PS908-7-FY: RESEARCH METHODS AND STATISTICS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Year: 2013/14
Department: Psychology
Essex credit: 30
ECTS credit: 15
Available to Study Abroad / Exchange Students: No
| Module is taught during the following terms |
| Autumn |  | Spring | | Summer | |
Module Description
This course concerns statistical analysis and design for experiments in Psychology to the level required for British Psychological Society graduate membership.
Course Objectives
1. To impart basic statistical skills for the analysis of data obtained in psychological experiments.
2. To teach the key characteristics of experimental design.
3. To develop statistical skills using computer packages.
4. To develop report writing skills.
Curriculum organisation and delivery
The course will be taught across a whole academic year using lectures and practical classes involving computers. It will start from an elementary level and develop quickly to advanced statistics based on the general linear model used in analysis of variance. Students will carry out a personal experimental project that will be discussed in class and in individual supervision.
Course outline
Lecture 1
Descriptive statistics. Introduction and definitions. The concept of a statistic.
Lecture 2
Variables (nominal, ordinal and interval) and appropriate statistics (mean, median and mode) and graphical techniques.
Lecture 3
Additive model. Variance. Standard scores.
Lecture 4
Correlation as a descriptive statistic.
Lecture 5
Linear regression and partitioning of scores.
Lecture 6
Review of descriptive statistics.
Lecture 7
Reading frequency histograms. Normal distribution.
Lecture 8
Estimating population means from samples. Distribution of the sample mean.
Lecture 9
Estimating population variance from samples. Biased estimates. Degress of freedom.
Lecture 10
Examination.
Lecture 11
Null hypothesis. Confidence intervals. Detecting rogue samples.
Lecture 12
Significance tests. One-sample and paired sample t-tests.
Lecture 13
Type I and II errors. One and two tailed tests. Related and unrelated pair designs.
Lecture 14
Comparing two variances.
Lecture 15
One-way analysis of variance.
Lecture 16
Introduction to a study
Lecture 17
Two-way analysis of variance.
Lecture 18
Analysis of variance, fixed and random factors.
Lecture 19
Review.
Lecture 20
Examination.
Learning & Teaching Methods
Lectures and workshops
Assessment
100 per cent Coursework Mark
Coursework:
End of term test 1 (at week 1 spring term) 10%
Ebd of module test (week 2 summer term) 40%
LAb report (to be submitted week 1 summer term) 2000 words 50%.
Exam Duration and Period
Other information
Compulsory for:
MSc in Psychology students
GDip in Psychology students
Last updated 15/9/12 Les
Bibliography
- Key Text:
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The course is not based on a specific textbook as adequate handouts will be supplied throughout. However, the following text is recommended for associated reading:
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Russo, R. (2003) Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences, Psychology Press.
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