PS115-4-FY-CO:
Statistics for Psychologists
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Psychology
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 4
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
06 May 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
PS212, PS414, PS416
The module provides step-by-step training in the analysis of psychological data, including the use of computer packages for data analysis. The module covers descriptive statistics (emphasising the best way to summarize findings), and inferential statistics (deciding what conclusions can be made from data). The techniques covered in the module will be used in the Year 1 research methods module (PS114) and throughout all three years of your degree course.
The main purpose of the module is to make you a better psychologist by giving you the skills to analyse and present psychological data, and to improve your ability to understand and assess the psychological research that others have carried out. This will include learning quantitative methods for analysing empirical data, both by hand and using computer packages.
The techniques covered in the module will be used in the Year 1 research methods module (PS114) and throughout all three years of your degree course. You will learn how to:
1. Apply statistical theory and knowledge of experimental design to research questions from psychological science.
2. Effectively test research hypotheses using standard statistical techniques (e.g., t-tests, correlations, linear regression).
3. Analyse and interpret quantitative information relevant to psychological research in graphs, figures, and tables and determine whether appropriate statistical tests have been used.
4. Analyse and present numerical data and use statistical techniques in the process of experimental analysis and design.
5. Use appropriate computer software to analyse quantitative data.
The first four of these outcomes are assessed in the written coursework test and the final exam. The final two outcomes are also assessed in the computer-based assignment.
Lectures introduce the concepts necessary for understanding descriptive and inferential statistics. We provide lots of time for going over tricky concepts and examining examples of how statistics are used in psychological research. There are exercises to be completed both during and after the lectures, giving students the chance to reinforce what they have learned.
Practical sessions provide hands-on training in analysing data, usually involving the use of a computer package. You will be given a series of exercises to work through in these classes: these include explanation and guidance on how to analyse data, and plenty of practice on the techniques covered in the module. Please bring a calculator, notebook for recording your answers and your most recent set of lecture notes to these classes.
Lectures take place in a two-hour slot each week. During lectures you will learn about statistical theory and concepts, and you will also practice calculations and other techniques with the instructor. Questions and discussion are strongly encouraged.
The concepts learned in the lectures will be supported by regular practice with statistical exercises in the form of practical sessions and homework exercises. In the practical sessions you will learn how to perform calculations and use statistical software with an instructor and a smaller group of students. Additional exercises are made available online for practice throughout the course.
We will teach you to use a specialised computer package for data analysis (IBM SPSS Statistics). As well as the time in the practical classes, students are encouraged to use this package outside of class and it is installed on computers in the Psychology Department and elsewhere on campus. SPSS can also be installed on your own computer, free of charge.
This module will be taught by blended learning. This will combine online material and face-to-face sessions where appropriate. There are also regular opportunities to meet for extra support from the module instructors.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Exam |
Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Additional coursework information
Statistics Test 1 is a written test and takes place at the beginning of Term 2. The test assesses the Term 1 material.
The SPSS Assignment is a computer-based coursework assignment and takes place at the beginning of Term 3. This assignment assesses your ability to analyse, interpret and report data using the skills you have learned in the practical classes in both Term 1 and Term 2.
The End-of-year Examination is a written examination, which tests all of the material covered in the module and includes short answer questions requiring some calculations.
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Tom Foulsham, email: foulsham@essex.ac.uk.
Prof Miroslav Sirota, email: msirota@essex.ac.uk.
Dr. Miroslav Sirota, Dr. Tom Foulsham, Dr. Loes Van Dam, Dr. Elia Valentini
e-mail: msirota@essex.ac.uk or foulsham@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 184 hours, 44 (23.9%) hours available to students:
140 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Psychology
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