Psychology 295 – Data Analysis in Psychological Research – Fall 2015
3:00-4:20 Monday & Wednesday, 118 Psychology Building
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
email:
Dr. Debby Kashy
249B Psychology Bldg
432-9898
kashyd@msu.edu
Office Hours: Thursday 1:30-3:00
And by appointment
scheduled by email
Graduate TA: Andrew Defever
email: defever3@msu.edu
Appointments: Scheduled by email
Undergrad Asst: Ashlyn Lowe
email: loweash3@msu.edu
Appointments: Scheduled by email
Undergrad Asst: Becca Clancy
email: clancyre@msu.edu
Appointments: Scheduled by email
Please email before coming to office hours or to set up an appointment
Course Goals:
This class is designed to introduce you to data analysis for the behavioral sciences. We will discuss both
descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Descriptive statistics include frequencies, measures of central
tendency, and measures of variability (among others). Inferential statistics allow us to conduct research on
samples (e.g., 200 students from PSY 101) but then assess whether our results can be generalized to a larger
population. Examples of inferential statistics include z-tests, t-tests, and F-tests or ANOVA. The overriding goal
of the class is for you to be able to understand these types of statistical methods at both a theoretical level (i.e., why
and when they’re done) and at an operational level (i.e., how they’re done).
Required Text etc:
Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, 5th ed. Frederick J. Gravetter & Larry B. Wallnau. Note
that any edition of this book will work for the class.
In addition, you should also have a calculator that can compute square roots. Cell Phones will not be allowed
for use at exams so make sure you have a separate calculator to bring to exams
Graded components of the class will include:
Homework, in-class unannounced quizzes, 3 midterm exams, 3 opportunities to do corrections on the Midterm
exams, and a final exam. Each of these is discussed in detail below.
Homework:
There will be approximately 10 homework assignments over the course of the semester. Homework will
announced in class and will generally be due 7 days after it is assigned.
The LON-CAPA system will be used to generate and grade homework. The LON-CAPA system generates unique
assignments for every student in the class – so although the basic framework for the problems will be similar for
every student, the actual numbers and sometimes the specific questions asked will differ from person to person.
One of the nicest aspects of LON-CAPA is that you can get immediate feedback about whether or not your
solutions to the problems are correct via the Internet. Homework assignments and due-dates will be announced in
class.
You can access your assignments by going to the LON-CAPA website (http://loncapa.msu.edu and logging on
using your MSU id information. (A link is also available as a “popular link” using MSU search.)
You can log-in to the LON-CAPA web site and print out a copy of your assignment. After working on the
problems you can then enter your answers at the LON-CAPA web site, and if they are right, you get credit. If they
are wrong, you can try again. Generally each computational problem will allow you up to 10 tries to get it right
and each conceptual question will allow you up to 5 tries to get it right. Thus, it is quite possible for every one of
you to get close to 100% on the homework assignments during the semester – if you are willing to do some work
& persevere.
Quizzes:
There will be between 6 to 10 in-class unannounced quizzes during the semester. There may be 0 in some weeks,
1 in some weeks, and 2 in other weeks. The goal for the quizzes is to promote understanding of the material by
encouraging you to keep up with the reading and attend class regularly. Each quiz will be comprised of 2-3 brief
conceptual questions.
Midterm Exams:
The three Midterm exams will not be cumulative. Although they will be administered using a Scantron format (so
they will be in a multiple choice form) some of the questions will be computational. In essence, they will be a
combination of the types of questions given on the quizzes and those given on the homework. (Exams are more
heavily weighted towards conceptual questions and Homework is where we cover most computational questions.)
The Midterm exam schedule will be: Midterm #1: Monday, October 5
Midterm #2: Wednesday, November 4
Midterm #3: Monday, December 7
Corrections on the Midterm Exams:
Because I recognize that the Scantron format does not allow for partial credit on exams, you will have an
opportunity to improve your midterm exam grades using LON-CAPA. At the end of each of the three midterm
exams, you will be allowed to log onto LON-CAPA to do corrections on a second version of the exam. This
second copy will be similar to your original exam except that a) it will have new numbers, and b) it will be in the
standard homework format rather than multiple choice. You will then have 3 days to redo the problems and enter
your answers in LON-CAPA (So with a Wednesday exam, the corrections will be due at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.)
Accessing LON-CAPA for the midterm corrections will be the same procedure as the homework
In order for you to make any improvement in your grade, you will need to redo all or most of the problems on the
exam. You new grade on the exam will be calculated as follows:
If your Corrected score is higher than your original score:
New Exam grade = Original Exam grade + .20*(Corrected score – Original score)
If your Corrected score is less than or equal to your original score:
New Exam grade = Original Exam grade
So if you get a 70 on the midterm, but make the corrections and get 100 on the corrected version, your new grade
on the midterm will be 70 + .20*(100 – 70) = 76.
