Glendale Community College North
Course Syllabus*

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Psychology Department Web Page

PSY 231, Laboratory for Introduction to Statistics
Fall 2009
Section 57908 Hybrid 

Instructor:       Elizabeth Jacobs, Ph.D.

Email:  elizabeth.jacobs@gcmail.maricopa.edu

Web Page:  web.gccaz.edu/~ejacobs


Office:                   Faculty Resource Center, Building “A”     
Phone:                     623.680.7607
Office Hours:     MW:  10-11 am, TTHF:  9-10 am, & by appointment

           

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to introduce the student to the purpose and use of computers as they are used in the field of statistics for the behavioral sciences.  Students will be using SPSS - Statistical Package for the Social Sciences -- computer program. The following information provides instructions about using these programs on college computers but students who have these programs at home or work may complete their assignments away from school. Some lab assignments will be completed during PSY 230 class time but most will require time outside of class. Students must be enrolled in PSY 230 Section 57907 to be taking this PSY 231 course.   Please check your registration forms to be sure that you are registered in  PSY 230 section 57907.

MCCD Course Description and competencies

 

Textbook/Materials
 

Statistics Lab Manual for SPSS, E. Jacobs (2008), (to be distributed in class.)

 

Attendance

Please refer to your PSY 230, Introduction to Statistics Agenda for attendance requirements.  If you are withdrawn from (or receive an "F" in) PSY 230 because of non-attendance you will automatically be withdrawn from (or receive an "F" in) PSY 231. As stated in your PSY 230 agenda, I STRONGLY URGE YOU YOU ATTEND EACH AND EVERY CLASS and complete the lab assignments as they are discussed and assigned.

Assignments

There will be 7±2 SPSS lab assignments during the course of the semester. Each assignment will have a due date and will be graded. Each assignment will include a chapter review and a computer lab activity. Students are expected to work alone on the computer assignments. A violation of this condition will result in a grade of "F." Due dates for each assignment will be announced during class. You are required to hand in assignments on time. No late assignments will be accepted.

Grade

Your grade for PSY 231 will be the average grade received on lab assignments.

Special Needs

If, because of disability, you need special accommodations to take part in this class, please let me know.

Agenda

We will be using the following chapters/pages from SPSS Lab Manual. One lab activity will correspond to each of these topics. Due dates will be announced during PSY 230 class meetings.

              Chapter/Exercise Title            Page

Frequency Dist/Central Tendency

6-8

Variability

9-12

z-score (SEM)

13-15

t-test (Standard Error of the Estimate)

16-18

t-Test for Independent Means

19-21

t-Test for Related/Matched/Paired Samples

22-25

One-Way Analysis of Variance

26-30

Pearson Correlation

31-34

Chi-Square Test of Independence

34-35

Getting to the Computer Programs

SPSS resides on the eGCC network which can be found on any computer at GCC North or GCC Main.   Prior to using the student computers, you must find out your username and establish your password. You can retrieve your user name by visiting the Library Commons Help Desk in Building “B.” 

 

Once you know your username and password, log into a campus computer. The computer will prompt you to select a new password.  Select a password you can easily remember but that others do not know or can not guess.  Never give your password to others. 

 

To get to SPSS begin by logging into your Palette account using your GCC username and password.  Then, with the left mouse button, click on the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, move to Programs and then to SPSS.  Please ask me for help, if you need it.  SPSS CAN NOT BE ACCESSED FROM OFF CAMPUS.  Before the first assignment, sit down at a campus computer and practice opening SPSS.

 

Get Help if You Need It

If you have any questions about this lab, about using the computers, or about any of the assignments, please let me know during class time or give me a call, 623.680.7607.  

*The instructor reserves the right to change this syllabus to meet the needs of this particular class.