ST. JOHN'S
UNIVERSITY Spring, 2010
STATISTICAL METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES - PSY 2030
Miguel
Roig, Ph.D.
Email: roigm@stjohns.edu
Phone: 718-390-4513
OFFICE HOURS:
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
REQUIRED TEXT:
Jaccard, J. & Becker, M. A. (2002). Statistics for the Behavioral
Sciences. 4th edition,
COURSE DESCRIPTION
GRADE ALLOCATION
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: 20% of your final grade will be based upon
completion of your homework exercises and lab/class assignments. All homework
exercises will be collected and reviewed. The work will be recorded in my grade
book according to criteria described on page 4. Students
who submit all homework assignments properly completed, generally correct and
in a timely fashion earn the full 20% toward this grade.
HOMEWORK PORTFOLIO: 5% - All of
homework assignments and any other course-related problems, including lab
assignments, that you complete as part of the course or on your own will be
organized in a 3-ring binder and handed in during the day of the final. The
grade for this component is somewhat subjective and will be based on the
amount, quality, and level of organization of the work that you present, as
well as evidence of the extent to which feedback from earlier homework
assignments and class discussions is incorporated into later assignments.
EXAMS: 40% - based upon 2 examinations
(midterm-20% and a final exam-20%) from textbook readings, handouts, and class
material. The midterm will have two parts; a multiple-choice and an open-book
part. The final exam will include excerpts of experiments for which you will
have to identify the relevant variables, experimental design, appropriate
statistical techniques to be used for data analyses, etc. For the final exam,
you will also have to carry out some statistical analyses. Consequently, this
exam, which is cumulative in nature and will be open-book, open-notes, etc.,
will be given during the week of final exams and will take approximately the
allotted two hours. A student who is thoroughly familiar with the material will
be able to complete it in less time. Others who have
shown lapses in attendance, homework assignments, and the like, will invariably
take longer to complete the final exam.
PAPER: 10% - based on a paper that will be
completed toward the end of the semester. The paper will consist of the Results
and the Discussion section of a laboratory report of
an experiment for which data have already been collected. Please note that the
necessary statistical techniques needed for the analyses of the data (e.g.,
Analysis of Variance, Tukey HSD) will not be covered
until about the end of the semester. As soon as the pertinent material is
covered in class and the assignment is given out, you should immediately start
work on this project.
PRACTICUM: 25% - Based on the successful completion of
computerized data analyses using
First
HW assignment: During the first week
of classes, you are to send me an e-mail message with your full name, student
number, and course section (e.g., PSY 2030, TR:
IMPORTANT POINTS:
1. You should expect to receive homework everyday. In most cases, the homework assignments will
come in the form of handouts that will be distributed during class or via
e-mail. Homework assignments will vary in length and complexity. However, as we
go through the course homework assignments will become progressively more
complex, particularly after the midterm examination. Except where indicated,
each homework assignment is due on the following class meeting.
2. You should do
your readings, homework (approximately 30 homework assignments for the
semester), and any other work as soon as I assign the work. Late homework
submissions will be penalized, without exception (see formula below). In the
event that I forget to ask for the homework assignment on the date that it is
due, YOU are held responsible to hand it in. Any other assignments and exam
dates will be announced in class ahead of time. Assignments are to be handed in
to me at the end of class. I do not accept assignments via e-mail or fax unless the student will be
absent on that day. When that is the case the assignment may be e-mailed or
faxed (718-3904347) to me with the time stamp that indicates that it has been
sent before the end class. If the automatic time stamp indicates a later time
of delivery, the assignment will be marked late.
LATE OR MISSED ASSIGNMENTS
3. Attendance and punctuality
are extremely important in this course. Active and responsible participation is
encouraged, as it will greatly facilitate the learning process, however, class
participation per se is not going to be formally graded (or the lack of it
penalized). Class participation constitutes asking a question or making a
comment when the student raises his or her hand and the instructor calls on the
student. You are also strongly encouraged to work out a problem or part of the
problem on the black board if I call on you. During lectures, no other
interaction between students will be tolerated. I reserve the right to dismiss
from class any student who, in my view, is disruptive. If you are absent, it is
your responsibility to obtain class notes from your peers. On the day of
the absence, before the absence or when feasible, contact me to obtain any
homework assignments. You are not to make copies of another students
assignment because in some cases
each student will receive a slightly different assignment. Please note
that I do not repeat lecture material.
