(Call Number 3679)

E-mail: cc9961@albany.edu

By the end of this course you should have an understanding of:

• the basic concepts of statistical analysis
• how to calculate and interpret statistical techniques common to psychological research
• the rationale behind the use of different statistical techniques in various research contexts

Class lectures will highlight the basic logic of techniques described in the text, and will closely follow the assigned reading material. It is my belief that learning is an active process on the part of the student which is facilitated by the instructor. Thus, it is strongly suggested that students read the material prior to class, and, if necessary, make a list of questions. Class time should be used to make sure you know why and when various statistics are being computed, and to make sure you know what the numbers mean.

I will not be taking attendance past the first couple of class meetings. However, it is strongly recommended that you attend all classes. Regular class attendance will aid in your understanding of the material and give you the opportunity to ask questions. There will occasionally be material presented in class that is not in your book, and exams will emphasize material covered in lectures. If you miss a class, you are responsible for all lecture material and for any special announcements. It is your responsibility to get notes and announcements for any missed classes from other students.

You will be given a total of 8 homework assignments worth 10-15 points each, contributing a total of 100 points to your final grade. The purpose of the homework assignments is to help you master the concepts presented in class as well as allow me to monitor your understanding of the material. Assignments and due dates will be announced in class. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, it is your responsibility to hand it in to my mailbox by noon that day. Late homework will not be accepted under ANY circumstances.

Five non-cumulative exams will be given, including the final. Each exam will be worth a total of 75 points. I will drop the lowest exam grade. This means that the total number of possible points from exams is 300. The exams will consist of some true/false questions, some multiple choice and some calculation questions. The exams will emphasize more conceptual aspects of statistics rather than the calculations, although calculations will be required. Students must bring pencils, erasers, and calculators to the exams, as these will not be provided by the instructor. You may not share calculators with classmates during the exam. If you need to share a calculator, you will be required to wait until someone else has finished with their exam to borrow their calculator.

Random pop quizzes will be given at irregular intervals throughout the semester in order to identify problem areas in comprehension, in addition to providing an added incentive to attend class on a regular basis. Quizzes are generally given during the first 5-10 minutes of class, so it is in your best interest to be on time for class. You will not be allowed to make up a quiz if you are absent on the day is it given. However, the pop quizzes are not designed to punish those who fail to attend class but to provide extra points to those people who do attend and complete assigned readings in a timely manner. Thus, the quizzes will each be worth 2-3 points and will function like bonus questions on exams.

Grades will be based on performance on the homework assignments and exams. Your final grade will be based on a total of 400 possible points. The homework assignments are worth a total of 100 points, and the exams are worth a total of 300 points. A copy of my grading policy for final grades is attached.

Opportunities for extra credit will be announced after the second exam. These will probably include participation in experiments and various "bonus" assignments. It is my philosophy that extra credit is meant to compensate for an occasional poor performance on an exam or homework assignment. Extra credit is NOT meant to make up for missed assignments and general lack of effort. Therefore, students will only be allowed to gain enough extra credit points to boost their final grade one half letter grade.

Exams are expected to be completed on the day scheduled. Exams may be missed and made up only for the following reasons: illness, death in the family, unavoidable transportation delay, and religious obligations. In all cases, I must be notified within 24 hours of the exam time and the problem must be documented by a signed note from somebody I can call for verification. Make-up exams will most likely be longer and more difficult than regularly scheduled exams, so it would behoove you to make every effort to take the regularly scheduled exams. Under no conditions can a test be attempted more than once.

Failing a class does not justify getting an incomplete. This is university policy. Do not ask me to give you an incomplete because you are doing poorly in class. With several homework assignments, four exams, and extra credit, you have many opportunities to improve your grade.

In the Undergraduate Bulletin, you will find a section on academic integrity at the University at Albany. Included in this section is the university policy on plagiarism, cheating on exams, forgery, unauthorized collaboration, etc. READ IT!! It is your responsibility to make yourself familiar with the policy and I will hold you accountable for it. The penalty for cheating is an "E" in the course and a recommendation for expulsion to the Judiciary Committee. Cheating is defined as having advance knowledge of the contents of an exam without so notifying me/or answering exam questions on any basis beyond the ideas in your head. These rules also apply to homework assignments!

I have prepared a web page for this class. The purpose of the web page is to post assignments,

grades and additional information, as needed. The web address is:

Further information about the web page will be provided in class.

1. Offer introduction to central topics of discipline and interdisciplinary fields
2. Offer explicit rather than tacit understandings of the procedures, practices, methodology and fundamental assumptions of discipline
3. Recognize multiple perspectives on subject matter
4. Emphasize active learning in engaged environment that enables students to be producers as well as consumers of knowledge
5. Promote critical inquiry into the assumptions, goals and methods of various fields of academic study and aim to develop interpretive, analytic and evaluative competencies characteristic of critical thinking

1. Enable students to demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, terms and symbols that are used to analyze data
2. Enable students to demonstrate an ability to formulate problems in abstract form amenable to mathematical, statistical or logical analysis
3. Enable students to perform appropriate operations to draw conclusions from data
4. Enable students to demonstrate an ability to interpret and communicate quantitative information

90 – 100 A

67 – 69 C- (Minimum needed for APSYcredit)