Psychology 3800G-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.

 

Revised Jan 12, 2022

 

WESTERN UNIVERSITY

LONDON               CANADA

Department of Psychology

2021 - 2022

 

Psychology 3800G    Section 001

Psychological Statistics Using Computers

 

  • 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, chi-square, 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. 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.

2 lecture hours, 2 laboratory hours, 0.5 course

 

Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol 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.

 

 

2.0  COURSE INFORMATION

 

       Instructor: R. Stevenson (ryan.stevenson@uwo.ca)             

       Office: Room 6128 WIRB                             

       Office Hours: By appointment                       

       Lab Section 002: Thursdays, 14:30-16:30, SSC 3133

       Teaching Assistant: TBD

       Email: TBD

       Office Hours and Room: TBD

       Lab Section 003: Fridays, 10:30-12:30, SSC 3133

       Teaching Assistant: TBD

       Email: TBD

       Office Hours and Room: TBD

       Lab Section 004: Fridays, 10:30-12:30, SSC 1316A

       Teaching Assistant: TBD

       Email: TBD

       Office Hours and Room: TBD

       Time and Location of Classes: Tuesdays 14:30 to 16:30 Room WIRB-1170  

       Delivery Method: In-Person, virtual if necessary

 

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.

 

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 Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.

 

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.

 

4.0  COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

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.

 

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

 

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 5 days after the beginning of the lab session in which it was assigned. 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 half-year essay course. **Please note: questions about assignments to the TAs or Instructor must be made 24 hours or more before the assignment is due.

Final Examination: 50%. The final examination will be based on all material presented in lectures and laboratories. All material is eligible exam material. The final exam will be set by the Registrar’s office during the official examination period and will be 3 hours long. The exam format will include 100 multiple choice items.

 

5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK

 

Assignments will be accepted up to 48 hours after the due date. Assignments later than that will not be accepted and will be given a grade of 0.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.

 

This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.

 

The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:

 

70%      1000-level to 2099-level courses

72%      2100-2999-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

 

Note that in the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.

 

Policy on Grade Rounding: Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assessment within the course.

 

6.0  ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE

 

The final exam will be set by the Registrar’s office during the official examination period and will be 3 hours long.

 

 

7.0  CLASS SCHEDULE

 

 

Date

Topic

Optional Readings

Assignments

1

Jan 11

Introduction

Ch. 1

 

2

Jan 18

t-tests

Ch. 2

t-tests

3

Jan 25

Monte Carlo simulation methods

Ch. 3

Monte C.

4

Feb 1

Single Factor ANOVA

Ch. 4

ANOVA (oneway)

5

Feb 8

Factorial designs ANOVA

Ch. 5

ANOVA (factorial)

6

Feb 15

Repeated measures ANOVA

Ch. 6

ANOVA (repeated)

 

Feb 22

Reading Week

X

X

7

Mar 1

Split plot ANOVA

Ch. 7

ANOVA (split plot)

8

Mar 8

Bivariate correlation and regression

Ch. 9

Correlation

9

Mar 15

Multiple correlation and regression

Ch. 10

Multiple regression

10

Mar 22

Factor analysis

Ch. 8

Factor analysis

11

Mar 29

Chi-square tests

Ch. 11

Chi-square

12

April 5

 Review

 

Final lab (due)

 

 

8.0  Land Acknowledgement

 

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.

 

With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation, as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.

 

 

9.0  STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

 

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence 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 offences. 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).

 

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.

 

In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.

 

Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.

 

10.0      POLICY ON THE USE OF EXAM PROCTORING SOFTWARE

 

When examinations and tests cannot be given in person (e.g., in courses coded as Distance Studies; in the event of a lockdown order), they may be conducted using either a monitoring platform such as Zoom or a remote proctoring service, such as Proctorio. If Zoom is used for exam invigilation, you will be required to keep your camera on for the entire session, hold up your student card for identification purposes, and share your screen with the invigilator if asked to do so at any time during the exam. The exam session using Zoom will not be recorded.*

If a remote proctoring service is used, the service will require you to provide personal information (including some biometric data). The session will be recorded. The instructor will alert you to the use of this software as close as possible to the start of the term, however, in the event that in-person exams are unexpectedly canceled, you may only be given notice of the use of a proctoring service a short time in advance. More information about remote proctoring is available in the Online Proctoring Guidelines. Please ensure you are familiar with any proctoring service’s technical requirements before the exam. Additional guidance is available at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/onlineproctorguidelines.pdf

 

* Please note that Zoom servers are located outside Canada. If you would prefer to use only your first name or a nickname to login to Zoom, please provide this information to the instructor in advance of the test or examination. See this link for technical requirements: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us  

 

11.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES

 

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12

 

The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf

 

If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:

  1. Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
  2. For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
  • For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.

 

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline in order to be valid. It may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html

 

Students seeking academic consideration:

  • are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;  
  • are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
  • must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hoursafter the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence

 

Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.

 

12.0 Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown: IN-Person & Blended classes

 

In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence or any other event that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online, as determined by the course instructor.

 

13.0      STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE

 

In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:

  • please “arrive” to class on time
  • please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
  • please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
  • to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
  • In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
  • In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
  • Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting

 

The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:

  • If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
  • Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
  • Self-identify when speaking.
  • Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).

 

General considerations of “netiquette”:

  • Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
  • Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
  • Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
  • Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.

 

Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.

 

14.0 OTHER INFORMATION

 

Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca 

 

Student Development Services: 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

- 2021-2022 Calendar References

 

If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf

Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).

 

Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.

 

Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions: Some or all of the remote learning sessions for this course (if scheduled) may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers (name displayed on the screen). The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.