Course Format

This course is remote format, where students review recorded lectures and assignments are completed electronically. As such, there are several resources available to you for mastering course topics. Lecture, recitation, and calculation demonstration videos are posted to the UB: Learns page as well as copies of lecture slides and corresponding worksheets. Additionally, Mind Tap has a variety of resources beyond graded problem sets that you are encouraged to use as well (e.g., more demonstration videos, tutorials, and non-graded practice problems). Please note that this format relies heavily on students to work autonomously. However, there are optional recitation (lab) meetings most weeks where students can seek direct assistance from course personnel. Your assigned meeting corresponds to the “lab” section you selected during course registration.

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to introduce the basic statistical procedures used in modern psychological sciences. Students will gain both the conceptual and computational knowledge necessary to appropriately employ such statistical analyses. Topics include (but are not limited to) assessing and constructing graphs/tables, probability, descriptive and inferential statistics, correlation, prediction through regression, analysis of variance, and parametric versus nonparametric tests. By the end of this course students will recognize statistical analyses as an integral component to the scientific process. Students will not only be able apply such analytical techniques to their own research efforts but will develop their ability to critically evaluate conclusions derived from such procedures offered by scientific journals and the popular media.

Course Materials

Required Textbook Materials

Mind Tap – This is the online companion site to your textbook (see citation below). It contains a digital version of the text, the means to complete and submit your Mind Tap Problem Sets, as well as other useful demonstration videos and tutorials that facilitate your comprehension of the course material. Register for Mind Tap visiting the UB: Learns page and follow link called “Mind Tap Registration and Student Support.”

Gravetter, F.J., Wallnau, L.B., & Forzano, L.B. (2018). Essentials of Statistics for Behavioral Sciences, (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Course Technologies

Learning Outcomes

A complete list of Department of Psychology Undergraduate Program’s learning outcomes listed on following webpages: •    BA -http://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/psychology/undergraduate/ba.html

•   BS -http://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/psychology/undergraduate/bs.html .

Grades

Your performance in the course will be based on the following breakdown:

Grading Scale

The following are the percentage intervals used in assigned letter grades:

Incomplete Grades

An interim grade of incomplete (I) maybe assigned if the student has not completed all the requirements of the course. The I grade can only be assigned if the student has a passing average in the course requirements already completed and successful completion of unfinished coursework could result in a final grade better than the default grade. The instructor shall provide the student with specification, in  writing, of the requirements left to be fulfilled. An interim grade of I shall not be assigned to a student who did not complete assignments due to non-attendance in the course.

Assessments

Course grades will be determined by the student’s performance on the following components:

Exams

There will be 4 unit-specific exams and a cumulative final. The lowest exam score will be dropped and

each of the remaining 4 exams contribute 12.5% to your final grade. Exams are composed of a mixture of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and calculation-based questions.

Exams are completed on UB: Learns using the Respondus Lockdown Browser + Monitor software.

Students are responsible for ensuring their device and technologies work properly to complete every

exam. This includes compliance with UB’sMinimum Technology Requirements. Students must likewise adhere to the following rules when completing exams:

•    Complete exams on designated dates – Refer to the Course Schedule below to see the dates in

which students can access each exam. All exams are available for completion between 6:00 AM to 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

•    Exams are timed – Once an exam is accessed a countdown timer indicateshow much time is

remaining. If you exceed the allotted time your score may not be accepted, despite the system

allowing you to finish the remaining questions. Students are permitted 120 minutes for unit-specific exams and 210 minutes for the cumulative final.

•    Students are not permitted to use additional electronic devices – such as tablets, iPads,

smartphones, smartwatches, additional computers, etc. – while completing exams. Those who violate this policy will receive a 0 on the exam. Further disciplinary measures will be determined on a case-  by-case basis.

•    Students are not permitted to collaborate or communicate exam content - exams are to be

completed by yourself and you should not discuss content with others. Those who violate this policy will receive a 0 on the exam. Further disciplinary measures will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

•    However, there are several resources students are allowed to use:

1.   Calculators – non-smartphone-based devices with minimum of square-root and exponent functions. Scientific and graphing calculators are permitted. A scientific calculator is also  available in the Respondus Browser window when completing the exam.

2.   Physically printed notes – Printed copies of lecture slides, annotations, handwritten notes, completed worksheets, formula sheets, and tables are permitted for reference.

3.   Physical copy of textbook

4.   Electronic resources within the exam – Typically on the 2nd  question of each exam students will find hyperlinks to eBook websites, copies of tables and formula sheets, and other permitted

digital resources.

5.   Paper & Pencil for calculations - It is best practice to write your calculations where applicable.   Especially for your own reference during the exam review period after results are released. Credit and partial credit are sometimes awarded for cases with rounding errors if students submit written

work when requested.

•    Exam disruption policy – Students should contact the professor immediately ([email protected]) in cases of technology issues experienced after entering the exam – such as internet disruption or

device failure.

•    Exam make-up/extension policy – Students are required to submit documentation of a university

sanctioned excuse to qualify. Technology failures experienced during or prior to completing an exam are not valid excuses. Ensure you have alternative methods for completing exams if your primary

device is not working properly.

Recitation Video Assignments

PSY207 is a 4-credit course, which means there is a dedicated lab meeting (recitation). However, since this is a remote course, recitations will beheld virtually by watching videos and completing in-video questions. Links to both videos and the accompanying worksheets can be found within a unit’s dedicated folder on the UB: Learns page. Solutions to the companion recitation worksheets are posted after the recitation’s due date. There are a total of 12 recitation video assignments to complete and the lowest recitation assignment score will be dropped. Then the average of the remaining 11 scores will contribute 15% to your final grade.

Mind Tap Problem Sets

Problem sets are online homework accessed via the Mind Tap course. The average score across these

assignments will contribute 35% to your final grade. They are due at 11:59 PM ET on designated dates

(see Course Schedule for details) It strongly suggested that you do not procrastinate and complete these    assignments after exposure to each chapters’ material (i.e., watching lecture videos, completing recitation assignments).

These assignments aim to cultivate a deeper understanding of the course material. Give yourself enough time to complete these assignments by their deadlines. You will be allowed 3 attempts for each

question within the problem set and only the highest scoring attempt will contribute to your final grade.

There are 14 problem sets assigned over the semester’s duration, but only 12 of those scores will contribute to your final grade (i.e., lowest two scores dropped).