Course Objectives

In this course you will learn how to use statistics. You will learn how to perform and interpret statistical calculations, to choose and execute the correct statistical test to answer research questions, and to use a statistical software program to analyze data.

Course Materials

(1) Required: Gravetter & Wallnau’s Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (4th edition)

Assignments and Grading

Your grade will be based on three sources:(1) exams, (2) computer exercises, and (3) homework exercises.

(1) Exams (400 points, total)

There will be four exams during the semester. The exams will not be cumulative, except in the sense that you have to learn and use basic concepts that are carried over from chapter to chapter. Each exam will be worth 100 points. See the note about exam times below.

(2) Computer Exercises (50 points, total)

You will be asked to complete five exercises using SPSS, a statistical analysis package. You will be given instructions about how to do each exercise. Although you may feel free to work with other students to figure out how to use the computer, the written assignment you turn in should be your own independent work. If there is any doubt in this regard, you will receive a zero for the assignment (see note about academic honesty below). Each exercise will be worth 10 points. Late computer exercises will not be accepted.

(3) Homework (75 points, total)

For each chapter we cover, you will be expected to complete a set of textbook problems, or other problems that may be assigned. Your answers to these problems should be handwritten in a one subject, spiral bound notebook (no loose papers, fancy folders or three ring binders, please!). The problem set for a given chapter is due when coverage of the subsequent chapter begins. Each set of problems must be legible, and will be graded for your effort (i.e., completeness and thoroughness). You will check the accuracy of your answers when your notebook is returned. Problem answers will be available in the reading room on the third floor of the NAB, after the homework is due. You can receive up to 5 points for each assignment.

You are strongly encouraged to complete as many of the problems available to you in your text and in the required student workbook as possible, whether they are assigned or not. Late homework assignments will not be accepted.

Grade Assignment

 Grades will be assigned on the scale below:

A 498 A- 480

B+ 467 B 449 B- 435

C+ 422 C 404 C- 390

D+ 377 D 359 D- 345

Sample Grade Scenario: _____________Subtotal:

Exam Grades: 83, 88, 97, 85..................... 353

Computer Lab Grades: 10, 9, 9, 8, 10........46

Homework Points: 60 ................................60

Total Points: 459 Final Letter Grade: B

Important: Scheduling of Exams The first three exams will not be given during the regular class period. They will be given on the day on which they are scheduled (tentative dates appear in the course schedule; the room will be announced). The purpose for rescheduling exams is twofold: 1. Ideally, all statistics students take the same exam at the same time. 2. Although each exam will be structured so that it can be completed in a 50 minute period, students are often very apprehensive about statistics exams. By rescheduling testing times, we achieve both mercy and fairness, because all students will have adequate time to take the exam, insuring an optimum chance of achieving a good grade. This system has worked extremely well in past years, and very few students have been dissatisfied with this arrangement, because it helped them to achieve optimal performance. You will have ample notification of exam dates and times. If you have a problem with the scheduling of a particular exam, notify the professor as soon as possible before the scheduled exam, so that arrangements can be made.

Make-up policy

Generally speaking, you are expected to make arrangements for your exam times (if it is not taken at the main testing time) and to keep your appointments. If you do not appear for your exam at the agreed upon time (no matter when it is scheduled), and you do not have a legitimate, documented reason for missing the exam, you will receive a zero for that exam grade. Missed exams will be handled on a case by case basis, and rarely represent a serious problem; however, understand that you can be refused a make-up exam if it is deemed that such action is warranted.

Academic Honesty Christ has called us to live lives that are characterized by love and integrity (Psalm 15; Colossians 3). Academic dishonesty of any kind hurts your fellow classmates, your instructor, and, most of all, yourself. Absolutely no dishonesty of any kind will be tolerated in this course. Acts of dishonesty include (a) giving or receiving help on exams, computer labs, homework, or any graded assignment; (b) telling other students anything about the content of a test that they have not yet taken; (c) plagiarism of any source without giving appropriate citation credit. If you cheat in any manner you will fail the particular assignment and possibly the course, and you may be referred to the dean for further action. Tentative Course Schedule

First tentative discussion date:

Jan. 13, 15 Chapter 1 Introduction

Jan. 18, 20, 22 Chapter 2 Frequency distributions

Jan. 25, 27 Chapter 3 Central tendency

Jan. 29, Feb. 1, 3 Chapter 4 Measures of variability

Feb. 8* Exam 1 Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4

Feb. 5, 8, 10 Chapter 5 z-scores

Feb. 12, 15, 17 Chapter 6 & 7 Probability and the distribution of sample means

Feb. 19, 22 No class; February Break

Feb. 24, 26, Mar. 1 Chapter 8 Hypothesis testing

Mar. 8* Exam 2 Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8

Mar. 3, 5, 8 Chapter 9 Hypothesis testing with t

Mar. 10, 12, 15 Chapter 10 Independent measures t

Mar. 17, 19, 22 Chapter 11 Dependent measures t

Mar. 24, 26 Chapter 12 Estimation

Mar. 27 - Apr. 5 No Class; Easter Break

Apr. 7 Chapter 12 Estimation, continued...

Apr. 12* Exam 3 Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12

Apr. 9, 12, 14 Chapter 13 ANOVA

Apr. 16, 19, 21 Chapter 16 Correlation and Regression

Apr. 23, 26, 28 Chapter 17 Chi-Square

Final Exam Period Exam 4 Chapters 13, 16, 17

309 A Friday, Apr. 30 10:30 - 12:30

309B Saturday, May. 1 10:30 - 12:30

Class Cancellation Policy: If class is canceled due to the weather or some other unforeseen reason, expect to make it up (unless it is clear that we will meet requirements for contact hours without a make-up class).

*Note: Exams are tentatively scheduled for these dates.

If, for whatever reason, we do not complete all of the chapters on the tentative course schedule, the points required to attain each grade level will be reduced by 5 points (that would have been received for homework) for each chapter omitted.

Any assignment will be deemed “late” if it is not turned in at the beginning of class time the day it is due.