Knowledge of Mathematics
The course does not emphasize mathematics. There will be many calculations, but these require nothing more than elementary high-school algebra. The emphasis, instead, is on understanding the LOGIC of the statistical methods. The most important part of each exam will be either A) a problem in which you use a statistical procedure to analyze the results of a study and then write an essay explaining what you have done to someone who has no knowledge of statistics or B) a problem in which you are presented with the results of a study and must explain what they mean to a person who has never had a course in statistics.
Many assignments, announcements, and messages for this course will be provided online and therefore reliable computer and Internet access is required. If you have any concerns about the technical requirements of this course, please contact the instructor to discuss ways to work around technical issues.
Labs
There are lab assignments available for you to complete throughout the fall semester.
- Turn in assignments at the start of lab.
- Assignments should be handwritten neatly, with all pages stapled (not paper-clipped) together.
- Show your work when completing a problem involving formulas. At the minimum, you should show each complete formula in its basic form filled in with numbers, at least one intermediate step, and the final answer.
- When writing an essay, you should not use the exact wording in the answers at the back of the text – if you do, you will receive a zero for that problem.
Lab Project
You will work on a team to present on psychological research. As part of that, you will submit work throughout the semester to show that you are actively preparing for the final presentation of your lab project.
- Submit a proposal to demonstrate that you have a coherent project that is suitable for this lab.
- Submit project materials to demonstrate that you have collected appropriate materials for the project.
- Submit a project plan to demonstrate that you will be able to complete the project before the final presentation.
- Submit a presentation draft to ensure sufficient progress and to receive feedback before the final presentation.
- Present your project on the scheduled finals day.
The prototypical team will be 4 people. Collaborators will be randomly assigned by the end of week 3 unless teams are developed earlier. Group members will evaluate each other and assign points to the final grade. Communicate issues early with the instructor or the TA.
Course Requirements and Final-Grade Calculation
Item | Points
9 Lab Assignments | 540 points (60 points per lab)
Lab Project: Proposal | 40 points
Lab Project: Materials | 40 points
Lab Project: Plan | 40 points
Lab Project: Presentation Draft | 40 points
Lab Project: Presentation | 300 points
Grading System for Final Grades
After the final numerical grade is calculated based on the weighting system above, it is converted to a letter grade based on the chart below:
Points | Letter
900-1000 points | A
800-899 points | B
700-799 points | C
600-699 points | D
0-599 points | F