Introduction to Psychology (PSYC 100)

PSYC/SOC 205: Behavioral Statistics

Instructor: Naomi Pike Class (31534): Monday 6-8:50 p.m., ESC-506 Email: [email protected] Phone: (760) 744-1150 x5058 Website: http://faculty.palomar.edu/npike Office Hours: Scheduled by Appointment

Required textbook: Vernoy, M. & Kyle, D. J. (2002). Behavioral Statistics in Action, 3rd edition, McGraw- Hill.

Required Software: You will need a calculator that has the ability to square numbers and contains a square root function. Prerequisite: Knowledge of Intermediate Algebra (Mathematics 60 or equivalent).

COURSE WEBSITE We will use both the website: http://faculty.palomar.edu/npike and the online Blackboard software for this course. Once you have successfully enrolled in the class you will have access to the course website at: http://blackboard.palomar.edu/. You will use your regular student I.D and the same password as eServices account.

COURSE CONTENT & LEARNING OBJECTIVES This course covers the basic experimental designs and their respective statistical analyses. You will learn data analysis techniques and underlying principles necessary to analyze data of various types. Additionally, you will learn principles of experimental design and how to recognize, use, and analyze and interpret results from the most common designs used in psychology. Regardless of the kind of data you work with, you need to know the methods and principles covered in this course to understand and interpret the data. The course will provide basic introductions to sampling and experimental design, descriptive statistics, principles of hypothesis testing, one and two sample tests, general multiple sample tests through the technique of Analysis Of Variance (=ANOVA), bivariate linear regression and correlation, and the analysis of simple frequency tables. You will be required to learn how to use the various statistical techniques covered and also the principles upon which they are based. You will learn an introduction to the most commonly used tool in all disciplines of science and, used correctly, will open doors and windows to your futures as professionals and investigators of knowledge. I love statistics and I want you to love it too!

Homework Assignments: Twelve homework assignments will be given, worth 10 pts each. The specific problems will be assigned in class and are due at the beginning of the following class. Homework will serve as a study guide for quizzes and exams. Do not just write down answers to problems! Show how you worked through each step of the problem, and list the formulas you used. You will get to use your homework assignments as notes on quizzes and exams, so make sure you understand what you have written down. Homework will be turned in on the day of each exam. If homework is turned in late it will be docked 10% for each day that it is late, following the exam due date. Dates assignments should be completed are listed in the schedule; however, homework will only be turned in three times during the semester. Do not get behind! Quizzes are based on homework problems, so you must stay caught up and study your homework to do well.

Quizzes: Nine quizzes will be given, worth 5 points each. The quizzes correspond to the homework assignments and will be given at the beginning of class on all of the homework due dates listed in the schedule, except on exam days, which will not have a separate quiz. The question(s) on the quiz will be identical to the homework questions; however, numbers and examples will be changed. If you understand the homework you will do well on the quizzes. Study your homework to make sure you understand how to do the problems. Homework can be used during the quizzes, so make sure you have enough notes in your work to lead you through the processes again.

Examinations: There will be three equally weighted exams, including the final. These are held at the beginning of class. Make-ups are not permitted without a documented emergency. Exam #3 will be given during our scheduled final exam time.

Journal Critiques: You will read 2 scientific journal articles, summarize the findings and critique the methods in a 1-2 pg paper. Guidelines for writing the critiques and an example will be handed out in class during the first article discussion.

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Academic Integrity As college students, I expect you be honest and responsible for completing your own work. Academic dishonesty includes using unauthorized material, fabrication of information, helping another person cheat and plagiarism (using words, ideas, or work of another person without giving them credit). It is good to work together, but make sure your work is your own and that you understand what you put on paper. Turning in work completed by other students will only harm you when it comes to the exams. Not only is academic dishonesty cheating you of a good education, but the consequences are also highly adverse. Consequences include failing of the assignment or test for 1st offense and failure of the course for subsequent offenses. I will strictly enforce disciplinary action should anyone be caught violating this standard. If you suspect someone may have committed academic dishonesty please bring it to my attention. Your concern will remain anonymous and you will be helping keep the class fair for those working hard. Tutoring Center: Tutoring is free to all currently enrolled Palomar students. 30 min sessions are available on a walk-in basis. Check for statistics tutor times/availability. Tutoring phone: (760)744-1150 x2448 (San Marcos LL-105); x8128 (Escondido Room #10). http://www.palomar.edu/tutoring/

GUIDELINES FOR DOING WELL IN STATISTICS 1. Come to class EVERY day. If you miss classes your exam grades will suffer, I guarantee you. 2. Keep up with the reading:  Sometimes you will need to read and re-read a section several times before you grasp the concepts. There is no getting around that this material will not always sink in on the first try. Do not expect that a quick read of the material will be enough. Plan plenty of to read the material as the course continues. Waiting until just before an exam to do the reading is suicide! Do not get behind. Do not get behind.  Take good notes on the reading. Do not just copy out of the book. Instead, summarize what you have just read and ask yourself if you really understand the concepts. 3. Take good notes on the lectures:  Come to class ALERT and focused.  Go over your notes within 12 hours after class; modify them as necessary, adding things you missed, clarifying, etc. 4. Come to see me when you don’t understand something in the book or in lecture. The material covered is fast and furious; don’t wait until you are completely snowed. Clear up problems as they arise. You can ask me for clarification in class, via email or schedule office hours to meet. My goal is for you to understand the statistical concepts, so please do not be afraid to talk to me. 5. Form study groups. Plan with your classmates to get together and go over items before coming to class. It would be wise to have a weekly day/time set before homework assignments are due so that you can use each other as a resource.

Grades Assignment Points per Assignment Points Exams 3@100 ea 300 Journal Critiques 2@25 ea 50 Homework Assignments 12@10 ea 120 Quizzes 9 @ 5 ea 45 Total 515 Tentative Schedule Wk Date Topic Reading Assignments Due 1 1/28 Intro to Statistics Ch 1 2 2/04 Graphing/Frequency Dist. Ch 2 & 3 HW#1 3 2/11 Measures of Central Tendency Ch 4 HW#2 4 2/18 No Class! Washington’s Day 5 2/25 Measures of Variability Ch 5 HW#3 6 3/03 Exam #1 HW #4 7 3/10 Normal Curve & z-tests Ch 6 & 7 Journal #1 8 3/17 Correlation Ch 8 HW#5 9 3/24 No Class!!! Spring Break 10 3/31 Regression Ch 9 HW#6 11 4/07 Probability Ch 10 HW# 7 12 4/14 Experimental Design Ch 11 HW#8 13 4/21 Exam #2 HW# 9 14 4/28 t-tests Ch 12 Journal #2 15 5/05 ANOVA Ch 13 & 14 HW#10 16 5/12 Chi-square Ch 15 HW#11 5/19 Final Exam: 6:00-8:00pm HW # 12

This class will be fun! If you apply yourself you will do well. If the material does not make sense please, please come see me and I will be glad to go over anything that needs clarification. I look forward to a great semester!