Print Page
Statistics for Psychological/Behavioral Sciences (PSYC 2100)
Total Credits:
4
Lecture Credits:
3
Lab Credits:
1
Description:
This course provides an introduction to statistical methods and research design used in psychological/behavioral sciences research. You will use basic mathematical and computerized (e.g., SPSS, “R,” “PSPP”) procedures to analyze data and conduct descriptive and inferential data analyses. You will choose and apply statistical procedures to help to answer psychological and behavioral scientific research questions. You will read, interpret, and write APA-style results.
Topical Outline:
1. Descriptive Statistics: central tendency and variability; correlation and regression
2. Basics of Inferential Statistics: Z scores, the normal curve, sample versus population, and probability; choosing appropriate statistics testing
3. Making sense of statistical significance: Effect size, confidence intervals, and statistical power, using SPSS or another appropriate statistical package, R, or other statistics program and reporting results in APA format
4. Hypothesis Testing: One and two samples such as z-test, t-tests, t-distribution with paired and independent samples
5. Introduction to analysis of variance and factorial analysis of variance
6. Non-Parametric Statistics: chi-square tests and other non-parametrics
Learning Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the mathematics and logic behind selecting and applying statistical procedures appropriate for a given hypothesis, scale of measurement, and experimental design
2. Perform and describe the statistical procedures commonly used by social scientists including their respective advantages and disadvantages. These include:
a) Creating a visual display of data (e.g., bar chart, histogram)
b) Measures of central tendency, variability, and frequency distributions
c) Correlational and regression analyses
d) Inferential statistical procedures, including t-tests, ANOVAs, multiple comparison tests, confidence intervals, and effect sizes
e) Nonparametric tests (e.g., chi-square)
3. Read, interpret, and summarize basic statistical conclusions from psychological and behavioral science sources accurately and critically evaluate the statistical presentations of others
4. Interpret statistical findings and graphs in the context of their level of statistical significance, confidence intervals, effect sizes, and underlying assumptions, and explain these findings using common language and conventions of the American Psychological Association
5. Use SPSS or another statistical package to build data sets, run univariate analyses, and interpret and display results
Prerequisites:
PSYC 1110 with a grade of 'C' (2.0) or higher and
MATH 1090 or
MATH 1110 or
MATH 1140 or
MATH 1150
MnTC:
Goal 5