BASIC EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Spring 2016 Instructor: Aurelia Kollasch, Ph.D. Tuesday 5:30 8:20 p.m. aureliak@iastate.edu E0165 Lagomarcino Hall Phone: 515-294-9521 Office hours: Th 12-1 pm and by appointment BASIC EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES SCHOOL OF EDUCATION Course Description: ResEv 552 (3 credits) Basic Educational Statistics. Statistical concepts and procedures for analyzing educational data; descriptive statistics, correlation, t tests, and chi square with computer applications. Course Overview: The primary purpose of this course is to provide students with a working knowledge of and skills to conduct introductory-level statistical procedures and to understand empirical research in education. Students will develop knowledge of and skills in underlying statistical concepts and models, matching statistical models to research designs in using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software to conduct appropriate statistical analyses, and to interpret and to report findings. Course Method: The course consists of: Lectures of statistical concepts, techniques, and procedures Quizzes Discussions of exercises and test solutions Student presentations of a quantitative research project Learning Outcomes: At the end of the course, students will: understand key statistical concepts to formulate and test relevant research hypotheses conduct rigorous data analysis effectively utilize SPSS to conduct basic statistical analyses interpret results design a quantitative study using secondary data report and present research findings evaluate existing quantitative research in a systematic fashion Required Materials: Urdan, T.C. (2010). Statistics in Plain English (3 rd ed.). New York, NY: Routlege Taylor and Francis, Inc. Morgan, G.A. et. al. (2013). IBM SPSS for Introductory Statistics: Use and Interpretation (5 th ed.). New York, NY: Routlege Taylor and Francis, Inc. SPSS software Note: I also made these books available on course-reserve at ISU s library: Morgan, et al. - HA32 S572 2013; while Urdan s book is on order, but you can access it as an e-book. 1

Supplemental Materials: Pallant, J. (2013). SPSS Survival Manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (5 th ed.). Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw Hill. American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author. Gravetter, F. J., & Wallnau, L. B. (2008). Statistics for the behavioral sciences (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. For each in-class session, 20 laptops will be provided to use SPSS software. However, if you wish to purchase SPSS, the program is available as a term license from multiple vendors, for instance: 1) On The Hub e-store for $54.99 plus download fee $4.99 (available for Windows and/or Mac) as a 6-month software license SPSS Grad Pack 23.0 software is sufficient for this course. On The Hub e-store website: https://estore.onthehub.com/webstore/productsbymajorversionlist.aspx?cmi _cs=1&cmi_mnumain=ed6ad73c-7bc7-e011-ae14-f04da23e67f6 2) Hearne.Software for $49 (promo offer): http://www.hearne.software/software/spss-grad-packs-for-students-by- IBM/Pricing?product=SPSS%20Grad%20Packs%20for%20Students%20by% 20IBM&currency=USD&region=US&version=Statistics+Standard+Grad+Pac k&class=student&platform= 3) ISU University Bookstore for about $100 plus tax as a personal copy of the software with a one year license. The Iowa State University Bookstore website: http://www.isubookstore.com/home.aspx Data Resources: For this course students will have access to raw data of a sample of students enrolled in a Midwest postsecondary institution. The dataset will be one of the primary data sources that will be used for assignments and may be used for the final research paper. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be given to students at the first class meeting that explains the ethics and policy of utilizing these data. Students are required to sign his/her name which demonstrates adherence to the expectations as set forth in the MOU. If you have any questions regarding the appropriate use of these data, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. Course Assignments: 1. Class participation and attendance (10%) 2. Quizzes (20%) All students are required to take two quizzes. The quizzes will be based on class discussions, readings assigned, and material covered in class. 3. Homework Assignments (30%) Progressive homework assignments will be given and will require you to analyze results from a generated SPSS output(s). 4. Final research project and presentation (40%) Students individually or in groups will conduct a research project and present it to the rest of the class. Students and/or groups (ideally 4 students per group) will work on an educational issue. All students and/or groups need to consult with the instructor of the course the issue that they will study. Students and/or groups will have time in class to conduct their projects. On the last day of classes, April 26, 2016, students will present their findings. Presentations should last no more than 20 minutes. 2

