Psychology (PSYCH) 200 Elementary Statistics in Psychology : (4): correlations; simple regression equations. variability; normal probability curve; elementary sampling and reliability; frequency distributions and graphs; measures of central tendency and Elementary Statistics in Psychology
Overview
The goal of PSYCH 200 is to provide an introduction to the statistical methods used in psychological research. This course is a departmental requirement and should be relevant to anyone interested in psychological phenomena, because the vast majority of information you learn in any psychology course is to a lesser or greater degree based on the methods you will learn in this course.
A Word of Encouragement and Advice
Learning statistics is learning a new skill. The good news is that similar to other skills, people get better the more they practice. On the flip side, you have to practice in order to gain a sufficient understanding of the concepts covered in the course. The course is set up in such a way that you will practice problems after each reading assignment, and submit evaluation problems every week to demonstrate your understanding. These exercises are meant as a comprehension check for the instructor as much as they are meant as a check for you. As holds for most skills, some people will be more statistically inclined than others, but practice can compensate. Being diligent is crucial for doing well in the course. Please contact the instructor or the TA early on with questions if you feel lost.
Objectives
By the end of the course students will be able to:
- Explain the difference between experiments and other methods of data collection.
- Identify dependent and independent variables within an experimental setting and explain the differences between different classes of variables, including discrete and continuous variables.
- Explain how findings from sample data can be extended to larger, more general populations.
- Read and understand statistical descriptions of data.
- Generate descriptive statistics, through figures and tables with Excel software.
- Analyze data from a scientific research study, including and being able to define and work with: z-scores, t-tests, Analysis of Variance, correlation, regression, and chi-square tests.
- Draw inferences based on the results of statistical tests.
- Evaluate the results of scientific studies.
Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Specifications
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
PSYCH 200 consists of 15 individual lessons. On average, you will complete one lesson per week. Part of the first lesson acquaints you with the course materials and procedures. After Lesson 7 and Lesson 12 there are mid-course exams, and after Lesson 15 is the final exam. The exams are not cumulative in terms of their material, but materials later in the course build heavily on knowledge obtained from materials earlier in the course.
For each lesson, you will complete the following activities in this order:
- Read the learning objectives for the lesson.
- Read the instructor commentary for the lesson.
- Complete the reading assignment listed in the course schedule.
- Read the Lesson Summary.
- Complete the homework exercises. These exercises will allow you to practice solving problems related to the lesson materials (both the readings and lesson Summary). You will not be graded on these problems, but practicing them is necessary for doing well on the evaluation exercises. Also, the instructor will check whether you completed the homework exercises. Failing to complete them will result in a lower final grade.
- Review the learning objectives to insure that you have achieved them.
- Complete the evaluation exercises. These exercises form a final check of your understanding of the material and will be graded.
Grading
Your grade in the course will be based on the total number of points earned on 13 writing assignments and two multiple-choice examinations. The final exam will focus on material from the second half of the course, but because some general principles from the first half of the course continue to apply in the second half, and because ideas in the second half of the course are sometimes contrasted with ideas from the first half, retaining knowledge from both portions of the course is necessary for doing well on the final exam.
The point breakdown for graded assignments is as follows:
- 15 evaluation exercises at 15 points each = 180 points (lowest 3 scores will be dropped)
- Two mid-course exams, 50 questions at 1 point each = 100 points (50 points per exam)
- Final exam, 50 questions at 2 points each = 100 points
- Up to 20 points for submitting all of your work on time
- Total points for course = 400
A letter grade will be assigned as follows:
Points |
Percentage |
Grade |
372-400 |
93-100% |
A |
360-371 |
90-92% |
A- |
348-359 |
87-79% |
B+ |
332-347 |
83-86% |
B |
320-331 |
80-82% |
B- |
308-319 |
77-79% |
C+ |
280-307 |
70-76% |
C |
240-279 |
60-69% |
D |
0-239 |
0-59% |
F |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
| Lesson 1: Getting Started and Introduction to Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 2: Frequency Distributions and Lesson 3: Central Tendency | |
|---|---|
| Readings: | Lesson 2:
Lesson 3:
|
| Assignments: | Lesson 2:
Lesson 3:
|
| Lesson 4: Variability | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 5: z-Scores: Location of scores and standardized distributions | |
|---|---|
| Readings: | Read Chapter 5 and Lesson 5 Instructor Commentary |
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 6: Probability | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 7: Probability and Samples: The distribution of Sample Means | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Exam 1: Covers Lesson 1- Lesson 7 | |
|---|---|
| Assignments: | Complete Mid-course Exam 1 on ANGEL |
| Lesson 8: Introduction to Hypothesis Testing | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 9: Introduction to the t-statistic | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 10: The t-test for Two Independent Samples | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 11: The t-test for Two Related Samples and Mid Course Exam 2 | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 12: : Introduction to Analysis of Variance | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 13: Repeated Measures and Two-Factor Analysis of Variance | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 14: Correlation and Regression | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Lesson 15: The Chi-Square Statistic: Tests for Goodness of Fit and Independence | |
|---|---|
| Readings: |
|
| Assignments: |
|
| Final Exam: Complete the Final Exam- covering Lessons 12-15 | |
|---|---|
| Assignments: | Complete final exam on ANGEL |
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.