Psychology 230Psychological Measurement and StatisticsPresession Summer 2004University of ArizonaInstructor: Emily Skow-Grant, M.A. T.A.: Elizabeth MyersOffice: Psychology 147 Office: Psychology 407Office Hours: By appointment Office Hours: By appointmentOR each day after class as neededEmail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] for lecture downloads: www.u.arizona.edu/~eskowClass: Monday-Friday; 1:00-3:50 pm Education 349Goals:1. To introduce you to the world of data analysis/statistics for the behavioral sciences.2. To teach you how to perform basic statistical procedures – both descriptive & inferential.3. To train you how to handle data (i.e. how to organize it and determine which statistical procedures apply).4. To train you in critical evaluation and assessment of statistical information for accuracy and validity. In other words, to build a healthy amount of skepticism about research (be it academic research, data given by the media, and the like) and its methods, so that you can examine information and data before accepting its implications.Required Text & Materials1. Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2000). Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (6th Edition).2. A calculator that can perform basic functions (addition, square root function etc…). If you do not have access to a computer with some type of statistical software (such as Microsoft Excel or SPSS) you should become familiar with U of A’s computer labs that offer these services.Evaluation:1. Examinations: There will be three examinations each worth 20% of your grade. Each exam will be worth a total of 100 points. While the exams aren’t cumulative in the true sense of the word (that is I won’t test you explicitly on something from a previous portion of the class) the nature of statistics is that each concept builds upon the previous, so it is necessary for you to understand and synthesize each component in the course in order to be successful. Please round numerals on exams to the hundredth place (that’s two numbers behind the decimal point). You will not be given full credit for your answer unless you do this for each of the necessary steps of a problem.2. Written assignments: You will be given daily homework sets resulting in what will be compiled into three packets of homework material (essentially one for each week of class). All homework will be due at the beginning of class on exam days. These homework sets will generally constitute written and computational problems. Each written assignment will be worth 5% of your total grade or 25 points. * You will receive 0 points if the answer is totally incorrect and unattempted. * 1 point if you have made effort (as determined by the TA...that means you can’t just write down a series of numbers, but must have made an effort to answer the problemcorrectly) or if you answer the problem correctly, but show no work.* 1 point if you answer the problem correctly and show your work. Homework packets will not be graded unless they meet the follow requirements:* written or typed neatly [if the T.A. cannot easily read your writing (as determined by her) you will receive a 0 on that particular homework]* all pages must be stapled in the top-left corner* questions must be completed in numerical order and one line must be left between each problem* the final answer to the question must be circled, highlighted, or denoted clearly in some wayIf more than 25 problems were assigned for a particular week (and this is likely to be the case) the total points will be scaled so that 100% is equivalent to 25 points.3. Project: You will need to cooperate with 2-3 of your peers and answer a question of your choice utilizing statistics. You will need to organize a larger data set into a concise, summarized version performing 1-2 statistical procedures. Each of you will then need to report the data in written format utilizing figures and graphs. An example of a question would be: Is the average salary of a baseball team (data from a few baseballteams) positively correlated with the team’s win/loss record? Or is the endowment of auniversity correlated with its US News and World report ranking? More details about the project will be given in lecture. The project will be worth 20% of your total grade or 100 points.4. Effort: 5% of your grade or 25 points of your total grade will reflect your preparation and involvement in class on a daily basis. While only 5% of your grade is explicitly apportioned to effort it is also the case that your overall grade in the class will likely largely hinge on how much effort you choose to put forth. I also expect thatthis portion of the grade will reflect class participation. I EXPECT each and every one of you to ask and answer questions. You are expected to participate in group in class activities. Here’s the catch at the end of the term you will be asked to award yourself agrade (based that reflects your effort throughout the term. I reserve the right to vetograding schemes that are wholly inaccurate (e.g. giving yourself the full amount of points, but rarely attending class, participating, or turning in assignments).5. Extra Credit: You will have the opportunity to earn extra credit by participating in experiments (if you are uncomfortable or have any concerns about participating in experiments please seeme). You can participate in up to 5 experiments. Each experiment will earn you 5 points or 1 percent of a grade. That means you can boost your grade by a maximum of 5%. In order to participate in experiments you need to logon to the experimental website at experiments.psychology.arizona.edu, please note that there is no “www”. Click on the icon at the left that says “New user, request an account here”.Grades:A = 90% or greaterB = 80-89%C = 70-79%D = 60-69%E = 59% or lessThe final grade for the course will be based on the completion of all grades and assignments.Appeals to all grades (should you think a grade, test question, or the like is unfair) must be filed within 1 day of the return of the exam or assignment and will be handled on an individualbasis. A curve will only be administered if the class as a whole performs poorly on any particular exam or paper. The curve will be at my discretion and can only improve your grade.Missed Exams/Due Dates:You are expected to be on time for each class. All assignments are due at the beginning of the assigned class. You are expected not to