Psychology 107: Psychological Statistics

SYLLABUS
Susan Croll Office: Razran Hall Rm 215
Fall, 2008 Lab: Razran Hall Rm 269
M, W 10:15-12:05 Phone: 718-997-3551
Rm NSB A101 E-mail: [email protected]
Office hours: W 1:45-3:00p
and by appointment

Course Objective: To provide students with objective tools for presenting data and testing hypotheses
about the way the world works, with a special emphasis on psychological phenomena. Students will gain
an appreciation of the need for rigorous evaluation and presentation of qualitative and quantitative data.

Text: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, 7th Edition, Gravetter and Wallnau (2006): Wadsworth.

Tentative Schedule:
Date Topic Reading Problems
W, 8/27 Syllabus Review None None
M, 9/1 NO CLASS – LABOR DAY
W, 9/3 Intro to Statistics Ch 1 (not 1.3) 3,14,16
M, 9/8 Frequency Distributions, Graphs Ch 2 (not 2.6) 1,7,13,17,19,21a
W, 9/10 Central Tendency Ch 3 (no weighted means) 3,5,7,9
M, 9/15 Variability Ch 4 15,21,23
W, 9/17 Normal distributions & Z scores Ch 5 & 6 Ch5:3,7,11,21,23;Ch6:5,9,11,23a-c
M, 9/22 Sampling distributions Ch 7 11,19,21
W, 9/24 Review for Exam #1 Ch 1-7 as needed
M, 9/29 NO CLASSES SCHEDULED
W, 10/1 NO CLASSES SCHEDULED
M, 10/6 Exam #1, Problem Set Ch 1-7 None
W, 10/8 NO CLASSES SCHEDULED
M, 10/13 COLLEGE CLOSED
T, 10/14 (Mon) Exam #1, Multiple Choice Ch 1-7 None
W, 10/15 Hypothesis Testing Ch 8 3,5
M, 10/20 One Sample z and t tests Ch 8&9 Ch8:9,17,21;Ch9:7,9,15,21,23a
W, 10/22 Independent groups t test Ch 10 11,17a,23a
M, 10/27 Dependent groups t test Ch 11 15,23,25
W, 10/29 Introduction to ANOVA Ch 13.1-13.2 None
M, 11/3 Independent Groups ANOVA Ch 13.3-13.6 23,25,27
W, 11/5 Review for Exam Ch 8-11,13 as needed
M, 11/10 Exam #2 – Problem Set Ch 8-11,13 None
W, 11/12 Exam #2 – Multiple Choice Ch 8-11,13 None
*M, 11/17 Repeated Measures ANOVA Ch 14 1,3,17
*W, 11/19 Factorial ANOVA Ch 15.1-15.2 1,4,5
M, 11/24 Factorial ANOVA Ch15.3-15.5 15a&c, 23a
W, 11/26 Chi Square Ch 18 (no 18.4 or 18.6) 15a,25
M, 12/1 Correlation Ch 16 (no 16.5, 16.6) 5,11
W, 12/3 Regression Ch 17 (no 17.3 or 17.4) 3,11a&b,13
M, 12/8 Review for Exams Ch 14-18 GROUP PROJECT DUE
W, 12/10 Exam #3 – Problem Set Ch 15-18 None
M, 12/15 Exam #3 – Multiple Choice Ch 14-18 None
TBA FINAL EXAM See study guide – comprehensive

*substitute lecturer
Croll, Psy 107 Syllabus, page 2
Fall 2008

Course Expectations and General Information

Materials – All students are expected to bring the textbook, a notebook, and a calculator to class every day.
Students may also find it useful to bring a pencil, a straight edge (such as a small ruler), and graph paper for
making graphs. Calculators need only have basic operations and a square root key.

Problems and Readings – Each lecture will be given without the expectation that the chapter has been read
in advance. Many students who are frightened of math find it less confusing to first hear the lecture and
then read the chapter. The syllabus lists homework problems to accompany each lecture. It is strongly
recommended that you complete these assignments shortly after each lecture. Homework will not be
checked or collected. It is your responsibility to ensure that you get sufficient practice with the problems.
Students may ask me to go over specific homework problems the following class period or during review
sessions only. Students who feel they require additional practice may complete additional odd-numbered
problems in the textbook (answers in back of book). However, in the interest of time, these cannot be
reviewed in class. I would be happy to check additional problems during my office hours or by
appointment.

Partners – Within the first week or two of classes, students will be assigned about 2 partners to work with
during class and on their group project. These students will serve as your “lab partners” when we practice
computations and when you conduct your own research project. You should strive to sit with your lab
partners each day, if possible, and also exchange contact information early in the semester.

Projects – Each set of partners must hand in one completed data set based on a small research project which
you will conduct on your own. Topics for the research projects will be handed out later in the semester.
Partners should work together on the project, and hand in two identical copies of the project. One will be
returned, graded, while the other will be kept on file.

