PSY120: Elementary Statistical Reasoning

Ohio University Spring 2010

Instructor: Dr. Dan Lassiter

Department of Psychology
Phone: (919) 267-6512 (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
E-mail: lassiter@ohio.edu (preferred method of contact)

Note: There will also be group moderators whom you will need to
communicate with. Contact information for these individuals can be found
under the "Your Professor" link. It is also very important that you check
your OU email account frequently, as this is the method of contact
moderators will use to convey private information to students.
Course Textbooks:
Author: Utts, Jessica M.
Title: Seeing Through Statistics
Edition/Publisher: 3rd edition, Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, a division
of Thompson Learning, 2005
ISBN-10 0-534-39402-7
ISBN-13 978-0-534-39402-8
Author: Howell, David C.
Title: Fundamental Statistics (for the Behavioral Sciences)
Edition/Publisher: 7th edition, Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2011
ISBN-10 0495811254
ISBN-13 978-0495811251
Note that the 6th edition of the Howell text is also acceptable.
Here is a link to ED MAP where you can obtain these two textbooks
(http://www.edmapbookstore.com/storefront/index/OUBSP). You may be able to
obtain the books more cheaply elsewhere, but ED MAP supposedly guarantees rapid
delivery. In any case, do not wait until the last minute to secure these books,
as
once the course begins it will be to late. The first assignment is due by the en
d of the
second day!
Course Description:
Introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on
descriptive statistics.
Course Overview:
This course fulfills a math requirement for many majors. This course aims
to provide an understanding of the basic statistical concepts and their
applications. The course includes 10 modules. To meet the module
objectives, you have to complete the assigned textbook readings, read
the lessons provided by the instructor, complete the module assignments,
and take the Midterm and the Final Exam. You will work independently to
complete all these tasks and thereby, understand the statistical concepts
covered in the course.
As this is an online course and lasts only 5 weeks you will need to
be highly motivated from start to finish. If you are to get all you
can from this course, you will need to stay up with the readings,
activities, assignments and exams. There is an enormous amount
of information and resources that have been incorporated into the
course to provide you with all the guidance and tools that you'll
need to master the material covered in the course, so be certain
you examine carefully everything built into the course to ensure
this is a successful learning experience for you. There are no
shortcuts.
In addition, you should be comfortable and able to navigate
online. If you do not have reasonable computer skills or generally
do not like to use computers, you may want to reconsider whether
an online format is an appropriate way for you to learn. A basic
understanding of how to use a computer and an Internet browser
is a prerequisite as I will not be providing or reviewing this
information as part of the course. More specifically, it is necessary
for you to know how to send and receive email messages, open
and view video files and listen to audio files, create file folders on
your computer and save files to these folders, save files to
portable storage media, attach files to email messages, and open
files attached to email messages. If you have never taken an
online course before, I highly recommend visiting the OU Online
website ( www.ohio.edu/ouonline) to learn how to work with the
online course system.
In this course, you will be graded on your performance in the following
activities:

1) Submitted Module Assignments: There are ten module assignments in

the course. You have to complete approximately two weekly. Note that
we have to keep to the same deadline for all students to be fair,
so it is best to turn in whatever work you have completed by the
deadline than to miss the deadline and receive no credit.
2) Midterm Exam: To be written near the end of the third week of the
course.
3) Final Exam: To be written by the end of the five weeks of the course.

The questions contained in the Module Assignments and the Exams are
drawn from the assigned textbook readings and the lessons. There will be
fact-based questions as well as understanding questions that require
application and computation solutions to statistical problems. All
submitted module assignments and exams are completed as "open
book/open notes/calculator allowed." However, the length of the exams
coupled with a strict time limit (2.5 hours) almost guarantee that no time
will be available to do more than use the textbooks to verify needed
formula and look up tabled values. Therefore, it is advised that you
prepare for the exams well ahead of time.
Course Learning Objectives:
On completing this course, the students will be able to:
Objective 1: Identify the basic statistical terms.
Objective 2: Apply the basic statistical concepts in solving problems.
Objective 3: Manifest increased awareness and appreciation for the
importance of scientific research.
Objective 4: Develop critical thinking skills in order to evaluate the vast
amount of statistical information in our society.
Objective 5: Apply statistical reasoning in various contexts.

