SRM 602 Statistical Methods I Spring, 2016, Longmont, CO February 6/7, February 20/21, and March 5/6: 8:00 a.m. = 5:00 p.m. Instructor: Randy Larkins 526 McKee Hall University of Northern Colorado (970) 351-2416 randy.larkins@unco.edu Office Hours: M-W Noon 3:00 p.m. Purpose of the Course: This course is designed to introduce you to basic concepts, issues, and procedures related to descriptive and inferential statistics. Course Objectives: Following completion of this course, students should be able to: Select the appropriate statistical procedure for a given data set and research question/hypothesis Conduct statistical analyses using the SAS or SPSS computer packages, with an emphasis on appropriate interpretation and communication of the results Apply basic data collection methods and interpret sampling distribution Implement statistical inference from a sample about one population and some populations means and proportions Demonstrate understanding of relationships among various statistical concepts covered in this course and the implications of those relationships for designing and interpreting quantitative research Required Textbook: Glass, G. V., & Hopkins, K. D. (1996). Statistical methods in education and psychology (3 rd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Required Software Assignments will be run using both SPSS and SAS statistical packages, which are available online at: uncoit.atlassian.net/wiki/pages/viewpage.action?pageid=24707411
You can also use SAS and/or SPSS in the McKee Hall computer lab, Room 538. Assistance with SAS and SPSS programming is also available in the lab. The lab phone number is 351-1684. Examples illustrating how to conduct and interpret various statistical analyses will also be posted on Blackboard. Details regarding your assignments will be provided on separate handouts that will be posted on Blackboard. You also will need a calculator for this course. Course Requirements: Course grades will be based on two exams (25% each) and five computer assignments (5% each), final research report (15%), and class participation (10%). For assignments turned in late (without a compelling reason for the late submission) a half letter grade will be deducted for every day late. Exams: The two exams will be take-home exams for which you may use any "non-human" resource, i.e., you may consult textbooks, journal articles, handouts, library resources, and/or class notes, but may not discuss the exam in any way with other people, including people either within or outside the class. Evidence of collaboration on an exam will result in an automatic grade of F on that exam for the individuals involved in the collaboration. Those individuals will also be required to take subsequent exams under timed and proctored conditions. Exams will consist of essay-type conceptual questions, hand calculations, and interpretation of computer printouts. Computer Assignments: Most of the assignments will be completed during the class and will require you to submit a typed report that will generally follow APA guidelines for research reports (see the 5 th or 6 th edition of the APA manual for examples). If you are not familiar with APA style, you should purchase a copy of the sixth edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, which should be available at the UNC bookstore. The purpose of the write-ups for the computer assignments is to provide you with the opportunity to become comfortable writing about research so that doing so for your dissertation or other research projects will not be so "painful." Your write-ups should be in narrative form with complete sentences (i.e., not an outline or list) and should be well-organized and free from spelling, grammatical, and typographical errors. Students are encouraged to work in groups on the computer assignments and to turn in a single report with the names of the group members listed (maximum of 3 students per group). It should be understood that all members of a group receive the same score on computer assignments completed together. Assignments are due by midnight on the specified due date indicated in the syllabus. Specific instructions for each assignment will be posted on Blackboard. Research Report: In lieu of a final exam, you will be asked to conduct and interpret data analyses based on survey data that I will provide at a later date. You will be required to conduct both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses needed to answer a series of research questions. This activity will give you the opportunity to review the various analyses we have covered throughout the semester and to apply them to a single data set, much as you would need to do in a "real" study. Specific requirements for the research report will be described in a handout posted on Blackboard at a later date in the semester.
Grading Distribution: Letter grades will be determined based on the following table: A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79% D 60-69% F < 60% Regulations and Policies Academic Integrity: The University of Northern Colorado's Student Code of Conduct (http://www.unco.edu/dos/assets/pdf/studentcodeofconduct.pdf) strictly prohibit any form of academic misconduct. All incidents of alleged plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty will be investigated and violations of academic integrity will result in a consequence that may be as severe as an F in the class and a recommendation for expulsion. Accommodations Statement: Students who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Disability Support Services, voice/tty (970) 351-2289, or fax (970) 351-4166, or visit www.unco.edu/dss as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Inclusivity Statement: The College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (CEBS) supports an inclusive learning environment where diversity and individual differences are understood, respected, appreciated, and recognized as a source of strength. We expect that students, faculty, administrators and staff within CEBS will respect differences and demonstrate diligence in understanding how other peoples perspectives, behaviors, and worldviews may be different from their own. Furthermore, as stated by UNC, The University will not engage in unlawful discrimination in educational services against any person because of race, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status. It is the University s policy to prohibit discrimination in educational services on the basis of sexual orientation or political affiliation. (See http://www.unco.edu/hr/aaeo_titleix.htm). Please visit the CEBS Diversity and Equity Committee website for more information on our commitment to diversity (http://www.unco.edu/cebs/diversity). Extra Credit: There will be no opportunities for extra credit assignments. The workload for the course is already sufficiently heavy, providing ample activities for students to demonstrate their proficiency (or lack thereof) on the course concepts. Resubmission of Assignments: Assignments may not be redone and resubmitted in order to improve a grade. However, students may opt to resubmit computer assignments for feedback purposes only, for example, if they feel this will help them improve their understanding of the course concepts. Blackboard Class components, Syllabus, Notes, Assignments, exams, discussion forums, exams, and the grades are accessed through a software package called Blackboard, and you will need to log into Blackboard using your UNC username and password. To access to BB you need to login into the following homepage: https://unco.blackboard.com/webapps/login/
Use your UNC username and password to log into Blackboard, then click on the SRM 602 link. You will see navigation buttons on the left taking you to the different locations. If you experience problems accessing Blackboard, you should contact help desk on 970-351-help. You need to be familiar with the Online exam. I will have one practice exam to make you familiar with this. All communication from your instructor will go to your UNC bear e-mail address (unless you have changed this before). If you use a filter on your e-mail account, you are responsible for ensuring that it does not prevent you from receiving messages from me, within BB or UNC email account. I recommend that you use your UNC e-mail account rather than other email systems for this course. If you are sending email to me, please include \SRM 602 " in the subject line of your e-mail. It is extremely important for you to save copies of any work you send to your instructor via e-mail or blackboard. The lectures will be posted on BB. There will be some discussion forums on Blackboard in which you can communicate with other students in the course. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work.
TENTATIVE Course Schedule: February 6 (Review) Overview of the Course, Statistics in the Research Process, Review of Descriptive Statistics Readings: Chapters 1 5 (omit 3.10, 5.3, 5.6, 5.12) February 7 Normal Distribution Bivariate Correlation Probability Readings: Chapters 6, 7 (omit 7.11, 7.13, 7.15, 7.17, 7.19-7.26), 9 (omit 9.3 9.11, 9.15) Interim Assignment: Exam I February 20-21 Exam I due Saturday Morning Sampling Hypothesis Testing Tests of mean differences Readings: Chapters 10 (omit 10.17 10.21), 11 (omit 11.11, 11.15, 11.19), 12 (omit 12.7) Interim Assignment: Exam II March 5-6 Exam II due Saturday Morning Proportions ANOVA Regression and Prediction Readings: Chapter 13 (omit 13.5 13.9, 13.14-13.18), 15 (omit 15.13 15.31), 8 (omit 8.11-8.14, 8.16, 8.17,8.22 8.24, 8.26 8.33) Final Paper due Saturday, March 19, 8:00 a.m.