Exams – There will be 3 exams during the semester, each covering a third of the course. Each exam will
run across 2 days. The first day will be a problem set exam in which you will complete any 3 of 4 (or 2 of
3) problems. You may not collaborate with other students on this problem set exam, but may use your
notes, textbook, or any other materials. The second day will consist of a 25 question multiple choice exam
followed by a review of both exams. This second exam will be taken with no assistance from other
students, materials, or calculators. During finals week, there will be a comprehensive final exam. The final
exam will be more conceptual, and will require no computations. As the exam date approaches, details
about the final exam will be covered in class.
Croll, Psy 107 Syllabus, page 3
Fall 2008

Grading Policy

Grades are neither curved nor subjectively adjusted at the end of the semester. Your grade will be exactly
what you earn (and expect) based on the following formula:

Assignment Point Value

100 points per problem exam (x3) 300 points

50 points per multiple choice exam (x3) 150 points
100 points for final exam 100 points
100 points for project (due Monday, December 8) 100 points
25 points for peer evaluation 25 points
25 points for submitting materials 25 points
5 points for completing math pre-test
5 points for completing data questionnaire I
5 points for completing data questionnaire II
5 points for completing project choice sheet
5 points for submitting peer evaluations
100 points per lab problem set (2 counted) 200 points

TOTAL 900 points

At the end of the semester, simply divide your total number of earned points by 9 to get your percent for
the class. Final letter grades are assigned as follows:

A+ 97 or higher C+ 77-79
A 93-96 C 73-76
A- 90-92 C- 70-72
B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69
B 83-86 D 60-66
B- 80-82 F below 60
Croll, Psy 107
Fall 2008

Classroom Policies

Cell phones and Pagers – When possible, cell phones and pagers should be turned off during class. If you
might need to be urgently reached (for example, you have young children), please turn your pager or cell
phone to its vibrate mode. If you find yourself in a situation in which you receive a call and must take it,
answer the phone in a whisper and ask your caller to hold on. Then, quietly exit the room and continue
your conversation in the hall. Repeated calls received by the same person over the course of the semester
will result in dismissal from class. Receiving loud phone calls during class is unfair to your classmates.
CELL PHONES MAY NOT BE USED DURING EXAMS.

Cheating – DO NOT CHEAT. You are adults and, as such, must accept your own limitations and be
responsible for your own actions. I am generally aware of who is cheating in my classes, and will not
provide you with favorable references, etc., regardless of your grades, if you have received your grade
unethically. It is not your grade, but your effort, that impresses me. Penalities WILL BE IMPOSED for
academic dishonesty in this class.

Plagiarism – Plagiarism is a form of cheating (see above). Paraphrase the ideas of others – do not use their
exact words. When you find it necessary to directly quote another writer (please avoid this practice as
much as possible), be certain to enclose the statement in quotations and cite your source clearly. See me if
you are unsure about how to cite sources, though outside sources will not be necessary in this class.

Food & Drinks – You are welcome to eat or drink in class. Please do not bring foods with strong odors or
noisy wrappers – these types of foods can be distracting for your classmates. In addition, if you bring food
or drink to class, you are responsible for appropriately disposing of all trash in the garbage.

Breaks – There will be a break about halfway through most classes for about 10 minutes. If you need to
leave the room before or after the break, feel free to do so, but do it quietly. During exams, only one
student at a time should leave the room if possible. During multiple choice exams and the final exam
(given in two halves), students may not leave the room. During the problem set, students may leave the
room one at a time, but are discouraged from doing so.

Make-Up Exams – Make-up exams will be available for students who must miss an exam. However,
make-up exams are generally harder than the original exam. In addition, I reserve the right to change the
format of the make-up exam and to delay grading or return of the make-up exam until others have taken it.

Grade grievances – I will consider any grievances that you may have about the manner in which I have
graded your exam or paper. If you feel that you answered a question correctly or that your paper/essay
achieved a higher level than the grade you received, you may prepare an essay in which you defend your
position. This essay must be received within 1 week of the date when I return the assignment to the class.
I will read your essay thoroughly and, if I agree with your assertions, I will adjust your score appropriately.

Attendance/Punctuality – There are no penalties for tardiness or lack of attendance. However, I always
cover the material that I find most important during class, so it is to your advantage to attend. In addition,
regardless of your attendance in class, you are fully responsible for knowing everything that was covered in
class (including any changes in assignment due dates, etc.). If you need to arrive late or leave early, please
sit near the entrance of the room and do so quietly so as not to disturb your classmates.
 STUDENT GRADE RECORD – Fall 2008

MY NAME:______________________________________________

STATS PARTNERS: __________________________ Contact Information __________________

__________________________ __________________

Score Worth

Exams:
Problem Set #1 100

Multiple Choice #1 50

Problem Set #2 100

Multiple Choice #2 50

Problem Set #3 100

Multiple Choice #3 50

Final Exam 100

Assignment Submissions:

Math pre-test 5

Data Questionnaire #1 5

Data Questionnaire #2 5

Project Choice Form 5

Peer Evaluation Forms 5

Group Project:

Project Write-Up 100

Peer Evaluation 25

Lab Problem Sets (drop the lowest):

Problem Set #1 100

Problem Set #2 100

Problem Set #3 100

Total 900

My final percentage is (divide total by 9):