Paradise
Valley Community College
Course Syllabus*
Fall 2009
PSY 230, Introduction to Statistics
Section 40078
Thursday 6:30-9:00 pm, M 205
Instructor:
Elizabeth
Jacobs, Ph.D.
Phone: 623.680.7607
(Cell)
Office
Hours: Thursday before class and by appointment
Email:
elizabeth.jacobs@gcmail.maricopa.edu
The objective of this course is to introduce the
student to the purpose and use of statistics as they are used in the behavioral
sciences. At the conclusion of this course the student should be able to
apply and compute basic statistical analyses both by hand and by computer and
be able to examine scientific journal articles and draw conclusions about their
validity with respect to basic principles of scientific research and their use
of statistical applications. The coursework requires basic math skills,
ability to use a calculator, and some algebra.
Please refer to http://www.maricopa.edu/curriculum/M-Z/956psy230.html for the official MCCD Course
Description and Competencies
Textbook/Materials:
·
Gravetter and Wallnau, Essentials
of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, 5th Edition (required)
·
A simple calculator (with a square root function)
Please refer to http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/bookstore/ for information about the PVCC bookstore
Attendance:
Attendance is required. You are
responsible for signing the attendance sheet when it is distributed each class
meeting. You will be allowed one
unexcused absence. After the second absence, you may be withdrawn by me
from the class. However, withdrawal is the responsibility of the student
and failure to attend may result in a grade of "F." I
STRONGLY URGE YOU ATTEND EACH AND EVERY CLASS. The coursework in
Statistics requires your complete and constant attention.
Tests/Projects: This section describes homework assignments, critiques, tests, and the mini-research project.
Daily
homework will be assigned but collected intermittently. Homework assignments
are from the textbook and from occasional handouts. Some homework will
require that you use on-campus computers in the Computer Commons.
Information about these labs will be announced in class. All homework
assignments should be completed and handed in on notebook paper at the beginning
of the class period. Make sure the chapter number and date are clearly
indicated in the top right corner of your homework. Credit will
not be given to homework that is not clearly labeled. Make a copy
of your homework to follow in class. Late homework will be reduced by
50% for each day late. All work must be clearly shown.
You are also required to critique two
professional journal articles. A list of online articles and critiques
questions will be distributed and discussed during class. You may choose an article that is not on the
list but it must first be approved by me. The critique should address
a topic that is of interest to you. If you critique an article that
is not on the web page list, a copy of the article should be attached to your
critique paper. For each article, state the publication name, date, and
title of article and then thoroughly answer the assigned questions.
Due dates for the critiques are indicated on the following Agenda.
Papers must be typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins and handed in during
class time on the due date. Late
papers will be reduced by 50% for each day late.
As the following agenda
indicates, three tests and one final exam covering course material are
scheduled. Some tests may be of the "take home" variety.
Students are expected to work independently on take-home tests. Any
violation of this rule will necessitate an in-class retake of the exam. Tests include multiple choice and statistical
problems. Tests must be taken on the date indicated. Testing dates are
also indicated on the Agenda.
Research Project/Presentations:
One
research project will be conducted as part of the requirements of this
course. The due date for the paper and dates for presentation appear on
the Agenda at the end of this syllabus. A double-spaced typewritten
paper (1" margins) should include the following sections:
The Introduction, which presents the logic of the study,
cites previous research that led to the research at hand. The paragraph
should state your hypothesis and describe your expectations of your statistical
research.
A Method Section, which describes the sample, method, and
statistical analysis used to reach your conclusion.
Results, which includes a summary of
the data, the results of statistical tests, and tables and figures.
And the Discussion which presents an interpretation of
the information presented in you Results paragraph and should begin with a
statement as to whether your research question was supported or not supported
(don't use the word "proved").
More information about the project will be presented as the
course moves along.
Grade:
The
final grade for this course is the AVERAGE GRADE received on TESTS, FINAL EXAM,
HOMEWORK/OUT OF CLASS ASSIGNMENTS, and the PROJECT/CRITIQUES. These
activities contribute to the final score as follows:
|
Tests/Final |
40% |
|
Critiques: |
20% |
|
Project: |
20% |
|
Homework/Out of Class Assignments: |
10% |
|
Attendance |
10% |
|
Total |
100% |
Class participation will be taken into account if the final grade is borderline (within two points of the next highest
grade). The formula for the final grade is:
.40(test average) + .20(Critque
grade) + .20(Project Grade) + .10(% of HW handed in) + .10(Attendance)
No withdrawal will be initiated after the
guaranteed "w" date.
If,
because of disability, you need special accommodations to take part in this
class, please let me know.
It is assumed that students will
complete homework assignments and take-home assignments alone and that
classroom behavior will contribute to the learning environment. Please
refer to the PVCC Catalog, Student Policies Section. For the Student Code of
Conduct.
Pagers/Phones/Tape
Recorders:
Please
turn off cell phones when you come into class. Students may record class
proceedings but the instructor reserves the right to ask students to turn off
their recorders at any time during class. Listening to music, talking on cell
phones, and text messaging are very disruptive. Students who do so will
be asked to leave for the remainder of the class.
Visitors/Children:
For
insurance reasons, visitors and children should not attend class.
Check-in
with MCCD
Be
sure to update/check your contact information periodically by logging into
my.maricopa.edu
And finally:
This
course is NOT difficult IF you do the following:
·
Keep up with the work. Complete assignments on time.
Once you fall behind, it is almost impossible to catch up
·
Ask questions if you do not understand the topic.
·
Get help as soon as you need it from:
§ Other students -- form a
study group
§ The textbook companion site
on www.Pearsonhighereducation.com
§ A tutor from the Learning
Assistance Center
·
Review notes over the weekend. Wednesday to Monday is a long
time.
·
Attend all classes. If you can not attend each and every
day, do not take this course now; wait until you have the time required
to spend on this class.
The
following agenda includes the chapters covered in this class and assigned for
reading, test dates, and due dates for articles. READ the chapter from
the text BEFORE the day it appears on the Agenda so that I will be able to
answer any questions or work through any problems you may be having during
class. Come to class prepared to work each homework problem on the board
or in a group.
Spring 2009, Course Agenda
|
August 29, 2009 |
|
|
September 3, 2009 |
|
|
September 10, 2009 |
Test #1, Ch. 1 & 2, Take-home |
|
September 17, 2009 |
Chapter 4, Variability |
|
September 24, 2009 |
Chapter 5, z-scores |
|
October 1, 2009 |
TEST #2, Ch. 3, 4, 5. Take-home |
|
October 8, 2009 |
Chapter 7, Probability and Samples |
|
October 15, 2009 |
Chapter 8, Hypothesis Testing |
|
October 22, 2009 |
Test #3, Ch. 6, 7, 8. Take-home |
|
October 29, 2009 |
Chapter 10, Two Independent Samples |
|
November 5, 2009 |
Chapter 11, Related Samples |
|
November
12, 2009 |
Chapter
12, Estimation |
|
November 19, 2009 |
Chapter 13, Analysis of Variance November 22: Project
due |
|
December 3/10 , 2009 |
Chapter 15, Correlation/Wrap-up |
|
Week of Dec 14th
(TBA) |
Test #4 |
*The
instructor reserves the right to change this syllabus to meet the needs of this
particular class.