Psychology 3301
Introduction to Statistics
Spring 2014
Instructor: Julie Brunson, M.A.
Office: 206D Heyne Building
Email: jabrunson@uh.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday, 1-2 or by appointment
TA: Grace Cannon
Office: Heyne 112
Email: gcannon@uh.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Meeting Time/Location: MWF, 11-12, Heyne 28 (19796)
MWF, 12-1, Agnes Arnold 2 (23026)
Course Overview:
This course is designed to provide students with an introductory knowledge of statistics and its
application to research in psychology and the behavioral sciences. Students will learn how to
compute, apply, and interpret a variety of descriptive and inferential statistics and how to
select among different statistical procedures when answering basic research questions. The
information covered in this course will also be valuable in helping students understand and
evaluate research presented in scholarly work and the media.
Objectives:

To understand how to compute and interpret a variety of descriptive and inferential
statistics.
To understand when to apply different descriptive and inferential statistics in answering
research questions.
To apply knowledge of statistics to the evaluation of research presented in the media
and scholarly outlets.
To develop critical thinking skills by completing homework assignments and
participating in class discussions.
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
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Textbook and Materials:
Recommended text:
Howell, D. C. (2011). Fundamental statistics for the behavioral sciences (7th ed.). Belmont,
CA: Wadsworth.
I recommend that you bring a calculator and the book to class each day.
Blackboard: This course will make use of Blackboard. Content that may be posted on the
Blackboard site may include, but is not limited to:


