PS 240
Stats Lab
What it's about: Stats lab is about learning statistical
software and trying to understand statistical concepts through repeated
calculations & adjustments.
How it works: Each week, I will give you two handouts:
1)
Instructions for completing a basic task, such as making 2 kinds of graphs
2)
In-class exercises
which are meant to give you practice based on the instructions we covered that
day.
And that's basically how class works. I'll
use the computer & projector to walk through the instructions and then give
you a short set of exercises to make sure you can get through all the
steps. The exercises also involve
important statistical concepts- it's not just about computers.
The schedule: The week-by-week schedule is pretty much set
in stone. This is because the topics in lab are paired with what we study in
class. So in class, we will calculate something by hand, in lab we will
calculate the same thing with a computer (which is much easier).
SPSS Assignments:
The
term comes in two parts: The first four weeks of the term are about learning
the basics of the software. The final six weeks of the term are about how to
use the software to conduct statistical tests just as a scientist or a
physician, clinician, therapist, etc. would. There will be three SPSS assignments that go
along with the second half of the course. The due dates are listed on the
schedule.
·
You may work in pairs, but not trios.
·
I
prefer paper. If working pairs, turn in one set of papers with both names.
·
You
may submit your work by email attachment, but please request a "read"
so that you are certain that I have received it. That will be your proof that I
have it and what time you turned it in. (If you don't know how to do this,
simply choose "options" when you are typing my email address in the
message and select "request read receipt.”
·
Lab
Assignments due by
·
Lab
practicals are scheduled for Friday of week 10 or
Monday & Tuesday of Finals week. You
may choose to do it immediately before/after the final exam (you choose a
time).
PS 240
Stats Lab Schedule
|
Week |
Date |
Topic |
Content and
assignments |
|
2 |
March 17 |
Introduction to
SPSS |
Overview
of tool and menu bar Data
entry - learn how to define & dummy code variables enter variables from data collected
in class save and retrieve data |
|
3 |
March 24 |
Presenting data |
Tables
- Identify functions of Frequencies Graphs - Investigate Gallery and Interactive menu options Construct at least 2 types of graphs |
|
4 |
March 31 |
Describing data |
Using
Frequency,
Explore, and Descriptives, calculate
central tendency
and variability. Study
the effects of outliers and N on
descriptive statistics. |
|
5 |
April 7 |
Normality |
Effect
of sample size on distribution and error.
Compute
z scores with Descriptives.
Experiment
with distribution shapes using questionnaire data |
|
7 |
April 21 |
Hypothesis tests |
Using
the "one sample t test" function under Compare Means Compute Confidence
intervals and related graphs (error bar, box plots, etc.) using Explore |
|
8 |
April 28 |
Two group t-tests |
Conduct
Independent & Related Samples t
tests Play
with the data after initial analysis to determine effect of different
variances and sample sizes. |
|
9 |
May 5 |
Multiple levels |
Calculate
one way ANOVA using the Compare Means option. Compute post hoc tests & interpret if
necessary. |
|
10 |
May 12 |
Correlation and
regression |
In
class data collection and analysis using Correlate and Linear
Regression. Sign up for lab
practical time |
|
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