Psy 2030: Computer Applications in Psychology
Winter 2003 - 3 credits
Prof. Santucci
10:15 am – 2:00 pm M-F, Jan. 6-10 and Jan 13-17
(BROWNSON HALL, ROOM 115)
Required Text: Shelly, G.B., Cashman, T.J., & Vermaat, M.E. (2001). Microsoft
Office 2000 Introductory Concepts and Techniques: Enhanced Edition. Course
Technology. Cambridge, MA. (ISBN: 0-7895-6251-0)
Other Materials:
1) Other reference materials not related to MS-Office applications will be
administered as needed.
2) Two, 100MB IBM-formatted zip disk with a label with your name written
on it is needed.
Office: Brownson Hall 220
Phone: 914-323-5359
Office hours: by appointment
e-mail: santuccia@mville.edu
Web Site: http://faculty.mville.edu/santuccia/
Objectives: Proficient knowledge of up-to-date software applications is essential
for anyone involved in psychology. This course will review various computer
software applications as they relate to professional activities of psychologists.
Activities for which software use will be reviewed include writing APA-style
manuscripts and research proposals (MS-WORD 2000), the handling,
management, and organization of research data (MS-EXCEL 2000), statistical
data analysis and graph making (Statistica and MS-EXCEL 2000), computerassisted acquisition of research data (SigmaScan, SigmaScan Pro, Lafayette
Instrument’s DataLab2000 Human Psychophysiology Data Acquisition System,
Coulbourn Instrument’s Graphic State Animal Data Acquisition System),
developing multimedia conference presentations (MS-PowerPoint 2000), and
electronically searching the psychological literature. Since the philosophy of this
course is "hands-on," students will learn by doing. It is hoped that the student at
the end of the course will have a good working knowledge of the various
computer applications reviewed. It is also hoped that such knowledge will aid the
student in accomplishing academic assignments in the future and ultimately will
make the student more marketable for graduate school or employment.
Course Grading: Assessment of student progress will be accomplished by
evaluating various homework assignments and projects throughout the semester.
When appropriate, students are required to provide both a hard copy and an
electronic copy of all assignments. Below a more detailed description of these
items are given along with their % grading weights.
1) Microsoft Office2000: Introductory Concepts and Techniques
Assignments:
In-Class Projects: Students are required to complete the in-class project
for each chapter covered in Microsoft Office2000: Introductory Concepts
and Techniques. (Introduction to Computers, Word, Excel, & PowerPoint)
and submit their work by the following class meeting. (20%)
End-of-Chapter Quizzes: Students are required to complete a quiz for
each topic (Introduction to Computers, Word, Excel, & PowerPoint)
covered in Microsoft Office2000: Introductory Concepts and Techniques.
Quiz questions are typically in the format of multiple choice and true/false
but may also include short answer, calculation, or essay type questions.
Answers to these questions should be completed and submitted the
following class meeting. Students may use their book, notes, or a
computer to complete these quizzes but should work in isolation. (20%)
2 ) Instructor-Assigned Application Projects
MS-WORD 2000: The student is required to write a 2 to 3 page summary
of an empirical article they have read from the psychological literature.
The write up should include the major headings of Introduction, Method,
Participants/Subjects, Materials/Apparatus, Procedure, Results and
Discussion. In addition, the write up should include at least three
references from the summarized article. These references should be
included on a separate page of the student's write-up and be in APA
format. In addition, in the Results section of the write-up, the student is
required to summarize the major findings in a table or in columns using
the built-in functions available in MS-WORD 2000. A copy of the article
summarized should also be submitted. (10%)
MS-EXCEL 2000: The student is required to organize data for 4 groups of
subjects derived from a fictitious 2x2 experiment. Each group should have
between 8-10 subjects with some groups having unequal Ns. For each
group the summary sheet should provide the mean, median, mode,
standard deviation (s), high score, low score, and N using built-in functions
available in EXCEL. On a separate EXCEL sheet, the same summary
statistics will be provided for each level of each independent variable.
Finally, on a third EXCEL sheet a properly labeled graph of the averages
and standard deviations for each group should be provided. The graph
can either be a line or bar graph. (10%)
Statistica: The fictitious data generated for the MS-EXCEL project will be
analyzed statistically and then reported in APA-format. Other statistical
applications will be discussed. (10%)
MS-PowerPoint: This project will require each student to provide a
PowerPoint presentation summarizing an article (a different one from the
one used for the WORD project) from the psychological literature. The
student will then make a brief presentation (about 10-15 minutes) to the
class using his/her PowerPoint presentation. Presentations should
include the major features of PowerPoint learned in class and should aid
the audience in following the student’s oral report. (10%)
SigmaScan and Sigma Scan Pro: This project requires each student to
digitize brain slices from prepared histological slides, measure number of
brain cells, and learn how to use these programs for data acquisition
purposes in the laboratory. (10%)
DataLab 2000 Psychophysiology Project: Psychophysiological data will
be collected and analyzed statistically and a write-up of the finding
submitted;
AND
GraphicState Animal Data Acquisition Project: Students will write a short
program in GraphicState that will automate different features of an operant
chamber. (10%)
Note: It is expected that students will devote time outside of class to complete
the projects and other assignments.
Course Outline
Date
Chapter# Chapter Title
Jan. 6
COM 1
INT 1
Jan. 7
Jan 8
Jan 9
Jan 10
Jan 13
Jan 14
Jan 15
Jan 16
Jan 17
Essential Introduction to Computers
Windows 2000 & Office 2000
Project Title
Student Notes:
Project 1: An Introduction to Windows 2000
Professional & Office 2000
Searching the electronic databases in psychology and related disciplines.
Microsoft Word 2000
Project 1: Creating and Editing a Word Document
WD 1
Microsoft Word 2000
Project 2: Creating a Research Paper
WD 2
Microsoft Word 2000
Project 3: Using a Wizard to Create a Resume &
WD 3
Creating a Cover Letter with a Table
Microsoft Excel 2000
Project 1: Creating a Worksheet & Embedded
E1
Chart
Microsoft Excel 2000
Project 2: Formulas, Functions, Formatting,
E2
(eliminate Web Queries: pp. E 2.50 - E 2.62)
Microsoft Excel 2000
Project 3: What-If Analysis, Charting, & Working
E3
with Large Worksheets
Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
Project 1: Using a Design Template &
PP 1
AutoLayouts to Create a Presentation
Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
Project 2: Using Outline View & Clip Art to Create
PP 2
a Slide Show
Students should work on MS-Office “Instructor-Assigned” Projects.
The “Instructor-Assigned Projects” for Word and Excel are due. You may use this day to finish completing these projects.
Statistica
SigmaScan and SigmaScan Pro
DataLab2000 and Graphic State
Instructor-Assigned PowerPoint presentation and all other projects, assignments, etc. not already submitted are due.