4. The assigned readings
should be done on time as doing so will enable you to come prepared to class,
to ask intelligent questions, and to make intelligent comments. When asking
questions or making comments please raise your hand and wait until I call on
you. Also, it is strongly recommended that attempt to complete the exercises at
the back of each chapter, ideally before we cover the material in class. Note
that the following words/phrases are not to be used in this course: prove,
proven, society, like a, sort of, you know. Be sure to use the terms hypothesis
and theory correctly (see also below).
5. You will need an
electronic calculator with at least the following functions: square root,
squaring operation, n!, additional memories
(optional), and the capability to handle large numbers. You need to bring your
calculator, statistics book and a RED PEN to class EVERYDAY. Please note that
you are NOT to use your cell phone as a calculator.
6. Do not submit any type of
plastic, paper, or any other type of covers for your homework assignments or
for the paper. When necessary, all papers, homework, etc., must be neat and
stapled at approximately 45 degrees from the top and left edge of the paper. No
homework assignments will be accepted if the papers are not stapled or if they
are submitted on ripped paper from spiral- or any other type of binders or
notebooks. Also, be mindful of the fact that paper is derived from trees and
that trees are a treasured resource. Use 2 sides of a sheet whenever possible, alter the margins as I have done with this course
outline, etc.
7. Although I encourage you
to study in groups and to help each other out, your papers, homework,
and all other assignments are expected to be the student's own original work.
That is, when writing your assignments use your own words and expressions; not
your peers. When seeking help in carrying out a statistical technique, you
never merely copy from someone elses homework as this will be deemed as
cheating. You may seek and be given guidance as to what the different elements
of a formula mean and how to carry out a series of calculations, but you are to
carry out all of the calculations on your own and not simply copy them from
someone else. Any detection of inappropriate collaboration or any other form of
academic dishonesty will result in strict adherence to the school's
guidelines on this subject (see catalog and student handbook). - ANY STUDENT
CAUGHT CHEATING ON AN EXAM, SUBMITTING OTHERS IDEAS, TEXT,
WARNING: IN THE EVENT THAT AN INCIDENT OF ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY COMES TO LIGHT AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE COURSE, THE ABOVE RULES
WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY
8. If you wish to review an exam you are to make an appointment with me and I will give you access to the exam paper. If you want to double check an answer or find the correct answer to a question that was marked wrong, bring your textbook, calculator and class notes to the office and look up the answer there. I will not provide you with the answers for you. However, I will be happy to explain a particular answer only after you have searched for the answer on your own.
MONITORING YOUR
GRADES - The following is the grading system used in all of my classes.
00.00 - 56.99 ----- F 57.00
- 65.99 ------ D 66.00 - 69.99 ------ D+
70.00 - 72.99 ----- C- 73.00 -
76.99 ------ C 77.00 - 79.99 ------ C+
80.00 - 82.99 ----- B- 83.00 -
86.99 ------ B 87.00 - 89.99 ------ B+
90.00 - 92.99 ----- A- 93.00 -
100 ------- A
The following are some of the words which are frequently misspelled or misused in this course: effects/affects, conclusion, experimenter, results, hypothesis/hypotheses, qualitative/quantitative, theory, dependent/ independent, repetition, study/experiment. Be sure that you spell them and use them correctly. Please be mindful of their use in your homework assignments and class participation.
GENERAL CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR,
I consider any use
of cell phones during class to be highly distracting and disrespectful. Thus,
the use of cell phones is not permitted during class time for any purpose,
including its use as a calculator, and they are to be kept turned off and out
of view inside pocketbooks, knapsacks, etc. Only 2 or 3 students designated by
the instructor will be allowed to have their phones on and only in vibrate mode
to be alert for any campus emergency. Any other student whose phone rings
during class or is otherwise seen manipulating his/her phone will be asked to
leave the class. For the second offense, the matter will be forwarded to the
Dean of Students for disciplinary action. Laptops are not to be used during
class time and should be turned off.
SPECIAL NOTE: PSY 2030 is one of the most difficult (its math!) and intensive (lots of homework) courses in the Psychology curriculum. The grade obtained in this course will be of keen interest to graduate school admissions officers who review your application. Be advised that if you ask me and I agree to write a letter of recommendation for you (for whatever purpose, graduate school, job, etc.), my comments about you will, to a large extent, be based on your general performance in this class (aptitude, attitude, academic performance, etc.). I strongly recommend that you keep this special note in mind throughout the semester. For my policy on letters of recommendation go to http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~roigm/recomlet.html.
