DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY PSY349: DESIGN AND STATISTICS III UNIT OUTLINE

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
PSY349: DESIGN AND STATISTICS III
UNIT OUTLINE
Unit chair: A/Prof Mike Jones
Year and Semester: 2011 Semester 2
Welcome.
Students in this unit should read this unit outline carefully at the start of semester. It contains
important information about the unit. If anything in it is unclear, please consult one of the
teaching staff in the unit.
Copyright Macquarie University 2011
MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Human Sciences
Psychology Department
Unit Outline
PSY 349, 2011
1
ABOUT THIS UNIT
You will find PSY349 a very useful unit for working with real data. It is an advanced unit, which
covers both the design and statistical components of experimental and non-experimental
psychological research but has an emphasis on non-experimental research. The unit is
fundamentally different from previous undergraduate statistics units at Macquarie in that it
treats statistical methods in the context of a holistic framework rather than as individual tools.
The framework used is the Generalized Linear Model. Topics covered include multiple
regression, non-linear relationships, non-orthogonal designs, analysis of covariance, logistic
regression and general model reduction procedures. Applications are drawn from the social
sciences.
Practical classes are based on the use of the statistical computer program SPSS. You are
expected to have had prior experience in the use of SPSS including reading raw data files,
accessing pre-existing data files and retrieving SPSS save files. There are several ways of
accessing SPSS and you will be informed of your options during the first week of lectures. You
will also be expected to access the PSY349 unit Web Page each week for unit notices and
information regarding data files etc.
Successful completion of the unit will add 3 Credit Points to your transcript.
The address of the PSY349 website is accessed via your online learning account at:
https://learn.mq.edu.au
Prerequisite (PSY248/222): PSY349 builds on the material in PSY248 so you are expected to
be familiar with the content of that unit in addition to the new material covered in PSY349.
Basic numeracy and basic algebra are assumed. If you feel you lack this knowledge, it is
essential that you review your PSY248 notes.
It is now University policy that the University issued email account will be used for
official University communication. All students are required to access their University
account frequently.
TEACHING STAFF
Unit chair and lecturer
A/Prof Mike Jones
C3A 516
x 8601
Unit practical staff
A/Prof Mike Jones†
Dr Eugene Chekaluk†
Ms Alissa Beath
Mr Luke Egan
†
C3A 516
x 8601 or [email protected]
C3A 527
x 8009 or [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
or by appointment
PSY 349, 2011
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Contacting staff
During the first practical class your tutor will inform you of their consultation arrangements.
Outside of their office hours the best way of contacting your tutor is by email. As well, all staff
phones are connected to the University voicemail system where messages can be left. If your
tutor is one of the casual staff and you cannot contact them then contact the unit chair.
For any questions that relate to the unit content rather than you yourself we encourage you to
use the discussion board on Blackboard. Staff will not answer questions about assignments,
exams etc via personal email, these must be posted on Blackboard. On the other hand any
questions of a personal nature should be directed to your tutor or the unit chair.
CLASSES
The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at:
http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/
The semester starts on Monday, 1st August and ends on Friday, 11th November. Our last PSY
349 lecture will be on Wednesday 9th November. The examination period is between
November 14 and December 2. Do not plan your holidays until you know the exact date of the
PSY349 final exam, the date of which is set by the Academic Program Section (APS).
Lecture schedule
There are three hours of lectures each week. They are not compulsory but are considered
essential to understanding the unit material. The lectures are designed for on-campus students
and contain a considerable amount of visual material that makes listening to recordings of the
lectures not an adequate substitute to actually being at the lectures. The lecture content will
begin with a review of data including data structure, data quality and descriptive statistics.
Following this, statistical modelling will be covered with special reference to the General Linear
Model (GLM). The GLM includes regression models (simple and multiple), the t-test, oneway
ANOVA models, factorial ANOVA models (balanced and unbalanced), ANCOVA models and
models involving statistical control with mixed measurement independent variables. For these
models we will only concern ourselves with models which have one, numeric dependent
variable. Logistic Regression will also be covered involving one categorical dependent
variable. As our models become more complex (i.e., have increasing numbers of independent
variables), we will discuss the process of model reduction.
Students who are absent because of medical or other extenuating circumstances must submit a
Request for Special Consideration form (and Professional Authority if reason is medical, clearly
stating the reasons for the absence). The form is available outside the Psychology Office or
can be downloaded from http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/Forms/APScons.pdf This should be
submitted to the Student Enquiry Services as soon as possible.
