Psychology 295 – Data Analysis in Psychological Research – Spring 2012
3:00-4:20 Monday & Wednesday, 147 Comm Arts Bldg
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
email:
Dr. Debby Kashy
249B Psychology Bldg
432-9898
kashyd@msu.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 10:00-11:30
Wednesday 10:00-11:30
And by appointment
Graduate TA: Stevie Yap
Office: 252B Psychology Bldg
email: yapstevi@msu.edu
Office Hours: Monday 10:00-12:00
And by appointment
Undergrad Asst: Brianna Fugate
Office: 244A Psychology Bldg
email: fugatebr@msu.edu
Office Hours: Thursday 1:00-2:00
And by appointment
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://msu.loncapa.org and logging on
using their 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 12 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.
The Midterm exam schedule will be:
Midterm #1: Monday, February 13
Midterm #2: Wednesday, March 21
Midterm #3: Monday, April 23
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 Tuesday, May 1 from 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:
Homework:
In-class quizzes
3 Midterm exams:
Final exam:
10%
5%
20% each
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. Both the TAs and I will hold regular office hours.
We will also be available 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.
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
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:
Jan 9:
Jan 16:
Introduction to course
Basic concepts in research
Reading Assignment
Chapter 1 - Wednesday
No Class Monday (MLK day)
Finish Basic Concepts
Frequency distributions
Chapter 2 - Wednesday
Finish Frequency material
Measures of central tendency
Chapter 3 – Monday
Jan 30:
Measures of variability
z-scores and data transformations
Chapter 4 - Monday
Chapter 5 - Wednesday
Feb 6:
Probability and the Normal Distribution
Finish material and review
Chapter 6 - Monday
Feb 13:
Exam #1 on Monday,
The Distribution of Sample Means & CLT
Chapter 7 – Wednesday
Feb 20:
Hypothesis Testing
One Sample t-test
Chapter 8 – Monday
Chapter 9 - Wednesday
Feb 27
Independent groups t-test
Chapter 10 - Monday
Jan 23:
Mar 5:
Spring Break
Mar 12:
Review Independent t-test
t-test for related samples
Chapter 11 - Monday
Mar 19:
Review material
Exam #2 on Wednesday, March 21
Mar 26:
One-Way ANOVA
Chapter 13 - Monday
April 2:
Two-factor ANOVA
Correlation and Regression
Chapter 14 - Monday
Chapter 15 – Wednesday
April 9:
Finish Correlation and Regression
Chi-Square Tests
Chapter 16 - Wednesday
April 16:
Finish Material & Review
April 23:
Exam #3 on Monday, April 23
Review for final
Final exam: Tuesday, May 1, 3:00-5:00