Final Exam:
The Final exam will be cumulative (that is, it will cover the entire semester's material). It will focus on conceptual
material rather than computational material and so no computations will be required for the final. Corrections will
not be possible on the Final exam. The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, December 17, 3:00-5:00.
Makeup exams:
The only excuses accepted for missing an exam are illness, verified in writing by a physician's note, or a very
serious family problem. If an exam is going to be missed, you should notify me in advance. In such cases, an
alternative exam form will be prepared. Note that make-up exams will consist of mostly short-answer questions
and will not be LON-CAPA exams. Corrections will not be allowed for make-up exams because they will be
hand graded.
Grades:
Grades will be determined as follows:
1. Homework:
10%
2. In-class quizzes
5%
3. 3 Midterm exams:
20% each
4. Final exam:
25%
The grading scale will be no more stringent than the following:
> 89.5 = 4.0
84.5 - 89.4 = 3.5
79.5 - 84.4 = 3.0
74.5 - 79.4 = 2.5
69.5 - 74.4 = 2.0
64.5 - 69.4 = 1.5
59.5 - 64.4 = 1.0
< 59.5 = 0.0
Policy on grade changes:
At the end of the semester, if you believe that I made an error in calculating your grade, please let me know. I will
check into the matter, and I will change your grade if I have made an error. This is the only circumstance under
which I will change a grade. Under no circumstance will I “bump up” your grade, or give you a special
assignment. I never do this, and so please don’t ask. There will be no exceptions.
Attendance:
I think that attending class is an important part of learning, and it has been my experience that students have a
difficult time studying on their own without attending class. So, while I will not take attendance, I do consider
attendance mandatory. If you miss a quiz by skipping class, you will not be given an opportunity to make-up
the quiz without a doctor’s note.
Getting Help:
The TAs and I are here to help you master the course material. I am in my office all day on most days and I do
have scheduled office hours on Thursday afternoons. The graduate TA, Andrew, and the Undergraduate
Assistants, Ashlyn & Becca, will schedule appointments via email. We will also be available to answer questions
via email – and you can expect to have a reply from me within 24 hours. If you have not heard back from me in
that time-frame, please email again.
Cell Phones:
Please make sure that your cell phone is turned off or on silent mode before class begins. (I’ll try to do the same)
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:
Academic Honesty: Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states that "The student shares with the faculty
the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards." In addition, the
Department of Psychology adheres to the policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student
Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and
Grades; and Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide
(http://splife.studentlife.msu.edu/regulations/general-student-regulations) and/or the MSU Web site:
http://www.msu.edu.
Therefore, you are expected to complete all quizzes, exams, and corrections on exams without assistance from any
source. You are not authorized to use the www.allmsu.com Web site to complete any coursework. Students
who violate MSU rules may receive a penalty grade, including but not limited to a failing grade in the course. (See
also https://www.msu.edu/~ombud/classroom-policies/index.html).
The exception: You may work with other students on homework assignments – LON-CAPA allows students to
collaborate and learn from one another, without simply copying solutions.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Students with disabilities should contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities to establish reasonable
accommodations. For an appointment with a disability specialist, call 353-9642 (voice), 355-1293 (TTY), or visit
MyProfile.rcpd.msu.edu.
Course Schedule – Fall 2015
Note: This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Changes will be noted in class.
Note also that the reading assignment should be completed before class on the day it is assigned.
Week of:
Aug 31
Sept 7:
Introduction to course
Basic concepts in research
No Class Monday (Labor day)
Finish Basic Concepts
Frequency distributions
Reading Assignment
Chapter 1 - Wednesday
Chapter 2 - Wednesday
Sept 14:
Finish Frequency material
Measures of central tendency
Chapter 3 – Monday
Sept 21:
Measures of variability
z-scores and data transformations
Chapter 4 – Monday
Chapter 5 - Wednesday
Sept 28:
Probability and the Normal Distribution
Finish material and review
Chapter 6 - Monday
Oct 5:
Exam #1 on Monday, October 5
The Distribution of Sample Means & CLT
Chapter 7 – Wednesday
Oct 12:
Hypothesis Testing
Chapter 8 – Monday
Oct 19:
One Sample t-test
Independent groups t-test
Chapter 9 – Monday
Chapter 10 – Wednesday
Oct 26:
Finish Independent t-test
t-test for related samples
Chapter 11 - Monday
Nov 2:
Review material
Exam #2 on Wednesday, November 4
Nov 9:
One-Way ANOVA
Chapter 13 – Monday
Nov 16:
Two-factor ANOVA
Begin Correlation & Regression
Chapter 14 – Monday
Chapter 15 – Monday
Nov 23:
Correlation and Regression
Nov 30:
Chi-Square Tests
Finish material and review
Dec 7:
Exam #3 on Monday, December 7
Review for final
Final exam: Thursday, December 17, 3:00-5:00
Chapter 16 - Wednesday