APPL 631-185: Intermediate Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
FALL 2015,
T 5:30-8:00pm, BC 015
Instructor: Rebecca J Thompson, PhD
E-mail: rthompson@ubalt.edu
Office: LC 417
Office Hours: Tues 12-2 or by appt.1
Prerequisites
PSYC 100 (Intro)
Required Text/Materials:
 Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2009). Statistics for the behavioral sciences (9th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
 Yockey, R. (2010). SPSS Demystified (2nd Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
 Access to the Aplia online platform for this textbook is also required.2
Recommended Supplement(s):
Green, S. B., & Salkind, N. J. (2008). Using SPSS for Windows and Macintosh (5th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. *
* There are a variety of rather good SPSS manuals so if you have others you prefer, feel free to
use those as well. Further, UCLA’s department of statistics has an outstanding tutorial on SPSS,
coding, and interpretation. I highly suggest exploring the site. http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/spss/
Course Website: The course website can be found at: https://ubonline.ubalt.edu/ [Sakai]. Here
you can find course materials (including syllabus).
Course Overview:
1. The purpose of this course is to help you understand how statistics, as scientific tools,
help researchers answer scientific questions. Please do not be overly concerned if you do
not remember very much from your previous statistics course(s). This is not unusual.
Because students arrive at graduate school with various degrees of exposure (and
confidence) with statistics, we will be starting at the beginning. This course will be
much like an advanced version of an introductory undergraduate statistics course,
covering the same topics – descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, t-tests, correlation,
regression, and analysis of variance among them - but in somewhat greater depth and a
quicker pace.
2. We will primarily tackle statistics at a conceptual level. We will utilize both handcalculations and computer analyses (SPSS) for most of the computations in this course,
but you will be in a stronger position to excel on the exams if you understand what
various statistical techniques do and what they mean. I do not require students to
memorize formulas in the class, but the exams will necessitate a sophisticated
knowledge of the purpose and appropriate application of various statistical techniques.
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Please try to always message me to let me know you plan to attend office hours so that I can prepare for your
specific questions.
2
Access to Aplia can be purchased through the University bookstore or online through Cengage.
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Learning Objectives:
1. Students will develop greater understanding of the various statistical techniques utilized
in psychological research
2. Students will increase their competency for selecting appropriate statistical techniques
(when, for example, an independent-samples t-test is used)
3. Students will increase their familiarity with SPSS analyses and output
4. Students will increase their critical thinking about scientific research
5. Students will enhance their ability to write results sections and understand their purpose
in a research article overall
Other recommendations/comments:
1. Although I view this course as an “advanced undergraduate course,” we will move
quickly through the material. We have a tremendous amount to cover to adequately
prepare you for Research Methods, in addition to your other courses. In addition, a basic
understanding of SPSS is expected. To ensure that we complete the material in a timely
manner, there may not be dedicated class time to review some of the most basic aspects
of SPSS. While we will spend some time going over analyses in SPSS, it is your
responsibility to keep up with this material. Please purchase one of the SPSS
supplemental books and/or view the tutorials and assistance online should you need
assistance with SPSS.
2. Please also obtain a scientific calculator. Although the calculator need not be terribly
fancy, it should have the square root function and the X2 buttons. We will use calculators
in almost every class. You will not be permitted to use your cell phones for calculations
on exams, so please get your calculator before next class.
Overview of Class Policies:
1. Class attendance is expected. Students who miss classes for any reason are responsible
for all of the material covered in class. Please contact your classmates to obtain material
you may have missed.
2. Sakai is our course management system. We will be using the messaging, gradebook, and
assignment submission functions of Sakai. Please check the site frequently.
3. Please complete all reading assignments in advance. Your understanding of the material
will be greatly enhanced if you come to class prepared. In addition, I will call on students
to answer questions about the reading material during class.
4. Make-up assignments or exams are not allowed unless under reasonable and documented
circumstances deemed excusable by University policy. Please contact me as quickly as
possible if you are not able to come to class on exam day or complete an assignment as
directed.
5. Cell phones must be turned off during class and exams.
6. Any evidence of cheating will not be tolerated and will result in a minimum of a 0 on
the assignment or an F in the course, depending upon the severity (See Academic
honesty section below).
