Psychology 3800F-001
Psychological Statistics Using Computers
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
This course covers most statistical procedures used in psychological research and the use and
interpretation of SPSS for Windows. Topics covered include the t test, various forms of analysis of variance,
chisquare, bivariate and multiple regression and correlation, factor analysis, multivariate analysis of
variance, and Monte Carlo methods.
Antirequisite: Psychology 3830F/G
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you
take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course,
regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
Prerequisites: Psychology 2810, plus registration in third or fourth year of Honours Specialization in
Psychology or Honours Specialization in Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience.
Psychology Majors and Psychology Special Students who earn 70% or higher in Psychology 2820E or 60%
or higher in Psychology 2810 may enrol in this course.
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to
enroll in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may
not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a
course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Time and Location of Lectures: Wednesdays 9:30 to 11:30 Room WIRB 1170
Instructor: R. Stevenson (rsteve28@uwo.ca)
Officer: Room 5146 WIRB
Office Hours: By appointment
Lab Section 002: Wednesdays, 14:3016:30, SSC 3133
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Email: TBD
Office Hours and Room: TBD
Lab Section 003: Thursdays, 12:3014:30, SSC 3133
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Email: TBD
Office Hours and Room: TBD
Lab Section 005: Wednesdays, 16:3018:30, SSC 3133
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Email: TBD
Office Hours and Room: TBD
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
You will need a computer account, which gives you access to the UWO network. Optional: Gardner, R. C. &
Tremblay, P. F. (2006). Essentials of Data Analysis. Theory and Computer Applications. Printed by the
University Book Store. *Please let the instructor know if you would like this ordered.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course introduces students to research methodology and statistical analysis using the SPSS software package. Other computer applications for creating data files and conducting secondary analyses are surveyed briefly.
The lectures present a balance of the theory, the rationale, interpretation, and detailed examples of key univariate and multivariate statistical procedures.
The laboratories will provide students with the opportunity to conduct statistical analyses using SPSS and other secondary software packages and to report their findings using APA style reports. The laboratories will be conducted in the Department of Psychology Computer Laboratory (Rm 3133 SSC), where students will be able to work on their assignments with consultation with the course Teaching Assistant. Students are allowed to use the Laboratory at other times, when available, and also have access to the SSNDS Computer Instructional Laboratory (Rm 1020 SSC) to do their SPSS assignments for this course.
4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, successful students will be able to:
1. Recommend and justify an appropriate research design and statistical procedure for a given research question or hypothesis.
2. Differentiate between the statistical procedures in terms of their permissible applications and the scale properties of the data.
3. Generate hypotheses to address specific research questions.
4. Analyze data using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical procedures.
5. Apply 10 different statistical procedures by analyzing data sets.
6. Demonstrate their understanding of Type I and Type II errors by conducting simulated demonstration of such errors.
7. Write research reports clearly and effectively in a way that a reader would have the necessary information to replicate the study. The quality of methods and result sections will match the level in good empirical journals.
8. Describe, critique and justify their research methodology and generate ways to improve upon it.
9. Demonstrate their capacity to work independently and in an ethical manner by producing their own written work and meeting the timelines for the 10 assignments.
LEARNING OUTCOMES, ACTIVITIES and ASSESSEMENT
Learning Outcome Learning Activities
How
Assessed
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
Recommend and justify an appropriate
statistical procedure to use for a given
research question or hypothesis.
Differentiate between the statistical
procedures in terms of their permissible
applications based on the scale
properties of the data.
Ten weekly labs are designed to develop
applied knowledge of the statistical procedures.
In each lab, a problem is presented with a data
set or with a request to generate simulated data
with specific properties. The labs are described
in tutorials led by graduate student TAs.
Students develop the research hypotheses,
analyze the data, and write a research report.
The ten labs assess (in part)
knowledge of the uses and
applications of each statistical
technique.
The final exam assesses the ability to
select the correct procedure for
specific problems.
Application of Knowledge.
Generate hypotheses to address specific
research questions and analyze data
using appropriate descriptive and
inferential statistical procedures.
For each of the ten procedures presented in
class, students have the opportunity in the
weekly labs to apply the procedure to a real
research problem that addresses real
challenges such as violations of assumptions or
lack of statistical power.
The labs assess the ability to use a
specific procedure correctly in terms
of addressing the assumptions, and
reporting and interpreting results.