Each student and/or group will submit a final paper (max. 15 pages). The final research project shall be comprised of the following: Introduction (state the research question(s) and provide a brief rationale of why the question(s) is/are relevant A brief review of literature (provide a concise analysis of relevant empirical studies that address the research question to be examined) Methodology (discuss all elements of methods: data, sample, participants, missing data, data analysis, limitations) Results (present research findings by generating needed tables/graphs/charts with appropriate descriptions) Implications (discuss future directions for research) References You are strongly encouraged to discuss your research subject with the instructor and ask for feedback to make progress on your research projects throughout the semester. The final research project is due on May 3, 2016 by 5 p.m. CT. All assignments should be turned in on time unless other arrangements are made well in advance of deadlines. If assignments are turned in late, there will be a reduction in your grade. Please ensure that all assignments are typed, proofread for spelling and grammatical errors, and that you use APA style when reporting references. All students are expected to abide by the university s code of academic integrity. For more information regarding academic integrity, please consult the university catalogue, pp. 41-48. Grading The grading policy for this course is consistent with ISU policy. The final grade will be determined by each student s performance on all assignments. Grades will be determined according to the following scale: 94-100 A 90-93 A- 87-89 B+ 84-86 B 80-83 B- 77-79 C+ 74-76 C 70-73 C- Below 70 D/F Course Expectations: I expect regular attendance and will take disproportionate, unexcused absences (missing more than 6 hours of a 3-credit hour course) into account in the final course grade. I also expect students to come to class prepared and to contribute fruitfully to class discussions and activities. Recurrent lack of preparation will also be taken into account in the final course grade. Disability Accommodation Iowa State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Sect 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If you have a disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please contact the instructor to set up a meeting within the first two weeks of the semester or as soon as you become aware of your need. Before meeting with the instructor you will need to obtain a SAAR form with recommendations for accommodations from the Student Disability Resources, located in Room 1076 on the main floor of the Student Services Building. Their telephone number is 515-294-7220 or email disabilityresources@iastate.edu. Retroactive requests for accommodations will not be honored. 3

Course Schedule (subject to change based on learning) Week 1: January 12 Overview of course/introduction Course Introduction and overview Descriptive and inferential statistics Exploratory Data Analysis Introduction to SPSS For next week: Read: Urdan Chapter 1; Morgan Chapters 1, 2, and 3 (pp.37-43). Week 2: January 19 Exploratory Data Analysis Types of variables Level of measurement Data screening process (SPSS) For next week: Read: Urdan Chapters 2, 3 and 4; Morgan Chapter 3 (pp.47-52). Week 3: January 26 Descriptive Statistics Normal distribution and its properties Measures of central tendency Measures of dispersion For next week: Homework Assignment 1, Read: Urdan Chapters 5 and 6. Week 4: February 4 (Homework Assignment 1 due) Descriptive Statistics Standardization and z-scores Standard Error Practicing in SPSS For next week: Read: Urdan Chapter 7; Morgan Chapter 6 (pp. 99-109). Week 5: February 9 Inferential Statistics Statistical inference (statistical significance, size effects, confidence intervals) Hypothesis testing (means, proportions, and variance) For next week: Homework Assignment 2; Read Urdan Chapter 9 Week 6: February 16 (Homework Assignment 2 due) T-tests Independent T-test Matched samples T-test assumptions For next week: Prepare for QUIZ #1; Read: Morgan, Chapter 11 (pp. 186-189) Week 7: February 23 (QUIZ #1) Introduction to ANOVA For next week: Read: Urdan Chapter 10; Morgan, Chapter 11 (pp.190-195). 4

Week 8: March 1 ANOVA One-way ANOVA Post-hoc Multiple Comparison Tests For next week: Homework Assignment 3; Read: Urdan Chapter 8 Week 9: March 8 (Homework Assignment 3 due) Correlation Types of correlation coefficients Inferences involving correlation coefficients Week 10: SPRING BREAK Week 11: March 22 Collaborative class work Individual/group work on research project Catching up on SPSS For next week: Read: Urdan Chapter 14; Morgan Chapter 11 (pp.195-198). Week 12: March 29 The Chi-Square Test of Independence Chi-square test Non-parametric testing For next week: Prepare for QUIZ #2; Read: Urdan Chapter 15 (pp. 169-176); Morgan Chapter 7 (pp.118-134). Week 13: April 5 (QUIZ #2) Introduction to Exploratory Factor Analysis For next week: Read: Urdan, Chapter 13 pp.145-151; Morgan: Chapter 9 pp. 161-163. Week 14: April 12 Regression Linear regression For next week: Reflect on potential misuses, misinterpretations and biases in educational research Week 15: April 19 Statistically Educated Statistical misconceptions and misuses Reporting APA style Working on presentations and final research projects Catching up on SPSS Week 16: April 26 INDIVIDUAL/GROUP PRESENTATIONS Week 17: May 3 FINAL RESEARCH PROJECT DUE 5 P.M. CT 5