Posted November 13, 2007

Psychology 343

Statistical Methods in Behavioral Science

Syllabus: Fall, 2007

Using Statistics Without Tears

Schedule of LECTURES & READINGS

 

Week of

Week

Topic(s) 

Chapters (pages)

 

8/27

1

Introduction & Overview; 
Definitions, Populations versus Samples

Scales, & Variables

Intro (9-12); 1 (13-27)

2 (28-37)

 Homework for week one

 

9/3

2

Statistical notation and math review 

Start with descriptive statistics...

Tables & Diagrams

3 (38-42; 46-48)

 

9/10

3

Frequency Distributions

Measures of Central Tendency

3 (43-46); 4 (57-64)

3 (48-50)

 

9/17

4

Measures of Dispersion (details available)

Addition of variables (details available)

3 (50-56)

 

9/24

5

The Normal Distribution

Areas under the Normal Distribution;  z-scores & z-table

4 (64-72)

4 (72-81)

 

10/1

6

Now begin inferential statistics..

Probability; Central Limit Theorem

Distribution of the Sample Mean (details available)

5 (82-94)

 

10/8

7

z-test & Confidence Intervals

5 (94-99)

 

10/15

8

The Binomial approximation (details available)

Difference of means (paired or repeated samples)

5 (99-101)

 

10/22

9

Difference of Means (independent samples) – z-test

6 (102-116)

 

10/29

10

Hypothesis Testing

One- and two-tailed tests

6 (116-121)

6 (128-138)

 

11/5

11

The t-statistic & t-table – Difference of Means

Estimates of Variance (independent samples) (details available)

7 (139-141)

 

11/12

12

Introduction to Analysis of Variance (independent samples)

(details available)

7 (141-150)

 

11/19

No classes Thurs/Fri

13

The F-table

Introduction to Chi square  & Chi square table (details available)

7 (141-150)

7 (150-154)

 

11/26

14

Covariance and Correlation (details available)

8 (155-164; 169-176)

 

12/3

15

Linear Regression (details available)

8 (177-184)

 

12/10

Finals

Final: Thursday 12/13, 10:30-12:30 (1023 ERF)

(now official)

 

                                                                                                            
”Details available” means a more rigorous derivation or demonstration is posted in the “Course Documents” section of Blackboard. They will be made available approximately a week before the relevant section is discussed. You are not responsible for this material; it is available so those who wish may see the real basis for what is said in class, and perhaps looking it over will enhance you understanding so you have a better grasp of the material you do need to know.

In addition to these explanations of the rationale behind the statistics, there will be sample problems worked out in detail for you. The step-by-step solutions to these examples can guide you in solving the homework; they also are designed to point out the some properties and foibles of the statistics. You should consider them as required reading, in addition to the overviews provided by the assigned readings in the textbook. These examples will also be posted in the “Course Documents” section of Blackboard and made available shortly before the relevant topics are covered in class.

The book is intended to give an overview, and provide intuitive explanations. It is not helpful for solving problems. The lectures (and posted examples) will go into more detail and expound upon the material in the book. There also will be a few topics that are not addressed in the book – you are responsible for the material presented in class (and generally addressed by the homework problems).


Be sure that you have an acceptable calculator (no graphics, programmability, or built-in statistical functions) for use in the quizzes and final.


Homework: Problems will be collected in discussion class the following Friday. You must show your work to receive credit. Homework assignments will be available on Blackboard Thursday of the week before they are due. (You can obtain the first assignment from the link on this syllabus, in case you are not yet authorized on Blackboard). Credit will be halved for lateness—yours is late if not collected by the time everyone else’s is turned in. Homework will not be accepted more than 1 week after the due date.

Quizzes: The Friday discussion sections will include a 10 minute quiz on the material for that week. Only your best 11 quiz scores will be used in determining your quiz grade. No make-ups will be offered. [The quiz given in the first week (8/31) will not count.]

Final: The final is offered at the assigned time and place, not at each student's whim. The only exceptions will be for a valid medical reason or a conflict with another final that takes precedence. (For Fall 2007, the course listed first in the Timetable takes precedence). If you have a personal reason for wishing to leave UIC before the end of exam week, please drop the course now and make your seat available to someone who places his or her education at the top priority.

Grading will be based on the homework (contributing 30% of your grade), your best 12 quizzes (45% of your grade), and the final exam (25% of your grade). No extra credit work will be accepted. However, extra points can be obtained by making corrections in the lecture (details will be explained in the first lecture). There will also be an occasional "Easter Egg" -- a key word emphasized in lecture that students will be instructed to write on the top of the next quiz; doing so will earn an extra 1/4 point on that quiz grade. Grades will be available on Blackboard as they are ready (usually updated each week).

There are set maximum cut-off levels for each letter grade; they are available on Blackboard (under Course Information). They also provide some guidance for determining your expected grade based on your performance so far.

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