PSYC215 Introductory Psychological Statistics

Department of Social & Behavioral Science: Psychology

  1. Course Number and Title

    PSYC215 Introductory Psychological Statistics

  2. Number of Credits

    4 credits

  3. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester

    2250 (lecture) 1800 (laboratory)

  4. Prerequisites

    MATH115 (C or better) and PSYC110 (C or better)

    Corequisites

    None

  5. Other Pertinent Information

  6. Catalog Course Description

    This course includes exercises within the following areas: scales, graphic representations, central tendency and variability, probability, the normal distribution, standard scores, correlation, hypothesis testing, basic nonparametric techniques, analysis of variance, and basic experimental design. This course includes a two-hour weekly computer lab.

  7. Required Course Content and Direction

    1. Learning Goals:

      1. Course
        2. Students will:
        1. recognize different applications for descriptive and inferential, parametric and non-parametric statistics;
        2. identify, calculate and explain (given formulas and data) their rationale for appropriate selection of, and practical results derived from. the following:
          • Measures of central tendency and variability.
          • Correlation coefficients.
          • Standard errors of the mean.
          • Z, t and F statistics (one- and two-way classification).
          • Chi-square; and
        3. calculate and analyze results derived from statistical software programs (such as SPSS).

      2. Core (if applicable)
        3. This course is not included in the Core.

    2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

      Descriptive statistics review:
      1. Descriptive Statistics including: measurement scales, central tendency, variability, probability.
      2. Sampling distributions.
      3. Correlation/regression.


      Inferential Statistics:
      1. Hypothesis testing (including measures of effect size).
      2. z-tests.
      3. Single and two-group t-tests.
      4. Dependent and independent t-tests.
      5. One-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).
      6. Post-hoc comparisons.
      7. Nonparametric statistics (Chi-square).

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

      1. Course
        2. Exams, quizzes, laboratory exercises, class or online participation, and projects as specified in the individual instructor's course format will be utilized. A minimum of three examinations is required. Data collection and analysis projects are encouraged, but not required.

      2. Core (if applicable)
        3. This course is not included in the Core.

    4. Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

      Text(s) as specified in the instructor's course format. Students will need hand held calculators with statistical functions; graphing calculators are not required. Students use educational resources as specified in the individual instructor's format.

  8. Teaching Methods Employed

    Section VIII is not being used in new and revised syllabi as of 12/10/08.

Review/Approval Date - 11/98; Revised 4/2010