The final exam does the same but
presents research problems in which
students must justify using a specific
procedure.
Application of Methodologies.
Apply 10 different statistical procedures
by analyzing data sets.
Demonstrate their understanding of Type
I and Type II errors by conducting
simulated demonstration of such errors.
In each lab, students learn to apply a statistical
procedure in SPSS, including preparation of the
data file, syntax statement, selection of specific
secondary tests of assumptions, interpretation
of the output, and how to synthesize the
extracted information into a report.
Students need to master the correct
way to interpret and report results
from software output. This is
assessed in the lab reports and in the
exam.
Communication Skills.
Write research reports clearly and
effectively in a way that a reader would
have the necessary instructions to
replicate their study and the necessary
information to interpret their results.
Write method and result sections that
match the level in good empirical
journals.
Students have the opportunity to develop their
research writing skills through weekly reports
and receive weekly written feedback from their
TAs. This structure helps address timely
correction of problems or fine tuning of writing
format in specific areas of the report.
The labs assess students’ ability to
think and write clearly.
The section of long answers on the
exam also assesses the ability to
communicate an idea clearly.
Awareness of Limits of Knowledge.
Describe, critique, and justify their
research methodology especially in the
discussion section of their research
reports.
Generate ways to improve upon their
research methodology.
Feedback from TAs on the lab reports highlights
any needed correction in the interpretation of
results and limitations. The lab assignments
include questions that specifically address the
limits of what can be concluded from the
results.
The lab reports also assess the ability
to present justified conclusions along
with their limitations.
Generate ways to improve upon their
research methodology.
Feedback from TAs on the lab reports highlights
any needed correction in the interpretation of
results and limitations. The lab assignments
include questions that specifically address the
limits of what can be concluded from the
results.
The lab reports also assess the ability
to present justified conclusions along
with their limitations.
Autonomy and Professional Capacity.
Demonstrate their capacity to work
independently and in an ethical manner
by producing their own written work and
meeting the timelines for the 10 reports.
Students are responsible for 10 weekly lab
reports, and must produce their own original
reports.
Late reports receive a deduction and
originality of work is assessed in
adherence to the institutional policies
for plagiarism.
5.0 EVALUATION
Note: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations
(http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2017/pg108.html), you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%
Laboratory Assignments: 50% in total (5% x 10 labs). There will be 10 lab assignments, each requiring a written report. These will be graded by the Teaching Assistant. All assignments must be handed in at the beginning of the lab session following the session in which it was assigned. Late assignments will not be accepted and will be given a grade of 0. The last assignment is due one week after the last laboratory session. Students are responsible for their own assignments—copying assignments constitutes plagiarism. The Laboratory Assignment grade is the mean grade obtained in the 10 assignments. These 10 assignments together constitute the written component of 2,500 words required for a halfyear essay course.
Final Examination: 50%. The final examination will be based on all material presented in lectures, laboratories, and the assigned text chapters. All assigned material, regardless of whether or not it was discussed in class, is eligible exam material. The final exam will be set by the Registrar’s Office during the official examination period (December 10-21) and will be 3 hours long. The exam format may include a mix of multiple choice items, short answer questions, and written interpretations of selected SPSS statistical results.
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE (Note that readings are from an optional text)
Date Topic Optional Readings Assignments
1 Sept 12 Introduction Ch. 1 No lab
2 Sept 19 ttests Ch. 2 ttests
3 Sept 26 Monte Carlo simulation methods Ch. 3 Monte C.
4 Oct 3 Single Factor ANOVA Ch. 4 ANOVA (oneway)
Oct 10 Reading Week (No class, no lab) Ch. 5 ANOVA (factorial)
5 Oct 17 Factorial designs ANOVA Ch. 6 ANOVA (repeated)
6 Oct 24 Repeated measures ANOVA
7 Oct 31 Split plot ANOVA Ch. 7 ANOVA (split plot)
8 Nov 7 Bivariate correlation and regression Ch. 9 Correlation
9 Nov 14 Multiple correlation and regression Ch. 10 Multiple regression
10 Nov 21 Factor analysis Ch. 8 Factor analysis
11 Nov 28 Chisquare tests Ch. 11 Chisquare
12 Dec 5 Review Final lab (due)
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?Command=showCategory&PolicyCategoryID=1&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
10.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2018 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.