PSY 349, 2011
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Proposed Plan of Unit
Below is the proposed plan for 2011. All lectures are prepared by and most are delivered by
A/Prof Mike Jones. During the unit exact dates for practical reports and the availability of any
supplementary materials will be available through the PSY349 Web Page.
W
Monday Date
st
Topic
Textbook Reading
Assessment
A&F Chapter 9
Weekly tutorial
report
A&F Chapter 10 & 11
Weekly tutorial
report
Supplementary notes
Weekly tutorial
report
A&F Chapter 14,
section 5
Weekly tutorial
report
A&F Chapter 12
Weekly tutorial
report
Weekly tutorial
report
Weekly tutorial
report
Weekly tutorial
report
Weekly tutorial
report
Weekly tutorial
report +
Project Due
Weekly tutorial
report
1
1 August
2
8th August
3
15th August
4
22nd August
5
29th August
6
5th September
7
12th September
8
3rd October
Administration
An overview of the unit
A new look at simple linear
regression
Expanding the right hand side of a
regression model – multiple
regression
Badly behaved data: what to do
- outliers
- non-Normal residuals
- heteroscedacity
Generalizing the right hand side of a
regression model – curvilinear
relationships
Generalizing the right hand side of a
regression model – ANOVA
Generalizing the right hand side of a
regression model – ANCOVA (1)
Generalizing the right hand side of a
regression model – ANCOVA (2)
Model reduction (1)
9
10th October
Model reduction (2)
Supplementary notes
10
17th October
Model reduction (3)
Supplementary notes
11
24th October
A&F chapter 14,
section 4
12
31st October
13
7th November
Generalizing the left hand side of a
regression model (1) – Gamma
distribution
Generalizing the left hand side of a
regression model (2) – logistic
regression
Finish logistic regression & Review
A&F Chapter 13
A&F Chapter 13
Supplementary notes
A&F Chapter 15
Weekly tutorial
report
A&F Chapter 15
Weekly tutorial
report
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS
Unit textbooks
The textbooks for the unit are:
1. Agresti A and Finlay B. 2009. Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences, 4th edition.
Pearson. Upper Saddle River, NJ
PSY 349, 2011
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2. A full set of PowerPoint Lecture notes and supplementary notes will be available from
the unit web page.
Additional reading list
The following are a set of potentially useful references. Students are not required to have or
read these texts but may find them useful.
Howell, D.C. (1997). Statistical methods for psychology (seventh edition). Belmont, California:
Duxbury Press.
UNIT WEB PAGE
To access the PSY349 website go to the online learning page and enter your username and
password at - http://learn.mq.edu.au/
We will use the page to communicate important information and to provide downloadable
resources during the semester so please visit it at least weekly.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Professional Skills
1. The ability to clearly and concisely communicate quantitative research results to your peers
2. The ability to read journal articles of primary research studies and critically review their
research design and data analysis
Research skills
3. An enhanced awareness of the connection between research design and data analytic
methods
4. An understanding of the peculiar complexities of non-experimental research designs with
respect to their data analysis and interpretation
5. An understanding of the framework of data analysis methods that exist within the
Generalized Linear Model
6. An enhanced awareness of which analysis method to choose for a given research design,
type of data and research question
7. An ability to undertake data analysis using SPSS that answers practical questions in
psychology research
PSY 349, 2011
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Graduate Capabilities
Successful completion of this unit will assist students to develop n a number of the Macquarie
University graduate capabilities.
In particular it will help you to develop in terms of:
Graduate capability 1 (discipline specific knowledge and skills): This will occur through
understanding the application of quantitative statistical methods to non-experimental research
in psychology. Although the unit is about „statistics‟ learning occurs in the context of research in
psychology.
Graduate capability 2 (critical, analytical and integrative thinking): The unit encourages critical
review of the connection between research hypotheses, study design and analytical methods.
This unit is particularly designed for students intending to apply for the Psychology Honours
program and frequent reference is made to connections between what is learnt in class and
what students will encounter in the 4th year projects.
Graduate capability 3 (problem solving and research capability): This unit is focussed on
preparing students for research degrees later in their academic career and beyond. It stresses
dealing with practical problem in the research context.
Graduate capability 5 (effective communication): Clever research and data analysis is not
useful to society unless it is effectively communicated in a way that others can understand and
appreciate. The unit‟s assessment tasks all involve explaining the results of statistical analyses
to a lay (non-technical) colleague. Suggestions on how to communicate statistical results to
others are discussed extensively.