Student Code of Conduct: The course is designed with the expectation

that each student will work independently. Failure to do so will result in
automatic failure from the course. The Ohio University Code of Student
Conduct prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty. For such behavior,
the student may fail the course or be expelled from the University.
Students should refer to the Ohio University Student Handbook for these
regulations.

http://www.ohio.edu/judiciaries/conduct_policy.cfm

Special Needs or Disabilities:

Students with documented special needs or a disability may request
special services. Students must register with the Office for Institutional
Equity and present documentation to qualify. You should contact the
office early and before the quarter begins, if possible. Call 740-593-2620
(TTD: 740-593-0193) or equity@ohio.edu the office for more information
or visit their Web site at Disabilities Services.
http://www.ohio.edu/disabilities/
Summary of Blackboard Site:
Please take a few minutes to review the important details associated with
accessing the course. To learn more about Blackboard and make sure you
and your computer are ready for the course, visit the Blackboard Support
Web site at www.ohio.edu/blackboard. Useful resources and links are also
included on the Academic Outreach Initiative RN-to-BSN Student
Knowledge Center:
http://www.outreach.ohio.edu/bsn/
If you have questions about navigating Blackboard or computer
compatibility with Blackboard, you have several resources:
Search the Blackboard Support page "Student How To" section.
Call the Ohio University Office of Information Technology (OIT) Service
Desk at 1-740-593-1222 (8am-8pm M-F; 11am-7pm S-S).
Email the OIT Service Desk at servicedesk@ohio.edu.
Questions about the RN-to-BSN program, navigating Blackboard,
or computer compatibility with Blackboard should not be directed
to the instructor.
Exam Procedures
The Midterm and the Final Exams must be taken in the presence of
a proctor, and proctors should be secured as soon as possible.
Problems with exams not reaching proctors can occur if proctors
are not secured far enough in advance of your scheduled exam
time, so take care of this ASAP! The exams are given in pencil-andpaper
(hardcopy) format, and for each one a 2.5 hour block of time is
allotted for its completion (like the assignments, exams are completed as
"open book/open notes/calculator allowed"). To access Exam Procedures,
click the "Assignments" link on the left panel (course menu) in your
Blackboard course site. There is information for the Athens Testing
Center, the OU Regional Campus Testing, and Non-OU Affiliated Proctors.
If after examining all the available information you still have
questions regarding securing a Proctor, please contact Dorinda
Hoyd, Ohio University Exam Coordinator at: hoydd@ohio.edu or 1888-
551-6446 or 740-593-2902.
Grades for assignments will typically be posted within 24 hrs. of the
deadline for submission, although sometimes that can be delayed. Correct
responses will be posted on your Group Discussion Board usually within
48hrs. of the deadline. Grading for exams takes considerably longer
because they get sent from proctors to OU, where they are held until all
are received, and then sent in batches to your particular group
moderator. It can easily take a week or longer to get feedback, depending
on whether you took the exam early or later in the opportunity window.
We do all we can to turn your work around as accurately and quickly as
possible, so please be patient!
Textbooks
The two textbooks for this course are both highly circulated and regarded
as student friendly. To access a summary of the required readings for this
course, see the "Course Outline and Schedule" below. The required readings
are summarized by module.
Module Lessons
The material in the module lessons is designed to aid in your study and
understanding of the assigned textbook readings. To access the lessons, click
the "Modules" link on the left panel (course menu) in your Blackboard course
site.
Each module begins by providing lecture notes for the specific chapter(s)
of the textbook. There are also many worked examples, as well as some
review questions to help solidify course materials. Most students choose
to print these materials. (To print content in Blackboard, right click on the
content you want to print and select "This Frame" and "Print Frame" if
you use Firefox or right click and select "Print" if you use Internet
Explorer.) The printed materials can be very helpful for completing both
the assignments and the exams. Further, approximately half the modules
have podcasts and/or additional audio and visual examples and notes. To
access this information, go to "Quick Links" and click on the link labeled
"Supplemental Instruction."
Submitted Module Assignments:
To access the Submitted Lesson Assignments, click the "Assignments" link
on the left panel (course menu) in your Blackboard course site. Then,
click the specific module lesson assignment.
Discussion Board:
To access the discussion board, click on the "My Groups" link and then
"Group Discussion Board." If you have questions, this is where they can
