PSY 120--Course Syllabus

Elementary Statistical Reasoning

PSY 120--Four Quarter Hours

Craig C. McCarthy, Ph.D
Porter Hall 255A
Ohio University--Athens Campus
740-593-4606
mccartc1@ohio.edu

Please refer to the complete final course syllabus available on the course Website once the course begins.

Course
Description

Introduction to research methodology and descriptive and inferential statistics, emphasizing the development of practical reasoning skills necessary for the comprehension and critical evaluation of statistical information typically encountered in everyday life. No credit for both 120 and any of the following: MATH 250, MATH 250B, MATH 251, PSY 121. No credit if already credit for PSY 221 or QBA 201; no credit toward psychology major.

Prerequisites

(MATH 101 or 102 or placement level 1 or higher) & (Not PSY 121 or 221 or MATH 250 or 251 or QBA 201).

Methods of Course Instruction

Blackboard course content
Online lecture notes
Textbooks readings
Supplemental Instruction including some videos

Course Objectives	The purpose of this course is to introduce you to elementary statistical reasoning. The goals for the students are: to understand basic statistics and develop the skills used for basic analyses; to increase awareness and appreciation for the importance of scientific research; to develop critical thinking skills in order to evaluate the vast amount of statistical information in our society; and to understand the application of statistical reasoning in various contexts. It is important to note that this course spends a great deal of time on conceptual information in addition to computational problems. Therefore, it is important to understand what a particular calculation achieves, not just how to work the problem.

Course Objectives

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to elementary statistical reasoning. The goals for the students are: to understand basic statistics and develop the skills used for basic analyses; to increase awareness and appreciation for the importance of scientific research; to develop critical thinking skills in order to evaluate the vast amount of statistical information in our society; and to understand the application of statistical reasoning in various contexts. It is important to note that this course spends a great deal of time on conceptual information in addition to computational problems. Therefore, it is important to understand what a particular calculation achieves, not just how to work the problem.

General Course Requirements	Course Design: Students will submit 10 assignments for grading. Basically, the student will be responsible for completing a series of questions based on the course material in the textbook chapters and the notes that I have provided. Each of the assignments will be based on approximately 1 week of course material (assuming a 10 week course). There will be 2 exams—a mid-term exam and a final exam. Evaluation Criteria: You will be evaluated on the following performance areas: Ten Submitted Module Assignments based on the concepts covered in the Modules. The Assignments There are 10 assignments that will be graded. They are located within the modules on the course Blackboard site. You will complete these assignments and submit the answers to me by regular email: mccartc1@ohio.edu A Midterm Exam. The Midterm Exam will be based on the concepts covered in Modules 1–5. A Final Exam. The Final Exam will be based on the concepts covered in Modules 6–10.

General Course Requirements

Course Design:

Students will submit 10 assignments for grading. Basically, the student will be responsible for completing a series of questions based on the course material in the textbook chapters and the notes that I have provided. Each of the assignments will be based on approximately 1 week of course material (assuming a 10 week course).

There will be 2 exams—a mid-term exam and a final exam.

Evaluation Criteria:

You will be evaluated on the following performance areas:

Ten Submitted Module Assignments based on the concepts covered in the Modules.

The Assignments
There are 10 assignments that will be graded. They are located within the modules on the course Blackboard site. You will complete these assignments and submit the answers to me by regular email: mccartc1@ohio.edu
A Midterm Exam. The Midterm Exam will be based on the concepts covered in Modules 1–5.
A Final Exam. The Final Exam will be based on the concepts covered in Modules 6–10.

Materials

Required

Text(s)

Utts, Seeing Through Statistics ,3rd edition, Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, a division of Thompson Learning, 2005
ISBN-10 0-534-39402-7
ISBN-13 978-0-534-39402-8
Howell, David C. Fundamental Statistics (for the Behavioral Sciences), 6th edition, Wadsworth-Cengage Learning, a division of Thompson Learning, 2008
ISBN-10 0-495-09900-7
ISBN-13 978-0-495-09900-0

Note: The books for the course are in stock at College Bookstore, (740) 594-3505. Click here for online ordering.

Exams
Requirements

2 exams (a midterm and a final) - Proctoring required

How are exams to be taken: Pencil-and-paper (traditional) with open book/open notes and a calculator. However, you will not be allowed a computer or other electronic devices such as a PDA. You are responsible for making arrangements with the Office of Summer Sessions and OU Online for an examination supervisor. Please see “Exam Procedures”. The exams will have strict time limits. You will need to be prepared and organized.

Dates of Exams
Within 10 days of the deadlines.
Mid-term exam: Tuesday February 9th
Final exam: Monday March 15th

Call the Ohio University Online Staff at 1-888-551-6446 if you have questions about this course or the enrollment process.

Call the education counselors the division of Lifelong Learning at (740) 593-2910 if you have questions about Ohio Degree Opportunities.