Wheaton College Doctor of Psychology Program
Advanced Statistics &
Research Methods
PSYC 818 | Fall 2006| Wednesday 1:15-4:50 p.m. | BGC M228 | John Vessey, Ph.D. 752-5761

Datasets

COURSE OVERVIEW AND GOALS
The central goal of this course is to provide you with the experience of working with many of the quantitative techniques currently used in the research process of clinical and scientific psychology. We will focus primarily on understanding how psychologists describe and analyze numerical data; some of the specific topics we will cover include an overview of basic statistics, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, correlational and regression techniques, and psychometrics.

My goal for this course is to help you construct both a conceptual framework for understanding quantitative issues and the practical skills needed to conduct your own empirical research. I have designed it to be a "bridge" course between what is typically learned in undergraduate statistics courses and what you will be expected to be able to do to complete your doctoral project in this program. As such, it will be conducted with both a seminar format, with class time being used to collectively discuss issues and a hands-on, computer tutorial for data analysis. After this course, it is my desire that you'll consider your quantitative skills to be an important and integral part of your expertise as a clinical psychologist.

The objectives of this course are to develop your understanding of three broad but foundational aspects of empirical research: design, analysis, and communication. The focus of each of these aspects can be summarized by the following questions:

1. How do I transform a research interest into a testable research question?
2. How should I collect and make sense of my data?
3. How do I best communicate my results to others?

In order to address these questions, during the semester we will address each of these questions for each statistical procedure we cover. More specifically, we will cover the major types of quantitative analyses you'll likely see as a clinician and use in your doctoral research.

BACKGROUND AND SOFTWARE
Regarding previous coursework, my assumption is that you have successfully completed at least one undergraduate course in statistics. Although this is not an inflexible requirement, I would suggest you spend some time doing background reading if you feel you'll be rusty (i.e., a good undergraduate statistics text should suffice). Unfortunately for most of us, learning statistics is not like riding a bike; therefore we will begin the course with a series of topics meant to reinforce the basic principles of quantitative analysis and research design.

It will also be to your benefit to have some experience with computers.  We will be using SPSS (Statisical Program for the Social Sciences) for data analysis. 

CLASS SESSIONS
We will meet every Wednesday from 1:15-4:50 p.m. in room B02 of the Billy Graham Center, except on College holidays (see your class calendar below for these dates). Class time will be spent in a seminar format, which will involve discussing issues from our readings, presenting mini-lectures, performing analyses, and interpreting statistical results. Because of the cumulative nature of the material covered in the class, it is crucial for you to attend class every session. If you have to miss class, please see me for any missed assignments or material. For each class session you are expected to have completed the readings and assignments for that week (see the course calendar below for specific reading assignments). This will enable you to follow the material presented in class and increase your learning.

Because of their length, each class session will be split up into three main parts, with two 15-minute breaks in between. As much as possible, we will try to keep the following schedule:

1:15-2:15	Review
2:30-3:30	New material
3:45-4:50	Computer Demonstration /New assignement

TEXTBOOKS
There is one required textbook for this course.  Bibliographic information is given below; any additional readings will be placed on reserve in the PsyD reading room.. The statistical software package we will be using in this course will be SPSS for Windows (Version 11.0).

Required:
George, Darren and Mallery, Paul (2002). SPSS for Windows:  A Simple Guide and Reference, 11.0 Update. Allyn &Bacon,

ASSESSMENT
Your grade in this course will be determined by your combined performance on your class participation and an individual project portfolio. Below is a brief description of each of these. Please see me if you have any specific questions about any of them or the class grading policy in general.

Grading System—The grading system specified in PsyD student handbook will be used in PYSC 818; please refer to it regarding the interpretation of final course grades.

Class Participation—Because of the conceptual nature of this course, your understanding of the issues involved in quantitative analysis—and your ability to orally communicate that understanding—is crucial. Therefore you will be expected to actively be involved in class discussions based upon your reading, your work on SPSS programs, and your general psychological knowledge. Further, we will begin and end class on time and you are expected to be available and attentive during that full time. I will provide you feedback concerning the quality of your class participation at mid semester; also, I encourage to periodically check with me if you wish to have additional feedback.

Assignments—The major portion of your grade in this course will be assignments using SPSS (including programs and results) and your interpretation of research problems we will address. Assignments will be turned in and graded each week during the semester:.

Late Work—All assignments are due at the beginning of the next class period after they are assigned.

Plagiarism—Please be aware that cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Familiarize yourself with the Wheaton College policy on academic integrity (see the current College Catalog) as well as the Doctor of Psychology Program policy described in the PsyD Handbook. Under no circumstances should you consult or use previously graded work done in PSYC 818 (i.e., the work of PsyD students who have previously completed this course). Rather, begin establishing the habit of consulting published journal articles, appropriate software manuals, and current textbooks.

Office Hours—Once the semester is underway, I will post office hours outside my office door. Please take advantage of these times to meet with me about your work in PSYC 818. I will be more than happy to discuss lecture material, look over printouts, even advise you on research you may be planning as you move through the PsyD program. If my available times are not convenient for you, please email me about setting up an alternative time.

Final Grades—Final grades will consist of a combination of class participation and assignments.

 

Course Calendar