Graduate capability 8 (Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative): One of
the most difficult lessons to learn from this unit is that applied statistical analysis is a
combination of technical issues and context-specific judgement. A statistical analysis does not
always yield a black-and-white result and the most appropriate analytical approach is not
always clearcut.
PSY 349, 2011
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Relationship between assessment tasks and unit learning outcomes and graduate capabilities
Task
Weight
Due Date
Linked Unit Outcomes
Linked Graduate
Capabilities
2, 3, 5 and 8
Practical reports
(weekly)
26%
At start of each 1, 3, 5 and 7
week
Practical project
26%
23 October
1, 2, 3, 4 and 7
2, 3 and 5
Exam period
4, 5 and 6
1, 2
End of semester 48%
exam
PSY 349, 2011
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Brief description including word
length
Brief report on practical data analysis
tasks, no particular word length. Must
demonstrate ability to choose and
undertake data analysis and demonstrate
communication skills.
Assess students‟ ability to critically
analyze a practical research problem,
determine the approach analytic
approach, undertake the analysis and
communicate effectively to their peers.
Assesses students‟ knowledge and
ability to apply that knowledge to
practical interpretive problems.
Generic Skills
In addition to numerical and statistical skills I believe PSY349 strengthens problem solving
skills, computing and word processing skills and critical analysis skills.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASSESSMENT AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment
The assessment for the unit will consist of three components: 1. Tutorial assessments – total 26%
2. Practical project: a practical data analysis project 26%
3. A final exam worth 48% (multiple choice questions)
Tutorial assessments: The unit‟s tutorial program is vital for students to have a first-hand
understanding of the material and its application in psychology research. Each week (starting
week 1) there will be a set of practical tasks to complete. Most weeks this will involve a simple,
practical data analysis and interpretation task although some weeks students are given SPSS
output to interpret and answer some questions using the output. The requirement to complete a
small on-line report each week will help ensure that students keep up with the unit material
week-by-week. Tutors will then work through the solution during tutorial sessions. Each report
is completed via Blackboard. This item will assist with learning objectives 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7.
Practical project: PSY349 is a practical data analysis for psychologists unit and hence half the
assessment in the unit is practical data analysis. In the practical project students are asked to
address a practical research question and must operationalise it and determine an appropriate
course of analysis with only general directions. SPSS commands needed to complete portfolio
tasks will not be provided for you. You will be expected to have learnt the required SPSS
commands through understanding the demonstration programs used in lectures and practical
assignments and through your own practice with SPSS. The practical project is due by midnight
on Sunday 23rd October. This item will assist with learning objectives 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. Your
project report, with comments, will be returned to you within 4 weeks of the due date or the date
you submit, whichever is later.
The final exam: This will be a 3-hour exam conducted during the official university examination
period. You will be allowed to take into this exam up to 4 double-sided A4 sheets (i.e., 8 sides)
of summary notes plus a calculator. Statistical tables will not be required or allowed. Overall
the final exam will assess knowledge, but not in a rote fashion, your understanding, through
interpretative tasks, and ability to apply knowledge gained to practical problem solving in
psychology research. Your understanding of SPSS is examinable including use of SPSS
syntax. This item will assist with learning objectives 4, 5 and 6.
Overall grades for the unit will be determined by adding together marks for the tutorial
assessments, the practical project and the final examination. Scaling may be undertaken. See
page 10 for the university policy on grading.
PSY 349, 2011
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TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGY
Lecture ethics
In large (statistics) lectures noise can often be a problem. In the interest of your colleagues and
the lecturer please remain quiet during lectures. It is impossible to learn while people around
you are talking. Questions directed to the lecturer are encouraged but please keep talking
between yourselves to an absolute minimum. If you wish to carry on a conversation with
another student please leave the lecture. The lectures are electronically recorded using the
iLecture system and will be available using the unit web page. If you wish to tape the lectures
on your personal tape recorder please discuss your request with the unit chair. As a general
rule, please turn off your mobile phone. However, it may be useful for you to bring your
calculator to the lectures.
Tutorial classes
Changes to all units can be done on-line via eStudent. After week 2, no further changes will be
entertained unless supporting documentation about the reason for changing is provided and
there is space in the tutorial you wish to change into.
Tutorial exercises will be available in a separate handout. Tutorial classes start in week 2 but
there is an online report due on the Sunday after the first week of semester. You are required
to attend one 1-hour tutorial class each week. They are compulsory. Tutorial classes have
been allocated by computer when you enrolled. If you need to change tutorial classes you
must see the unit chair. You may only move to a class, which is under the maximum class size
for the allocated tutorial room.
