This lab provides students a hands-on experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. In addition to analyzing and interpreting assigned data sets, students will work on a group project of their choosing for later dissemination to their class. Co-requisite: PSY 3010-01.

Text

Title: Statistics for Psychology (7th Edition)

Authors: Arthur Aron, Elliot J. Coups, Elaine N. Aron, & Erin Cooley

ISBN 10: 0-13-799449-4

ISBN 13: 9780137994496

You do not need to purchase the MyLab attachment

Materials

• A calculator that can do square roots and exponents (sometimes, simpler is better)
• Pencil (you will do work by hand, and it is best to do this work with a pencil vs. a pen)
• Scratch paper (for doing work by hand)
• Stapler (for stapling homework assignments)

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 me because I can help discuss ways we can work around technical issues.

Labs

There are lab assignments available for you to complete throughout the spring 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 some work throughout the semester to show that you are actively preparing for the final presentation of your lab project.

• First, you will submit a proposal to demonstrate that you have a coherent project that is suitable for this lab.
• Second, you will submit project materials to demonstrate that you have collected appropriate materials for the project.
• Third, you will submit a project plan to demonstrate that you will be able to complete the project before the final presentation.
• Fourth, you will submit a presentation draft so I can make sure you have made sufficient progress and help you revise before the final presentation
• Finally, you will present your project on our day for finals.

The prototypical team will be 4 people. I will randomly assign collaborators together by the end of week 3 unless you develop your own teams before then.

Group members will evaluate each other and assign points to the final grade.

Course Requirements and Final-Grade Calculation

Grading System for Final Grades

After I calculate your final numerical grade based on the weighting system above, I will convert it to a letter grade based on the chart below:

All assignments may be completed ahead of schedule but may NOT be completed after the due date. This means that you may complete all coursework as far in advance as you wish, however the deadlines are in place to prevent students from waiting until the last minute to complete work. The deadlines are the LAST DAY you can complete the assignment.

We have 13 total labs throughout the spring semester. When you miss lab, you miss important information and work with your team. If you are absent, you are responsible for learning material covered in class and completing appropriate work with your team.

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 me because I can help discuss ways we can work around technical issues.

Course Communication

I will also send class announcements via Canvas and email. Finally, I will make comments on your assignments, quizzes, and exams via Canvas.

Generative LLM/AI Statement

Generative LLM/AI Statement: I will not penalize you if you choose to utilize a generative large language model (LLM) system (commonly called Generative AI; e.g., ChatGPT) to help you complete your written assignments – though I warn you about the pitfalls and shortcomings associated with utilizing such systems. I will grade your assignments rigorously, and I have noticed that assignments submitted with Generative LLM/AI systems – like ChatGPT – usually perform poorly.

Student Support

The SUU Psychology Department values our students irrespective of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion, nationality, capabilities, or disabilities. Our faculty and staff are committed to the intellectual, physical, and emotional health of all members of the campus community. Should anyone experience problems or issues with depression, anxiety, grief, discrimination, alienation or marginalization, helplessness or hopelessness, or thoughts of suicide, we implore you to seek us out. Our commitment is to listen, and help you find the resources you need.

Statement on Civility in the Classroom

Our university is a community of faculty, students, and staff that enjoys an expectation of cooperation, professionalism, and civility during the conduct of all forms of university business, including the conduct of student–student and student–faculty interactions in and out of the classroom. Further, the classroom is a setting in which an exchange of ideas and creative thinking should be encouraged and where intellectual growth and development are fostered. Students who disrupt this classroom mission by rude, sarcastic, threatening, abusive or obscene language, and/or behavior will be subject to appropriate sanctions according to university policy. Likewise, faculty members are expected to maintain the highest standards of professionalism in all interactions with all constituents of the university.

Technical Requirements