Instructor: Jutta Wolf

Prerequisites: PSYC 10a (formerly PSYC 1a) or the permission of the instructor. This course normally should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.

Course Description: This course serves as an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistics is used to find meaning in observations by collecting, summarizing, analyzing, and interpreting numerical information about subjects of interest, and it is used to make decisions that go beyond the observation. Since this is a psychology course, techniques useful in the behavioral sciences will be emphasized. Students will learn the theory of statistical decisions, practical application of statistical software (SPSS), how to translate analyzed statistics into convincing written arguments, and how to evaluate presented statistics.In more detail, topics of the course include methods for describing data, normal, t-, ?2-, and F- distributions, hypothesis testing, simple correlation and regression analysis, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Data and examples from empirical studies will be used to elaborate on when an analytic method is appropriate and how the method can help address the research questions or test the research hypotheses. Students will have ample opportunities to practice using each method through take-home assignments, in-class exercises, examinations, and SPSS reports. Students will receive extensive instruction in the use of SPSS.Learning Goals:• To translate observations and questions about the world into statistical statements and questions• To understand why and when you need statistics• To describe the world in numerical terms and to organize the data into useful summaries• To understand the key concepts of hypothesis testing and inferential statistics• To understand the principles related to each of the statistical method covered in this course.• To know how to select and to perform the appropriate statistical procedure for your data • To know how to set up and do the related data analysis in SPSS• To know how to read and interpret the output in SPSS, communicate the results, and discuss statistical conclusions

Session: Session II

Day: T, W, Th

Time: 8:30am - 11:00am

Credit Hours: 4 Credits

Course Format: 2057

Brandeis Graduation Requirement Fulfilled: DL, QR, SS

Enrollment Limit: 10 students

Course Classification: Undergraduate Level Course

Course Tuition: $3,100

Course Fees: None

Open to High School Students: No