Tutors will work through the tutorial exercises and please note that solutions to tutorial
exercises are not placed in the library and are not available from the tutors or unit chair. If you
miss a practical arrange to see another student's solution.
Tutorial exercises are also assessable. Each week a short report on an interpretation or
analysis and interpretation task needs to be submitted and each report is worth 2% of the
marks in the unit. Reports must be completed within Blackboard by midnight on the Sunday
before the week in which it will be discussed. For example, the report for week 1 must be
emailed by midnight on 7th August. The Blackboard system will not accept submissions after
that time and a mark of zero for that week will be recorded if no report is submitted on-time.
Please note that exam questions may come from tutorial exercises.
Use of computers and SPSS
The practical component of the unit is based on the SPSS statistical package. You will be
required to use SPSS outside of class hours for approximately 15-60 minutes per week
preparing material for practical classes. Some practical project tasks will require SPSS
sessions. SPSS may be used interactively in practical classes to illustrate the use of the
computer for statistical analysis.
Students with their own personal computers can purchase a version of SPSS from the Co-Op
Bookshop. If you already own a copy of SPSS and it is older than that used in lectures or
tutorials do not worry, the SPSS procedures used in this unit have not changed in any
meaningful way for many versions. Data files for use in tutorials will available for download
from the PSY349 Blackboard page under “practical datasets”.
PSY 349, 2011
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Dr Taylor‟s document “Using SPSS for Windows for PSY222” which is referred to in the
Practical descriptions is available from the PSY349 web page. This document will be helpful for
students unfamiliar with SPSS. See also Dr Taylor‟s own webpage for valuable resources on
using SPSS (follow links for the PSY349 website.)
Learning Opportunities from the Library
The Library provides a range of learning opportunities aimed at developing student capabilities
in research and information technology. Topics covered include:

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




computer essentials
navigating the Macquarie University website
getting started in your online unit
using the library catalogue and e-readings to locate key references
using research databases to find journal articles
locating scholarly information on the Internet
effective searching of the Internet
You can choose to learn online or at face-to-face session in the library. More information is
available at:
Web: www.lib.mq.edu.au - Follow the links to Training Phone: 9850 7399
The practical project
Unless otherwise stated the practical project must be submitted as a Word document attached
to the email address indicated below. The practical project is due by midnight on Sunday 23rd
October.
Please note:
1. Practical project reports must be submitted electronically as a Word 2003 or 2007 (PC) or
2004 or 2008 (Mac) file attached to an email to [email protected] The
email title must include your name and student number
2. The assignment cover sheet must also be attached with all details completed and check
boxes ticked, including the statement around plagiarism.
3. There will be no physical drop box for hardcopies of assignments
4. Assignments submitted by post will not be accepted.
As noted above, all project reports submitted must be accompanied by a completed and signed
Psychology Department coversheet. Portfolios may not be accepted unless correct cover sheet
is completed and signed. “Assignment” coversheets are available outside the Psychology Office
or can be downloaded from the Department of Psychology website,
http://www.psy.mq.edu.au/pdf/coversheet.pdf
PSY 349, 2011
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Scale of penalties
Please be sure to proof read your practical project reports, as no unattached "addendums" will
be accepted. Extensions will not be granted for reports and a late penalty of one mark per day
will be enforced. The late penalty will not be applied if you can supply a medical certificate
covering the appropriate time period, or if there are other extenuating circumstances. Please
do not ask for extensions - rather submit the tasks as soon as possible after the due date with a
medical certificate or covering letter. Provided the grounds are reasonable, the late penalty will
not be applied. No work can be accepted after marked project reports are handed back to
students.
In recent years we have had a number of problems with students copying other students' work
and submitting as their own work. Firstly, we encourage students to discuss their work with
each other. Secondly, however, we expect that at the stages of computations and written
expressions, each task will be the student‟s own work.
Please read the Department‟s policy on plagiarism (Academic Honesty). You will find a link to it
on the PSY349 Web Page.
It is in your interest to keep a hard- or electronic copy of your submitted work. Firstly, to be able
to produce the copy if your original goes missing, and, secondly, to be able to produce an
unmarked copy in the case of requesting a re-mark. If you request a re-mark you will need to
submit an unmarked copy of your work, which will be marked by a different marker, and you will
receive the revised mark which may be either higher or lower than the original mark. If you
wish to request a re-mark you will need to collect a Department of Psychology Application for
Re-mark form from the Faculty of Human Sciences Student Office in C3A and follow its
directions. You can also find a link to these forms on the PSY349 Web Page.
