PSYC206-15S1 (C) Semester One 2015

Research Design and Statistics

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 23 February 2015
End Date: Sunday, 28 June 2015
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 8 March 2015
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 24 May 2015

Description

An introduction to the theory and practice of statistics in psychology. For psychological science, statistics is a framework for making rational decisions on the basis of data. The course will emphasize the concepts of logic underlying statistics, and provide worked-through examples that illustrate those concepts. An important theme is that anyone can learn statistics - no math beyond basic algebra is required. This is a prerequisite to advancing in psychology beyond PSYC 200-level.

PSYC206 provides an introduction to the principles of scientific research and data analytic methods employed in modern psychology.  In the weekly two-hour laboratory classes practical instruction in the use of computers, and their appliction in the treatment of psychological data is given.

Learning Outcomes

  • On successfully passing this course, students will be able to:

  • Characterize data using descriptive statistics and graphical methods
  • Display and interpret relationships between variables in scatterplots
  • Calculate and interpret standardized scores (Z scores)
  • Calculate and interpret the correlation coefficient
  • Use regression to make predictions based on the relationship between two variables
  • Understand the logic of null hypothesis testing, significance testing, and statistical power
  • Calculate and interpret results of t tests, one-way ANOVA, and factorial ANOVA
  • Use the chi square test to evaluate hypotheses about categorical variables
  • Use computer software to conduct statistical tests and analyze data

Prerequisites

At least 15 points in 100-level Psychology and at least 45 points overall

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Randolph Grace

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Test No. 1 28 Mar 2015 25%
Test No. 2 23 May 2015 25%
Labs/Homework 10%
Final Exam 40%

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Aron, A., & Aron, E. N. & Coups, E.J; Statistics for Psychology ; 6th Ed; Pearson Education, 2013.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $778.00

International fee $3,450.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing .

All PSYC206 Occurrences

  • PSYC206-15S1 (C) Semester One 2015