be posted. Often other students have exactly the information you are
looking for and thus can quickly provide you with an appropriate
response. So please use this feature of the class frequently both to pose
and answer questions that may come up. Your group moderator will
monitor the discussion and respond as needed typically within 24 hours.
If you feel you need to email instead of post a question be sure
you direct it to your designated group moderator to ensure
receiving a timely response.
Tutoring Help:
Although this course is designed to contain all the necessary information
and resources for students to successfully complete the course with
minimal additional assistance, we all sometimes need a little extra help.
Tutoring is available for a fee and accessible 24 hours a day, so if you are
feeling panicked about some aspect of the course material, please
consider using this service to help you overcome any rough patches! To
learn how to access tutoring help, go to "Quick Links" and open the pdf
file labeled "Tutoring Information."
Course Outline and Schedule:
The course is designed to be taught over 10 modules in a five-week
period. The following is an overview of the entire course including the
lessons, the assessments and due dates.
Module Topics Readings Assessments Due Dates
1. Introduction 1. Introduction
2. Basic Concepts
1. Howell: Chapter 1
2. Howell: Chapter 2 (to
Summative Notation)
3. Course Notes for Module 1
Submitted
Module
Assignment 1
Wednesday, Mar. 30,11:55 p.m.
2. Research Methods 1. Seven Critical
Componentsto a Good News
Report2. Measurements,
Mistakes,
and
Misunderstandings3. How to Get a Good
Sample4. Experiments andObservational Studies
1. Utts: Chapter 22. Utts: Chapter 33. Utts: Chapter 44. Utts: Chapter 55. Cours
e Notes for Module 2
Submitted
Module
Assignment 2
Saturday, Apr. 2, 11:55
p.m.
3. DescriptiveStatistics
1. Summation
Notation
2. Displaying Data3. Measures of
Central
Tendency4. Measures of
Variability
1. Howell: Chapter 2(Summation Notation)
1. Howell: Chapter 32. Howell: Chapter 43. Howell: Chapter 54. Utts: Chapter 75.
Course Notes for Module 3
Submitted
Module
Assignment 3
Wednesday, Apr. 6,11:55 p.m.
4. The Normal
Distribution
1. The Normal
Distribution
2. Z-score
Calculations
1. Howell: Chapter 62. Utts: Chapter 83. Course Notes for Module 4
Submitted
Module
Assignment 4
Saturday, Apr. 9, 11:55
p.m.
5. RelationshipsBetween
Measurement
Variables
1. Correlation
2. Regression
1. Howell: Chapter 9
2. Howell: Chapter 10
3. Utts: Chapter 10
4. Utts: Chapter 11
5. Howell: Appendix E. Table
E.10 (p. 604-607)
6. Course Notes for Module 5
Submitted
Module
Assignment 5
Wednesday, Apr. 13,11:55 p.m.
Mid-term Exam Mid-term Exam Reminder: Open-book and
Open-note (calculators
allowed)
Based on Assignments 1-5
Mid-term Exam Thursday, Apr. 14
to Sunday, Apr. 17,
11:55 p.m.
6. RelationshipsBetween CategoricalVariables
1. Chi-Square2. Plots, Graphs, and
Pictures
1. Howell: Chapter 192. Utts: Chapter 12, 133. Utts: Chapter 9
Submitted
Module
Assignment 6
Monday, Apr. 18,
11:55 p.m.
4. Course Notes for Module 6
7. Probability 1. Basic Concepts of1. Howell: Chapter 7Submitted Thursday, Apr.
21,
Probability 2. Utts: Chapter 16Module 11:55 p.m.
3. Utts: Chapter 17Assignment 7
4. Utts: Chapter 185. Course Notes for Module 7
8. Finding Life in1. Combinations and 1. Utts: Chapter 14Submitted Sunday, Apr.
24, 11:55
Data Permutations 2. Utts: Chapter 15Module p.m.
2. Reading theEconomic News
3. Course Notes for Module 8 Assignment 8
*Combined* 1. Introduction into 1. Howell: Chapter 8Submitted Wednesday, Apr. 27
,9. and 10. Inferential Basic 2. Howell: Chapter 12Module 11:55 p.m.
Statistics Hypothesis Testing 3. Utts: Chapter 214. Utts: Chapter 225. Utts: Cha
pter 236. Utts: Chapter 247. Howell: Appendix E. Table E.10
(p. 604-607)
8. Howell: Appendix E. Table E.6
(p. 596)
9. Course Notes for Module 9-10
(Combined)
Assignments#9 and #10
*combined*
Final Exam Final Exam Reminder: Open-book Final Exam Thursday, Apr. 28
and Open-note to Sunday, May 1,
(calculators allowed )
Based on Assignments 610
11:55 p.m.
Evaluation Criteria:
You will be evaluated on the following performance areas:

Ten Submitted Module Assignments based on the concepts covered in

the lessons.
A Midterm Exam. The Midterm Exam will be based on the concepts
covered in Lessons 1-5.
A Final Exam. The Final Exam will be based on the concepts covered in
Lessons 6-10.
Grading
Assignment 1 20 points 5%
Assignment 2 20 points 5%
Assignment 3 20 points 5%
Assignment 4 20 points 5%
Assignment 5 20 points 5%
Mid-term Exam (based upon Assignments 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5) 100 points 25%
Assignment 6 20 points 5%
Assignment 7 20 points 5%
Assignment 8 20 points 5%
Assignment 9 and 10 (combined) 40 points 10%
Final Exam (based upon Assignments 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) 100 points 25%
Totals 400 points 100%
Grading Scale (in points):
A 373.33-400.00 B320.00-
333.32 D+ 266.66-279.99
A360.00-
373.32 C+ 306.66-319.99 D 253.33-266.65
B+ 346.66-359.99 C 293.33-306.65 D240.00-
253.32
B 333.33-346.65 C280.00-
293.32 F 239.99 or below
(Actual grading is based on total points earned on the 10 assignments and 2
examinations.)