The University Examination period in Second Half Year 2011 is from November 14th to
December 2nd, 2011 (inclusive).
You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the
University Examination Timetable. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately
eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately
four weeks before the commencement of the examinations.
http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/exam
The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of
documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider
applying for Special Consideration. Information about unavoidable disruption and the special
consideration process is available at http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/Forms/APSCon.pdf
If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process the
examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period.
Supplementary Examination in the Department of Psychology will be held on the:
15th and 16th of December, for Semester Two 2011.
You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for
individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available
until the end of the teaching semester, that is the final day of the official examination period.
Department policy on supplementary exams
Please review the definitions of unavoidable disruption to study in the Macquarie Calendar.
You should clearly understand that no one has any authority to act outside the terms of those
PSY 349, 2011
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Rules. If through illness or misadventure you are granted an IS grade for the exam you will
need to check the Department‟s website for details of your supplementary exam (see below).
Dates cannot be varied for the convenience of students. Students who are granted to sit for a
supplementary exam must make themselves available to sit for the supplementary exam on the
specified dates.
Supplementary examinations will be in such form as the examiner deems appropriate in the
circumstances; in particular, they need not follow the same format as the original examination.
Exam content and/or assessment standards may be varied to allow for the extra time available
for prior study, so as to ensure equity relative to students who have undertaken the normal
examinations.
Supplementary Exams/Special Consideration Website
Supplementary Exams are only offered to students who have satisfactorily completed all other
assessments for the unit and were unable to sit the final exam.
Instructions on applying for sitting of a supplementary exam are available from the website,
www.psy.mq.edu.au/speccond. It is the student‟s responsibility to follow the steps outlined in
this website. An email will be sent to the student advising them of the outcome of their request
for a supplementary exam. If a supplementary exam has been granted it is the student‟s
responsibility to check the Department of Psychology Special Consideration website for
information relating to the date and location of the supplementary exam.
Students who are granted to sit for a supplementary exam must make themselves available to
sit for the supplementary exam on the specified dates. There will be only one alternative time. It
is the student‟s responsibility to email the Psychology Office, [email protected] to confirm
attendance to the supplementary exams.
Requests for special consideration and appeals against grades
Please refer to the Faculty of Human Sciences website http://www.humansciences.mq.edu.au/
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic honesty is an integral part of the core values and principles contained in the
Macquarie University Ethics Statement. The Policy covering Academic Honesty is available on
the web at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Plagiarism is an example of dishonest academic behaviour and is defined by the Policy on
Academic honesty as: “Using the work or ideas of another person and presenting this as your
own without clear acknowledgement of the source of the work or ideas”.
Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties. The
Academic honesty Procedure is available at
http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/procedure.html
This procedure notes the following responsibilities for students:
Act in accordance with the principles of the Academic Honesty Policy.
Become familiar with what academic dishonesty is, what are appropriate referencing
techniques and the consequences of poor practice.
Seek assistance from the unit convenor (or their nominee) to remedy any deficits or if
you are unsure of discipline specific practice.
Submit only work of which you are the author or that properly acknowledges others.
Do not lend your original work to any other person for any reason.
Keep drafts of your own authored work and notes showing the authorship or source of
ideas that are not your own.
PSY 349, 2011
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The penalties which can be applied for academic dishonesty are outlined in the Academic
Dishonesty – Schedule of Penalties which can be found at:
http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/schedule_penalties.html
The penalties range from applying a fail grade for the assessment task or requiring the student
to re-submit the assessment task for a mark no greater than 50 to applying a fail grade to the
unit of study and referral to the University Discipline committee.
You must read the University's Policy and Procedure on Academic Honesty.
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON GRADING
Academic Senate has a set of guidelines for the achievement of grades across the range from
fail to high distinction. Your final result will include one of these grades plus a standardised
numerical grade (SNG).
On occasion your raw mark for a unit (i.e., the total of your marks for each assessment item)
may not be the same as the SNG which you receive.
For more information please refer to the Macquarie University Handbook.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
On matters pertaining to the regulations, the Registrar‟s Office should be consulted or, within
the Department of Psychology, Dr Julia Irwin, Director of Undergraduate Studies. Students with
disabilities who have problems within the Department should consult Ms Radha Pathy, the
Disability Liaison Officer. If your difficulties cannot be resolved by these members of staff you
should consult the Head of Department.
If you have a major difficulty associated with writing skills, you could enrol in a short course on
writing skills. For details go to:
http://www.ling.mq.edu.au/support/writing_skills/index.htm
PSY 349, 2011
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