7. The following behaviors are disrespectful, and therefore, inappropriate:
a. Conversing with other students when the instructor or another student is speaking.
b. Use of cell-phones, pagers, or computers for purposes other than taking notes.
c. Disrespectful actions such as obscene language, harassment of any kind, rude
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remarks (to any member of class) or any other action that will interfere with
student learning.
Class Attendance: University rules related to excused and unexcused absences are located online at http://www.ubalt.edu/academics/uploads/catalogs/Academic%20Policies.pdf. While
attendance is not mandatory it is expected that you will attend each class, as much of the material
that will be covered on exams comes from lectures and discussions in class. If you are absent, it
is your responsibility to get any materials or information you missed.
University Policy – Use of Turnitin.com: The University of Baltimore provides access to
Turnitin.com, a tool used to detect originality in student work. As a part of an institution-wide
effort to ensure the originality of student work, the University of Baltimore licenses Turnitin, a
commercial text matching service that analyzes students’ submissions against its own archive of
student papers, articles and web sites to report on student originality and identify possible
plagiarism. Incorrect use of other individuals’ work will likely result in plagiarism charges,
which can lead to a failing grade on an assignment, a failing grade in the course, or even
suspension from UB. All UB faculty members reserve the right to use this or other measures to
evaluate your work for originality and proper attribution. Not understanding the definition of
plagiarism or improper attribution are not excuses for failure to abide by originality requirements
in this or any other course.
Course Requirements:
Exams
There will be two exams during the course of the semester, each worth 100 points as well as a
final exam worth 100 points at the end of the semester. Exams will comprise a mixture of
computations, interpretation of computer outputs, and conceptual questions. The exams are not
cumulative; however concepts build upon one another and therefore a thorough knowledge of all
material covered will be necessary for each exam. The final exam however will contain
questions based on content covered throughout the semester. Therefore the final exam is
cumulative, with the entire semester’s material included in the exam, with more emphasis on the
final chapters. Use of electronic devices other than an approved scientific calculator during
an exam (e.g., cell phones) will result in an automatic zero on that exam.
Make up exams will only be considered if documentation can be provided for a universityexcused absence (e.g., a signed doctor’s note documenting reason for absence). It would be
preferable to contact me prior to missing the exam, if at all possible. If you are unable to contact
me beforehand (or provide documentation) I will consider offering a makeup exam on a case-bycase basis. However points may be deducted depending on the documentation and the timeliness
of scheduling a makeup.
Each exam will require the use of a scantron (green, Form No. 882-E). Scantrons can be
purchased in advance at the bookstore. Make sure it’s the right format (50 questions per side).
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Homework assignments
Homework assignments will consist of computational/conceptual problems, completed via
Aplia. Your Aplia problems will be completed online, and the program will allocate credit for
your completion of the problems. These problems are due by Wednesday at midnight the day
before class, and you cannot get credit for them after this deadline.
SPSS Assignments
The SPSS assignments will require you to learn how to analyze and interpret statistical tests
conducted on SPSS. In addition, these assignments will involve writing results and formatting
tables in APA format to show that you understand the connection between various statistical tests
and their application to research questions. You will be required to run various tests in SPSS
connected to what you have learned in class, interpret and write up the results in APA format,
and format the results in tables. In addition, all relevant output should be included with each
assignment.
SPSS and any other assignments are due at the beginning of class or as stated on the assignment.
Late assignments will be penalized 10% for each 24-hour period they are late and may not be
accepted after graded assignments have been returned (typically the following class). Email late
assignments through Sakai so that they are appropriately time-stamped.
Grading Scale*:
A
=
93% and higher
A=
90% to 92.9%
B+
=
87% to 89.9%
B
=
83% to 86.9%
B=
80% to 82.9%
C+
=
77% to 79.9%
C
=
73% to 76.9%
Below 73% = failing grade
Point Breakdown:
Exam One
Exam Two
Final Exam
Homework*
SPSS Assignments
100 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
240 points
640 points
*Please be aware that I do not curve grades. Extra credit opportunities will be provided periodically
throughout the semester. Therefore, final grades reflect any extra credit already awarded.
Incompletes
Incompletes will not be granted except under extreme circumstances (at my discretion). In the
event that a student requests the grade of “incomplete,” they must contact me at the earliest
possible time to discuss the reason with. In addition, students must have at least a passing grade
(B- or better) in the course up to that point.
