PSYCHFILES: PSYC 3400

Syllabus

• Course Description4 credits

  PSYC 3400: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

  This course is designed to prepare students to understand and use statistics. The aim is to prepare them to be users of the types of statistics psychologists typically use for data analysis in their professional careers. Lectures provide the conceptual framework for understanding specific statistical tests as tools for understanding relationships and patterns in data. The labs exercises provide practical experience through problem solving with the SPSS system and illustrative pencil & paper calculations. The course will make use of The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, a statistical software package for the computer. This course will cover specific statistical tests commonly used in the field of psychology including: t-tests, correlation, regression, analysis of variance, chi-square, among others.

• Required Textbook

  Pagano, Robert R. (2009) Understanding Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences. 9th Edition. Wadsworth Pub Co; ISBN: 0534617670 (Please note that any edition from 5th to the most current will be adequate for the course).
  
  

• Course Structure

  The lecture portion of this course covers material that is available in the textbook. The course schedule outlines chapters that should be read prior to each lecture.
  
  The lab portion of this course will introduce SPSS software techniques to parallel material covered in lecture, and will allow time for students to work on SPSS-related portions of their upcoming Homework assignments.

• Evaluation & Grading

  Final grades will be calculated from the weighting below. Course grades will not be scaled or curved. There will be NO extra credit assignments to supplement your grade.
  
  Homework assignments/Lab*: 20%
  Exam I 20%
  Exam II 25%
  Cumulative Final Exam 35%
  
  *Each homework assignment will be composed of SPSS exercises, calculation exercises and written responses to conceptual questions. They will be assigned in class and MUST be submitted to your TA by the date specified by your instructor. Late homework assignments will not be accepted without prior approval of the lab instructor (TA). Homework assignments are to be submitted only to the TA responsible for the student’s lab section.
  
  Exams I and II will not be cumulative, encompassing only relevant material from several chapters. The final exam, however, WILL be cumulative, encompassing all material learned throughout the semester.
  
  Attendance for the lecture portion of this course does not contribute to your grade. If you are ill or otherwise need to miss class, you do not have to bring a doctor’s note or evidence for your absence. However, it is your responsibility to obtain lecture notes from a fellow classmate to catch up on missed material. If you are absent from an exam, you MUST bring a doctor’s note or documentation for a legitimate absence in order to be able to take a make-up exam. Without a doctor’s notice, you will receive a zero for the exam. If you have to miss an exam for some other valid reason, you can take a make up exam only if you give me advance notice and take the make-up exam BEFORE the rest of the class takes the exam.

Course Policies

• University’s policy on Academic Integrity

  You are encouraged to study and work with other students in the class to master the concepts and statistical techniques, however, all work that you submit (Exams and Homework assignments) must be your own. Cheating is submitting another person’s work (another student, the author of a book or article, anyone) for evaluation and grading as if it were your own. Cheating in this course you will earn any student in the class an automatic failing grade for the course, no matter the circumstances.
  
  The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. As a student, you are personally responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating, and plagiarism; and, for avoiding both. You can view the complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy here:
  http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies
  If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity, and upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation.

• Missing an Exam

  Make-up exams will be given only when there is a “good” reason for having missed an exam. For example, if a sudden illness causes you to miss an exam, then you should be prepared to provide me with a brief note signed by your physician. Contact me before an exam in the event that you anticipate missing one. In the event of an emergency, contact me as soon as possible.

• Accessibility

  It is important to me that the course be accessible to all students. In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at 718-951-5538. If you have already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services please provide me with the course accommodation form so we may discuss your specific accommodation. A guide and more information can be found here http://catsweb.cuny.edu.

• Class Citizenship/Rules of Conduct

  Your cell phone, PDA or other device must be turned off during class. If you are a habitual offender in this respect (i.e. it happens more than twice during the semester), you will be asked to leave the classroom. If you absolutely need to have your phone on during class—talk to me at the beginning of the semester.

• Email Correspondence

  I will regularly use e-mail to send out announcements, changes in the syllabus, reminders about tests or due dates etc. It is your responsibility to make sure your preferred email is indicated and up-to-date in your CUNYfirst account.