If
you have any questions about the course, consult your course outline first,
particularly the online version. If you need further clarification then see me.
In fact, you should always bring the course outline to class (you should staple
it to your notebook) and refer to it from time to time to remind you of
deadlines, policies, etc. If lose your course outline, however, you can always
download one from my home page.
GRADING CRITERIA FOR HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENTS: Acceptable
homework assignments will get a check mark with my initials. Deficient home
works will get one or more of the following:
INC A component of the
assignment has not been completed.
POOR Homework is either sloppily
done or it contains two or more calculation errors.
LATE The assignment is handed in
after it is due date and time. Please note that no excuses will be accepted for
late homework assignments. If you are
sick or for whatever reason you cannot attend class you must contact me and
inquire about any missed assignments. If
you have completed a homework assignment but will not be able to attend class,
you can either e-mail me the assignment (if feasible) or fax it to me (see above),
but note that only up to 2 assignments may be faxed or e-mailed.
OTHER The assignment is unstapled
(always staple at 45°), or not typed (for those that do not involve
calculations, such as the one due every Wednesday where you have to identify
the variables, etc.), or handed on ripped paper, or having some other problem.
For every two deficient or late homework assignments handed
in, the student will lose one homework assignment. Your final Homework grade
will be calculated as a proportion of completed homeworks
over total number of homework assignments. Thus, for example, if there a total
of 30 homework assignments and a student hands in all 30 in acceptable form,
s/he will get a 100. If the student fails to submit a homework assignment or
hands in two deficient home works, then s/he will get a 97 (29/30). If a
student fails to submit an assignment
OTHER
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
Homework assignments involving calculations should be completed in
pencil. Those that involve text
should be typed.
2. Each individual
step/calculation should be documented as indicated in the book and as reviewed
in class. Your calculations should show
every step in an organized, clear, and neat manner.
- Each calculation should be repeated at least twice. If a discrepancy occurs, it should be repeated a third or fourth time until the discrepancy is reconciled.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE. Please note that we will adhere to following schedule as best as closely as possible. By the same token, however, you should expect a certain degree of flexibility in what gets covered when. So, be sure to be up to date on what is being covered in class each day and come prepared.
TENTATIVE
M W F
01- 20, 22 - Course overview and chapter 1
01- 25, 27, 29 - chapts. 1 & 2
02- 01, 03, 05 - chapts. 3 & 4
02- 08, 10, 12 -
chapts. 4 & 5
02- NC,17, 19 - chapts. 6 & 7
02- 22, 24, 26 - chapts.
7 & 8
03- 01, 03, 05 - chapt.
9 Midterm on 03/03 and 03/05
03- NS - NS - Spring Break
03- 15, 17, 19 - chapts. 10 and 11
03- 22, 24, 26 - chapts. 12 and 13 The period from 03/15 to 04/09 will be the
most intensive in the course
03- 29, 31 - chapt. 17
04- NS - Easter Break
04- NS, 07, 09 - chapt. 17
04- 12,
14, 16 - chapts.
14 & 15
04- 19, 21, 23 - chapts.
15 & 16
04- 26, 28, 30 - chapt. 18 and reiew
05- 01, -
review
05/03 TO 05/11
FINAL EXAM WEEK-
HOW TO SUCCEED IN
THIS CLASS: Come prepared for class. Read the assigned chapter before I
cover it in class and take lots of notes while preparing for class at home.
Most importantly: DO THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Sign and return to the
professor by the first Monday of the semester. Note: You may not be given
credit for this course unless I have this portion of the course outline in my
possession (Cut with scissors along the dotted line; ripped stubs are
not acceptable). CHANGES: I reserve the
right to change or add to assignments and make changes to this course outline,
for good reason and with adequate notice.
I _____________________________________
have received a copy of the course outline for Statistical Methods for the
Behavioral Sciences (PSY 2030). I have
read the course outline and have reviewed the on-line version at http://facpub.stjohns.edu/~roigm. I
have been given an opportunity to discuss and ask questions about the content
of these documents and understand and agree to the requirements of this course.
Students
signature: ________________________________________ Date: _________ Student No.: ____________