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Communication
I am available to help you and answer questions throughout the semester. My preferred method
of communication is through messages on Sakai. Please also make sure to check the box
“Send a copy of this message to recipients’ email address(es).” However, before you send a
message, please take the following steps in order to ensure that I am able to understand your
situation and help you as quickly as possible: (1) a subject line that tells me what the
topic/problem is, (2) a greeting (e.g., Dear Dr. Thompson, Hello, …), (3) a clear description of
your problem or question, (4) any steps you yourself have taken to address the
problem/question, (5) what you feel I can do to help you, and (6) your name at the bottom. Any
message or email I receive that does not include each of these things I will reply to with “Please
refer to the syllabus: Communication.” Finally, please allow sufficient time for me to read and
respond to your message (i.e., do not expect a response to a question at 2 a.m., or a problem to be
solved within 24 hours of an assignment due date/exam).
You should check your UB email AND Sakai every day in order to ensure that you are
current with the work of the course. Through Sakai, you will be able to: post work for the
course; download articles and additional readings; check for class announcements; review the
syllabus, assignments, and check your grades; send messages to members of the class.
Dropping the class: It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for
dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping
the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the
class.
Classroom Behavior and Respect: This class does not tolerate remarks that are sexist, racist,
homophobic, or otherwise ridicule people. Students who do not follow these guidelines may be
asked to leave class. Because I do not require attendance, I expect those who attend class are
there because they are both interested in learning the material and/or concerned with earning a
good grade in the course. Any behavior that is not in line with these goals will not be permitted.
UB Academic Policies
Academic Integrity: The University of Baltimore comprises a community of students, faculty,
administrators, and staff who share a commitment to learning. Since the practice of academic
honesty is essential to learning, the university has established the following policy for academic
honesty. The university's Academic Integrity Policy is derived from the following convictions:





that honesty is the foundation of personal integrity
that honesty promotes substantive learning
that honesty validates the recognition of scholarly achievement
that honesty demonstrates respect for the work of others, enabling effective
cooperation
Students, faculty, administrators, and staff share responsibility for fostering academic
honesty. The practice of honesty requires an ongoing discussion of activities that may
violate the spirit of honesty. It requires active discouragement of dishonesty.
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While the Academic Integrity Policy places primary emphasis in fostering honesty, it recognizes
the need for clear consequences of behavior that violates the policy, together with fair procedures
for judging alleged cases of dishonesty. The academic integrity policy is included in the student
handbook found athttp://www.ubalt.edu/campus-life/student-handbook.cfm#Academic_Integrity
Nondiscrimination Statement: The University of Baltimore does not discriminate on the basis
of race, religion, age, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability in its programs,
activities, or employment practices. Inquiries regarding discrimination related to educational
programs and activities should be directed to Kathleen Anderson, Dean of Students, University
of Baltimore, Academic Center 112, 1420 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 212015779; 410.837.4755. Inquiries regarding employment discrimination should be directed to
Rebecca Spence, Affirmative Action Officer, University of Baltimore, 1030 North Charles
Street, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-5779; 410.837.5410.
Accessibility Policy: The University of Baltimore is committed to providing barrier-free
education to physically handicapped students and is actively working to bring its facilities and
programs into full compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended
(P.L. 93-112, P.L. 93-516). It is the policy of the university to reassign classes to accessible
buildings whenever conflict arises for a handicapped student.
Privacy Act: Public Law 93-380 (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also
known as the "The Buckley Amendment") provides certain rights to students (and in some cases
parents) concerning access to educational records. Briefly, these rights are of two kinds:
 the student has the right to examine his/her records, to challenge items the student
believes are incorrect, and to appeal a decision made by the university concerning
such items to the Department of Education
 the student's privacy rights may not be waived without the student's written consent,
except to authorized personnel of the university and other educational institutions.
The act provides that certain items designated as directory information may be
released by the university. A complete copy of the HEW regulations from the Federal
Register of June 17, 1976 is available in the Office of the Vice President of Student
Affairs and Enrollment Management. Offices where students' records are kept are
Records and Transcripts and, in some cases as applicable, Financial Aid, vice
president for student affairs and enrollment management, Admissions, Law
Admissions, and those of the academic deans.
