COURSE SYLLABUS
Trinity Western University
Psychology/Sociology 207A: Data Analysis
April 30 - May 18, 2012
3 semester hours
Instructor: Dr. Harold Faw
Class times: 8:30-11:30 MTRF
Optional Tutorial Times:
12:30-13:45 MTRF
Office: Upper SNC # 216
Phone: (604) 513-2121 ext. 3101
Email: hfaw@twu.ca
Prerequisites: PSYC 105 & 106 or SOCI 101
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
"Both the logic and the application of data analysis techniques suitable for the Behavioural Sciences are
examined. Major topics include descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, correlation and regression, and
selected non-parametric methods."
OBJECTIVES:
This course is designed to help you build a working knowledge of statistical procedures through:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Better understanding the place of statistical tools within the Social Science research enterprise,
Appreciating the usefulness and the omnipresence of Statistics,
Grasping the rationale back of some of the most widely applied statistical indices and procedures,
Becoming aware of the dangers of using Statistics unwisely,
Selecting and applying appropriate descriptive and inferential techniques in the analysis of data,
Gaining a rudimentary grasp of SPSS, a widely used data analysis package.
MATERIALS:
Howell, D.C. (2008). Fundamental statistics for the behavioral sciences (6th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Thompson Wadsworth.
This text contains nearly all the material we will need to work with. Your challenge will be to understand
and apply what it contains. My lectures, together with a set of printed notes to be supplied and the
afternoon tutorial sessions are designed to help you accomplish this. A short journal article (accessible
online or on library reserve) will supplement these materials and stimulate your evaluative thinking.
You will definitely need a calculator with which you are very comfortable, since you will be using for
both practice problems and tests. It should include at least a square root key, inverse key, and one or more
memories that can accumulate. Additional statistical functions (such as standard deviation or correlation)
are of some use, but are not essential. Most important, you need to be confident in using it.
GRADING:
As a basis for determining your final course grade, the following plan will apply:
Problem Sets (11)
Tests (2)
Exam (1)
Article Report (1)
= 20%
= 30%
= 40%
= 10%
(Due at the 2nd through 12th class meetings; no late submissions)
(These are scheduled for May 4th & 11th)
(This will occur during the last class period, May 18th)
(Due May 17th when class begins; details to follow. Note: for any
late submissions, a 10% deduction per day or part day will apply.)
2
SOME TIPS FOR THE STUDENT WHO IS EAGER TO SUCCEED:
1. Become very familiar with the textbook, especially the statistical tables at the end. It will be your companion
during this course, and will also be a useful resource to take with you into subsequent Psychology courses
like Research Methods (322), Tests and Measurements (320), and Senior Thesis (497, 498).
2. If possible, choose a partner or form a study group with whom you can regularly study, do practice problems
and go over questions and important concepts by quizzing each other actively. Alternatively, see if you can
persuade your mother or your uncle to let you teach statistics to her/him!
3. Do lots of problems. Do enough problems to become really comfortable with each topic. Solve those your
professor will supply; make up more for one another. Again, the key is to DO LOTS OF PROBLEMS!
4. Keep up to date. Plan to spend 3 to 6 hours after every class reviewing concepts we have covered and
working on problems. When you find yourself getting confused, ask your peers, your tutor, or your professor
for help right away. Once you have worked through the confusion, you'll feel much better about going on.
5. Make a point of noticing examples of good (or not so good) uses of Statistics in the media and on the
internet. You can learn a lot about the topic in this way, and also earn bonus marks.
6. Determine to learn how to use statistical tools thoughtfully, rather than mindlessly.
7. Be positive: you CAN be successful as long as you participate actively in all classes, devote sufficient time
and effort, and seek additional help at crucial times along the way.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND ACTIVITIES:
Class
Topics and Activities
Text pages
ed. / 6th ed.
5th
1
Role of Statistics; course plans; basic vocabulary; organizing our data.
1-58 / 1-59
2
Using summary statistics; measures of central tendency; measures of variability. 59-98 / 60-102
3
Normal curve; using normal curve tables; basic probability terms and laws.
99-135 / 103-142
4
Exploring the need for hypothesis testing; foundational reasoning; applying
the normal curve; errors and choices.
136-162 / 143-169
5
TEST #1 on chapter 1-8 (approximately 75 minutes)
Relationships between variables; the correlation coefficient; meeting SPSS
163-202 / 170-210
6
Interpreting correlations; use in prediction; predictive process and error
203-235 / 211-244
7
Hypothesis testing again; one sample t-test; doing confidence intervals
265-293 / 279-308
8
Dependent groups t-test; independent groups t-test; confidence intervals
294-331 / 309-349
9
TEST #2 on chapters 9-10, 12-14 (approximately 75 minutes)
Power-hungry statisticians; factors affecting power; estimating power.
332-354 / 350-373
10
Chi-square: analyzing frequency data; Wilcoxon test for dependent samples
440-479 / 462-507
11
SPSS revisited; making thoughtful choices and drawing appropriate
conclusions; review and exam prep.
490-496 / 519-525
12
FINAL EXAM (covers entire course, but puts more emphasis on the second half)