions: Variability / Chapter 4
6 09/13/05 Normal Distribution / Normal Curve / z
Scores Chapters 5 and 6
7 09/15/05 Normal Distribution / Normal Curve / z
Scores Chapters 5 and 6
8 09/20/05 Test 1 Chapters 1-6
9 09/22/05 Sampling Distributions and Steps in
Hypothesis Testing/ Chapter 7
10 09/27/05 Sampling Distributions and Steps in
Hypothesis Testing/ Chapter 7
11 09/29/05 Single Sample Mean z-Test / Chapter 8
12 10/04/05 Single Sample Mean t-Test / Chapter 9
13 10/06/05 Independent Samples t-Test / Chapter
10
Fall
Recess
14 10/13/05 Related Samples t-Test / Chapter 11
15 10/18/05 Test 2
16 10/20/05 Estimation and Confidence Intervals /
Chapter 12
17 10/25/05 ANOVA / Chapter 13
18 10/27/05 ANOVA / Chapter 13 16
19 11/01/05 ANOVA / Chapter 13
20 11/03/05 Factorial ANOVA / Chapter 15
21 11/08/05 Factorial ANOVA / Chapter 15
22 11/10/05 Factorial ANOVA / Chapter 15
23 11/15/05 Test 3
24 11/17/05 Correlation and Linear Regression /
Chapter 16
25 11/22/05 Correlation and Linear Regression /
Chapter 16
Thanksgiving
Break
26 11/29/05 Chi Square Tests / Chapter 17
27 12/01/05 Chi Square Tests / Chapter 17
28 12/06/05 Other Non-parametric Tests / Chapter
18
29 12/13/05 Final Exam 11:00am – 1:00pm