 More specific information about the regulation is located at www.ubalt.edu/ferpa.
Student Resources
Sakai Support
If you have a Sakai technical support question, please contact UBOnline Sakai Support in one of
the following ways:
 Toll-Free Phone: 1.855.501.0856
 Email: ubsakaisupport@ubalt.edu
 They were contracted specifically to support UB users, so make sure to address your
technical questions to them.
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Langsdale Library: Langsdale Library at the University of Baltimore is a full partner in
UBOnline. You can access a wide array of library services including the online catalog,
electronic databases, electronic reference services, research help, reserved readings in full-text,
intercampus borrowing, and interlibrary loan (ILL Express).
Center for Educational Access: Any student who feels they have a disability that may affect
their work, and for which they may require accommodations, should contact the Center for
Educational Access (CEA) immediately so that learning needs may be appropriately met. All
accommodations must be approved through the CEA Office. Accommodations are not
retroactive; therefore planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary. Please stop
by AC-139 or call 410.837.4775 to schedule an appointment with a disability specialist. For
more information, please visit the CEA web site.
 If you need help with note-taking, reading comprehension, or writing skills please call
Student Counseling Learning Skills Center at 845-4427, ext. 108, or the Center for
Academic Enhancement at 845-2568.
Achievement and Learning Center: The Achievement and Learning Center (ALC) is a
free resource for all UB students. Any student who feels the need for academic support
should contact the ALC. Among other services, the ALC provides tutoring, individual
writing consultations, workshops in writing and public speaking, and peer advising.

The ALC writing consultants can offer comments and advice on anything you’re writing
for UB courses at any point in the writing process, from brainstorming to editing. Please
note that writing consultants will not proofread papers, but they can help you learn to
proofread your own work. You may work individually with a consultant or request a
small-group tutorial to share questions and insights with other students. The ALC
consultants can help you with reviewing course materials.

Depending on their schedule, consultants may be available days, evenings, or even
weekends. Some consultants may be able to provide assistance by e-mail, phone, fax, or
web-based audio-conferencing.

The ALC also offers workshops on various topics. For more information or to make an
appointment, call 410.837.5383, visit the ALC web site, e-mail alc@ubalt.edu, or stop by
AC-113.
Other important information
The materials used in this course are copyrighted. By "materials," I mean anything generated for
this class, which includes but is not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, in-class materials, review
sheets, and additional materials. Because these materials are copyrighted; you do not have the
right to copy the handouts, unless I expressly grant permission (this includes taking pictures with
electronic devices).
As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one's own ideas, words, writings,
etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism
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if you copy the work or ideas of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should
have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the
plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely
communicated.
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Tentative Schedule**
Date
Aug 27
Sept 3
Sept 10
Sept 18
Sept 24
Oct 1
Oct 8
Oct 15
Oct 22
Oct 29
Nov 5
Nov 12
Nov 19
Nov 26
Dec 3
Dec 10
Readings to be discussed (chapters should be read PRIOR to
class)*
Syllabus; Ch. 1: Introduction to Statistics; Ch. 2 Frequency
Distributions
Ch. 2-4: Frequency Distributions; Measures of Central Tendency;
Variability
Ch. 4-6: Variability; Z-scores; Probability
Ch. 6-7: Probability; Distribution of Sample Means
Exam 1: Chapters 1-7
Ch. 8-9; Intro to Hypothesis Testing; Introduction to the t-statistic
Ch. 9-10: Intro to t-test; Independent t-test
Ch. 11: Paired samples t-test
Exam 2: Chapters 7-11
Ch. 12: One way ANOVA
Ch. 13-14: Repeated-measures ANOVA; Two Factor ANOVA
Ch 14-15: Finish Two Factor ANOVA; Correlation
Ch 15-16: Finish Correlation; Regression
No class: Thanksgiving
Ch: 16-17 Recap Regression; Chi-Square
Final Exam: Cumulative
SPSS Asmts
DUE
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 7
Ch. 10
Ch. 9
Ch. 12
Ch. 13-14
*Order of lecture material and other course content may not correspond to order of
material in textbook. Please keep in mind that the textbook is a supplement to the lecture.
Both are important.
**Disclaimer: This professor reserves the right to change this syllabus. Students will be
notified of any changes.
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