Syllabus
Class notes



Helpful links
Review material
Grades
Blackboard is not a substitute for regular class attendance. Many items covered in class
will not be posted on Blackboard. Instead, Blackboard will be used as a tool for you to
gather important information to use in reviewing course material. In addition, it allows
you to easily communicate with other students. However, if you are interested in
contacting me, please do not send emails through Blackboard. Instead, use my email
address as listed on the top of the syllabus. This is the best way to get ahold of me. I am
happy to help with questions regarding the class material via email to the best of my ability
(some things are best discussed in person); however, keep in mind I will not respond to any
questions about an assignment or exam less than 24 hours before the due date. In other
words, if you email me with questions about the exam a couple hours before the exam, do
not expect a reply.
Evaluation:
Exams:
There will be four exams for this class, each of which will consist of both multiple
choice and open-ended questions. Calculators will be allowed; however this
does NOT include calculators on cell phones or any other electronic device.
Remember to bring your own calculator, you are NOT allowed to share
calculators with other students during exams. Each exam is worth 100 points
(400 points maximum). Make-up exams will be given only in the case of serious
that illness or injury or other verifiable emergencies and only with proper
documentation. You must purchase your own blue Scantrons for the exams.
Homework Assignments:
Homework will be assigned for each chapter, and homework will be collected on
the due dates listed on the syllabus. Homework is due at the beginning of class.
If you arrive late to class, two points will be deducted from the total earned on
your homework assignment. Homework that is turned in after the class period
in which it is due will not be accepted. Please make sure you number each
homework assignment (Homework 1, Homework 2, etc.).
In-Class Assignments:
You will be given multiple in-class assignments throughout the course of the
semester. These assignments may be handled in different ways; they may be
graded for correctness, graded for completeness, or not graded at all. You may
earn a total of up to 100 points on the in-class assignments. You will not be
allowed to make up in-class assignments; however, you will be able to miss one
and a half assignments and still receive the full 100 points.
Quizzes:
Quizzes will be given throughout the course of the semester. Not every quiz will
be taken for a grade; however, four of them will be randomly selected to grade.
Each of these quizzes will be worth 10 points for a total of up to 40 points on the
quizzes.
Extra Credit:
You may earn a total of up to 40 extra credit points (an additional 6% of the final
grade) in this class by participating in research conducted by the Department of
Psychology (up to 8 hours at 5 points per hour). See http://uh.sona-systems.com
for more information.
Grading Scale:
A
AB+
93-100
90-92
87-89
B
BC+
83-86
80-82
77-79
C
CD+
73-76
70-72
67-69
D
DF
63-66
60-62
below 60
Number
Points Each
Total Points
Exams
4
100
400
% of Final
Grade
57%
Homework
8
20
160
23%
100
14%
40
6%
In-Class
Assignments
Quizzes
4
10
Total:
700
Policies:
Academic integrity
UH has no tolerance for acts of scholastic dishonesty. The responsibilities for both students and
faculty with respect to the scholastic dishonesty policy are described in detail in the UH
Academic Honesty Policy Statement.
“Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University.
Since dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity of the University, policies
on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. You should refer to the Dean of Student
Affairs website at http://www.uh.edu/dos/hdbk/acad/achonpol.html or the Student Handbook
to access official University policies and procedures on scholastic dishonesty as well as further
elaboration on what constitutes scholastic dishonesty.”
"The Department of Psychology investigates all allegations of academic dishonesty. Should a
student be found guilty of an academic honesty violation at a department hearing, a sanction
will be placed on his or her academic transcript until graduation. This sanction is in addition to
any other sanction imposed as a result of the hearing. This could include, but is not limited to, a
zero or failure on the assignment or exam in question, or failure in the course."
All work is to be completed independently. Therefore, you are expected to develop your own
ideas and complete homework and examinations by yourself. Allegations of academic
dishonesty (i.e., plagiarism, copying during exams, working together on projects to be done
independently) will be reported to the Chair of Academic Affairs, Department of Psychology.
Please refer to the UH Academic Honesty Policy
http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog/policies/academ-reg/academic-honesty/index.php for
more information. Any student who is confirmed to have engaged in academic dishonesty will
have earned an F in this course.
Students with Disabilities:
The University of Houston complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act. Any student who may require an accommodation under such provisions
should contact the instructor as soon as possible and no later than the end of the first week of
classes or as soon as you become aware. No retroactive accommodations will be provided in
this class. For more information, please see the UH Center for Students with disAbilities
website, http://www.uh.edu/csd
Attendance:
Attendance is not required. However, you will find that not attending class will likely adversely
affect your grade as you will miss important information that is only covered in class. In
addition, if you do not attend class you may miss important information about material or
schedule changes that is only announced in class. In the case that some outside event limits
your ability to make it to class and/or complete assignments, I am happy and willing to work
with you; however, I must know as soon as possible (i.e., as soon as YOU know) about the
situation. I will not allow you to make up past work without proper, immediate, notification.
Classroom Expectations:
An effective classroom requires mutual respect and civility between the instructor and the
students. Students are expected to show respect to the instructor and to other students by
arriving on time, turning off cell phones, preparing for class, raising hands to speak, and
listening to each other carefully.
Athletes and Band Members:
Student athletes, band members, and members of other university sanctions should bring a
letter from their supervisor or specific department during the first week of classes indicating
the dates they will miss class.
Withdrawing from the Course:
It is your responsibility for adding or withdrawing from any course. If you stop attending and
do not withdraw, you may receive a grade of F for your final grade. For more information on
about the University policy, see http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog/policies/academreg/enrollment/index.php#add_courses
Changes to the Syllabus:
This syllabus is not necessarily final. While most of it will remain the same, the nature of this
course requires that I sometimes make changes in order to tailor the material to the
requirements of the class. Again, you are responsible for these changes.
Tentative Schedule:
Week
Class dates
1
1/13, 1/15, 1/17
Lecture Topics
Introduction, basic
concepts
Displaying data
Assignment/Readings
Chapters 1-2
Notes
Chapter 3
No class 1/20MLK holiday
Chapters 4, 5
2
1/20, 1/22, 1/24
3
1/27, 1/29, 1/31
4
2/3, 2/5, 2/7
Measures of central
tendency/variability
Normal distribution
5
2/10, 2/12, 2/14
Hypothesis testing
Chapter 8, beginning of
Chapter 12
6
2/17, 2/19, 2/21
Chapters 8, 12
7
2/24, 2/26, 2/28
8
3/3, 3/5, 3/7
Hypothesis testing,
One-sample t-test
Dependent samples
t-test, Independent
samples t-test
Independent
samples t-test
Chapter 6
Exam 1:
Monday
2/10, Ch 1-6
Chapters 13, 14
Chapter 14
Spring Break 3/10 – 3/14
9
3/17, 3/19, 3/21
One-way ANOVA
Chapters 16
10
3/24, 3/26, 3/28
Factorial ANOVA
Chapters 17
Exam 2:
Friday, 3/7,
Ch 8, 12-14
11
3/31, 4/2, 4/4
Chi-square
Chapter 19
12
4/7, 4/9, 4/11
Correlation,
regression
Chapters 9, 10
13
4/14, 4/16, 4/18
Chapters 10, 11
14
4/21, 4/23, 4/25
Regression, multiple
regression
Choosing
appropriate analysis
Final exam
4/28
Chapters 21
Homework Due Dates

Homework 1 (Ch 1, 2, 3)
o DUE 1/31/14

Homework 2 (Ch 4, 5, 6)
o DUE 2/10/14

Homework 3 (Ch 8, 12, 13)
o DUE 2/28/14

Homework 4 (Ch 14)
o DUE 3/7/14

Homework 5 (Ch 16)
o DUE 3/24/14

Homework 6 (Ch 17, 19)
o DUE 4/7/14

Homework 7 (Ch 9)
o DUE 4/14/14

Homework 8 (Ch 10, 11, 21)
o DUE 4/28/14
Exam 3:
Monday,
4/7, Ch 16,
17, 19
Exam 4:
Monday,
4/28, Ch 911, 21