Psychology
2231A: Psychological Statistics
Carroll 2266
MWF,
9:00-9:50
Professor Dr.
Janie Wilson
Office
1050G Psychology Department (Carroll)
Phone
681-5580 (my office); leave message if no answer
E-Mail
jhwilson@georgiasouthern.edu
Web
http://personal.georgiasouthern.edu/~jhwilson/
Office Hours 9:50-10:50 MWF, and by
appointment
Required
Texts
Wilson, J. H. (2005). Essential
Statistics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice
Hall.
Prerequisites
To be in this course, you must
have received a C or better in PSYC 1101.
Course
Overview
This course will provide
information concerning descriptive and inferential statistics. We will cover
basic statistical designs such as chi square, correlation, regression, and
t-tests. You will learn how to calculate many statistics by hand before learning
to analyze data using SPSS, a popular computer program for statistics. Of
course, theoretical bases of statistical tests will be of primary importance. It
will be necessary for you to understand the best test
to use in a given situation.
Learning
Objectives
After taking this course, you
should
·
understand the theory behind
basic statistical analyses
o
related-samples
t-test
o
independent-samples
t-test
o
correlation
o
regression
o
goodness-of-fit test (one-way chi
square)
o
test of independence (two-way chi
square)
·
be able to calculate the above
statistical analyses by hand
·
be able to calculate statistical
analyses using SPSS
·
be capable of making sense of
SPSS output
·
create graphs of data using
EXCEL
·
be competent when deciding which
statistic to use for a specific study design
In addition, you should have
completed a workbook of examples, including data layout in SPSS, SPSS output,
results in plain English, and EXCEL graphs.
Attendance
Policy
There is no attendance policy.
However, I believe it will be difficult to perform well without class
instruction. Information given in class will not be repeated in the event of an
absence, but you can make prior arrangements with a colleague to take notes for
you if you wish. If you make an appointment with me to go over missed
information, you must bring with you copies of two students’ notes, and have
questions to clarify specific parts of the notes.
Class
Participation
Participating in class is
important for your personal growth as well as class learning. I understand that
each class is composed of different personalities, and I want quiet students be
given the opportunity to answer questions as often as extroverted students. To
facilitate this “fairness,” I will choose students to answer questions during
each class. If you are called on and do not know the answer, you may use the
“pass” option by saying “I pass.” I feel that this format will enhance
concentration and participation. Two percent of your grade will be based on
class participation.
Homework/Quiz
Reviews
Due to the many homework
assignments required in this class, they cannot be turned in late. In the event
of unforeseen circumstances, you may choose not to turn in one homework
assignment during the semester. The lowest homework or quiz grade will be
dropped. I will give you further instructions concerning the format of homeworks when they are assigned.
Homework will always be due at
the beginning of each class, so you will not want to be late. When you enter
class, please place your homework on the desk at the front of the room. After
9:00am, your homework will not be graded (a zero), but I will be glad to offer
feedback.
Included in this portion of your
grade will be quiz reviews. These will be used to assess your knowledge of the
subject matter throughout the semester.
Please listen carefully in class, as all quiz reviews will be announced
at least one class day in advance.
Tests
Tests will consist of
multiple-choice theory questions in addition to questions designed to assess
your ability to apply the correct formulas and calculate the correct statistic
in a specific research situation.
You will be responsible for
bringing a Scantron sheet and a No. 2 pencil to class
for tests and the final exam. Please bring Scantron
Form No. 20092 (small brown sheet). If you do not bring the appropriate scantron with you on the day of a test, I will grade your
test at the end of the term.
If you must miss a test, you
should contact me prior to the test date. If an unavoidable event occurs, please
contact me as soon as you are able to do so. Regardless of the reason, I cannot
provide a separate but comparable multiple-choice/short-answer test; therefore,
you may be required to take an essay and/or problem-based test of the material.
This is not designed to punish you. You will be given 50 minutes to complete all
make-up exams on 12-4-09.
Computer
Project
Eight percent of your grade will be a computer project, which is a workbook you will create to remind you how to analyze different data sets. The workbook will contain at least one example of each statistic you learn in this course. You will be given specific instructions on the computer project in class. Due by noon on 11/20/09.
Moral
Conduct
Although I realize that you all
know right from wrong, I need to tell you that cheating will not be
tolerated. If you are caught
cheating, I will feel morally obligated to seek the maximum punishment available
at Georgia Southern. If you have
any questions about acceptable and unacceptable conduct, please refer to the
Georgia Southern Student Conduct Code Policies and
Procedures.
Grades
Grading Scale
Class Participation 2%
90-100%
A
Homework
25%
80-89
B
Tests (6)
50%
70-79
C
Computer Project
8%
60-69
D
Final Exam
15%
<60
F
Lecture
Schedule
(Please note that this schedule
is subject to change if less or additional time is needed to cover a topic. In the event that this occurs, we will
adjust the following schedule.)
8/17/09
Introduction to psychological statistics
8/19/09
Math
Ch. 1
8/20-24/09 Samples,
populations, and research design
Ch. 1
8/26-28/3/09 Variables and graphing Ch. 2
8/31/09 Introduction to EXCEL (notes)
9/2/09
Test
1
9/4/09
Measures of central tendency
Ch. 3
Introduction to SPSS
9/1/09
Labor Day (no classes)
9/9/09 SPSS continued
9/11-16/09 Measures of
variability
Ch. 4
Review SPSS
9/18/09
Test 2
9/21/09
Descriptive z-scores
Ch. 5
9/23-25/09 Inferential z-scores
Ch. 6
9/28-30/09 Hypothesis testing
Ch. 7
10/2/09
Test 3
10/5-7/09
Single-sample t-test
Ch. 8
10/9-14/09 Related-samples t-test
Ch. 8
SPSS application
10/12/09
Last day to withdraw
10/16-21/09 Independent-samples
t-test
Ch. 8
SPSS application
10/23/09
Test 4
10/26-30/09 Correlation
Ch. 11
Correlation on SPSS
11/2/09
Artificially low and high correlations
Ch .11
11/4/09
Scatterplots (SPSS and
EXCEL)
11/6-11/09 Linear
regression
Ch. 12
Regression on SPSS
11/13/09
Test 5
11/16-18/09 One-way chi-square
(goodness-of-fit test)
Ch. 13
11/20/09
Two-way chi-square (test of independence)
Ch. 13
Test of independence on SPSS
11/23-27/09 Thanksgiving Holiday
(no classes)
11/30/09
Two-way chi-square (continued)
Ch. 13
12/2/09
Test 6
12/4/09
Make-up tests
12/9/09
Final Exam (cumulative)
7:30-9:30am
One final
note: At this stage in your education, you should have learned to empower
yourself. You are in charge of your
life. It is your responsibility to
complete your work as specified and turn it in on time. In order to perform well, you must read
and listen carefully at all times to know what is expected of you. I trust that you will allow yourself to
devote your energy to this class and your college
career.
Seriously
the final, final note: I really like students. I know we’ll get along great. I
just have to be rigid and serious in this document because it’s sort of like a
contract. I’m much nicer in person! I will help you in any way I can to make
sure you learn the material. My main rule is that I have to treat everyone the
same to be fair to all students. So if I ever have to tell you I won’t take your
homework late, remember that I am just trying to be fair to students who managed
to get their homework in on time (even though their lives might have had some
bumps too).
Thank
you!
Janie