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PSY375 -  Statistics for the Social SciencesCover picture of Sprinthall textbook

  COURSE WEBSITE:

 

Instructor: Dr. Davis - Office: Davis Hall #6
Phone: (508) 213-2126 - Email: TCDAVIS@NICHOLS.EDU

*Download the Fall 2007 course syllabus - Word (2.1 MB).

COURSE INFORMATION:

"The things of this world cannot be made known without a knowledge of mathematics"

-Philosopher Roger Bacon

• COURSE GOALS:
First, everyone can learn statistics. Second, learning statistics is like learning Spanish, French or any other language. This course teaches you how to use statistics (A.K.A. the "tools" of research). Most importantly, knowing when to use a tool is just as important as knowing how to use it. Therefore, my goal is to provide insight into the application of these tools. When you finish this required core psychology course, you will be able to understand and analyze statistical presentations of information. You will also be able to suggest more appropriate ways of understanding the world through statistics. Finally, you will become an informed consumer of statistical information.

• REQUIRED TEXTS:Sprinthall, Richard, C. (2007). Basic Statistical Analysis 8th. Ed.). Allyn & Bacon, ISBN: 0-205-49597-4. COMPUTER SOFTWARE: SPSS Student version. (2006). Prentice Hall.

• COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course, you should be able to...
1. Use deductive reasoning to know when to apply the correct statistical analysis! *This is the most important goal of this course!
2. Enjoy the process of exploring quantitative techniques using SPSS.
3. Effectively communicate basic statistics using descriptive methods and visual methods (e.g., constructing charts, classifying and summarizing data).
4. Identify the sources of probability, and calculate the probability of events.
5. Use sample statistics to make an educated guess about the characteristics of the population (A.K.A. statistical inferences and confidence intervals).
6. Quantify the certainty in an ambiguous situation (A.K.A. hypothesis testing).
7. Work productively in a team environment to generate data and effective written reports.

 



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