Psychology 253, Winter 2004
Ewart Thomas
Psychology 253: Statistical Theory, Models and Methodology
Lectures: TTh11-12:15; Bldg 200, Rm 030
Section: W 2.15-3.05, Bldg 420, Rm 048
Instructors
TA: Yulia Chentsova-Dutton
(yulia@psych.stanford.edu)
200 Jordan Hall; Phone: 283-4363
Office Hours: Tu 10-11
TA: Daniel Yarlett
(yarlett@psych.stanford.edu)
336 Jordan Hall; Phone: 725-5487
Office Hours: Th 2-3
Ewart Thomas
(thomas@psych.stanford.edu)
476 Jordan Hall
Phone: 725-2465
Office Hours: MW 10-11
Overview
This course will cover data analysis procedures that are related to, but perhaps less familiar than, the
contingency tables, ANOVA and multiple regression methods covered in Psych 252. We will examine 2and 3-way contingency tables, loglinear models, multiple regression, logistic regression, signal detection
theory, factor analysis, structural equation modeling, reliability, and meta-analysis.
Texts: (Each text is used for a small amount of time.)
Howell, Statistical Methods for Psychology, 5th Edition, 2002, Duxbury.
Stevens, Applied Multivariate Statistics for the Social Sciences, 3rd Edition, 1996, Erlbaum.
Agresti and Finlay, Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences, 3rd Edition, 1997, Prentice Hall.
Green & Salkind, Using SPSS, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall.
There is a user-friendly freeware package, Mx, for doing structural equation modeling. Please download it
to your PC from http://views.vcu.edu/mx .
Requirements
1. Homework. There will be about 8 homework sets. Students may work in groups on the homework up
to, but not including, the write-up; students are required to write up their own solutions. Homework
solutions should be handed in on time; they will be graded on a 3-point scale - `2' = satisfactory answers to
almost all questions, `1' = partial or late solutions, and `0' = very late or unsatisfactory solutions. The total
homework score will make up 30% of the final grade.
2. Midterm exam. There will be a take-home mid-term that will be handed out on 2/5 and due on 2/12.
This will make up 30% of the final grade.
3. Class evaluation. On March 9, about 15 minutes of class time will be set aside for you to evaluate the
class, using the standard university forms.
4. Final exam. There will be a take-home final that will be handed out on 3/11 and due on 3/16. This will
make up 40% of the final grade.
Psychology 253, Winter 2004
Ewart Thomas
Syllabus for Psychology 253
Statistical Theory, Models and Methodology
(`[n]' means that approximately n lectures will be devoted to the topic.)
1. Categorical data analysis [5].
1.1. Simpson's paradox and related issues in 3-way contingency tables
1.2. Homogeneity among k 2-way tables; trends in 2xk tables.
1.3. Loglinear models of interactions in 3-way contingency tables
1.4. Kappa measure of agreement or reliability
1.5. Signal Detection Theory (Coombs et al.)
2. Factor Analysis [3].
2.1. Principal Components Analysis, varimax rotation; reliability
2.2. Comparison with MDS (multidimensional scaling)
3. Regression [3]. (Ott, 19)
3.1. With qualitative predictors (GLM, ANCOVA)
3.2. With qualitative dependent variable: weighted & logistic regression
3.3. Reverse regression (e.g., How should the courts measure "discrimination"?)
4. Structural Equation Modeling (using Mx) [3]
5. Reliability and related issues [3]. (Kerlinger)
5.1. Test Theory model
5.2. Variance and covariance among sums of random variables
5.3. Variance components of reliability and validity; test-retest; Cronbach's α; SpearmanBrown formula relating reliability to test length
6. Meta-analysis [2]. (Becker)
4.1. Is there a significant effect when data are combined across studies?
(The data may be p-values, effect sizes, correlations, or contingency tables.)
4.2. Does the effect size depend on a study characteristic (e.g., age of subjects)?
4.3. Limitations (Lepper's critique)