Psy 633 Statistics/Methods for School Psychologists   
Course ID:  000940 Fall 2013

Instructor:  Christine Malone, Ph.D.  Office: Bridges 360 G
Email:  malonech@mnstate.edu Phone:  218-477-2804
Office:  MWF 11 - noon; TH 9 – 11:45 and by appt.  Website: http://web.mnstate.edu/malonech
Class Meets: MW 1:00 - 1:50 in BR 267  

                                       

                                                                          

               

12/18/13   Here are the final grades for this course.  Open the Excel spreadsheet and look up your grades using the ID# I assigned to you. If you have any questions or concerns about your grades, please see me in person when classes resume in January.  Thanks and happy holidays to you all!     Psy 633 Grade Sheet


 

 Tentative Course Schedule

WEEK

 TOPIC

1
8/26-8/28

Course Introduction
Design Overview
The Nature of Good Design
 Extra Design Resources
Scientific Method and Research Strategies--Notes I will be using

2
9/2-9/4

No classes 9/2 due to labor day holiday  
Theories & Hypotheses
 For 9/4: Bring 1 copy of an abstract/excerpt from a research article or school psychology thesis that specifies the theory and/or specific hypotheses being tested.  a thesis example        theories in abstracts

3

9/9



9/11

Experimental Research vs. Quasi-Experimental Research
Experimental Designs--Repeated Measures Designs
Emailed Articles:  Drinking Glucose and Psychotherapy Using Distance
Assignment 1: Typed, thoughtful answers to the Questions for Discussion at the end of BOTH articles (10 points)

Emailed Articles:  Project Trust and Seat Belt Use
Assignment 2:  Typed, thoughtful answers to the Questions for Discussion at the end of BOTH articles (10 points)

4
9/16




9/18

Correlational Research vs. Causal-Comparative Research
Burke Johnson's article about Correlational and Causal-Comp. research in education
Emailed Articles: Social Support and Correlates of Optimism
 Assignment 3:  Typed, thoughtful answers to the Questions for Discussion at the end of BOTH articles (10 points)
Emailed Articles: Nonverbal Receptive Abilities and Profession of Psych. Scale
 Assignment 4:  Typed, thoughtful answers to the Questions for Discussion at the end of BOTH articles (10 points)  Please add this question to the end of Assign 4--Johnson (a) Please summarize the debate (or misunderstanding) discussed in Burke Johnson's article. (b)  What are Johnson's suggestions for resolving the confusion?

5
9/23




9/25

Descriptive Research: Observational and Surveys
Read the Survey Research section and Unobtrusive Measures section from the Research Methods Knowledge Base
Emailed Articles: Measure of Racial Behavior and College Students' Responses
 Assignment 5:  Typed, thoughtful answers to the Questions for Discussion at the end of BOTH articles (10 points)

Overview of Research Designs

6
9/30






10/2

Reliability and Validity

Read the Construct Validity and Reliability sections from the Research Methods Knowledge Base
Validity notes
Threats to Internal and External Validity--my notes
Emailed Articles:  Chapman-Cook Reading Test and Moral Justification Scale
 Assignment 6:  Typed, thoughtful answers to the Questions for Discussion at the end of BOTH articles (10 points)
 Summary of validity and designs
Bring a research article or thesis to class and be prepared to report how validity and reliability issues were addressed by the author(s).  Also, evaluate the author(s) handling and presentation of these issues.
Email Dr. Malone the .pdf of your article or relevant portion of thesis by 12:30 on 10/2 so she may post them to the course website. Then you will be able to direct us to relevant portions of the article while you present.

Alison      Jeff      Matt    Tim    Tiffany    Jessica    Sean

7 
10/7




10/9
(midterm)

Hypothesis Testing
Read the entire Analysis section from the Research Methods Knowledge Base
Power and Parametric Assumptions
Hypothesis testing and t-tests
Hypothesis tests, effect size, & power (my background notes)

 Receive take-home midterm
t-tests   One-sample t-test
 t-test example 1--analysis output (independent samples)
t-test example 2 (independent samples)
t-test example 3 -SPSS instructions (one-sample)
t-test example 4 --SPSS instructions (related samples)
Background notes:  Single Sample t-test   Independent Samples t-test  

Paired Samples t-test   Salkind & Green p. 163-181

8

10/16

No classes 10/14 due to Fall Breather

Midterm Exam due beginning of class 10/16
 Meet in computer lab--Bridges 364--Please bring a jump drive and your calculator!
 Introduce Lab Assignment 1: t-tests due Monday, 10/21

9
10/21

 



10/23

ANOVA 
Introduction to ANOVA
 Intro to ANOVA (my background notes)


 Meet in computer lab--Bridges 364
ANOVA background & single-factor ANOVA

10
10/28

 




10/30

ANOVA--  Read Green & Salkind p.183-208
Factorial Analysis of Variance Notes
 Factorial Designs (my background notes) & Calculating factorial ANOVA
Factorial ANOVA--hormones & gender SPSS datasheet
Factorial ANOVA--gender x hormones results section

Meet in computer lab--Bridges 364
 Introduce Lab Assignment 2 due Monday, 11/4

11
11/4

 



11/6

Bivariate Correlation & Regression--Read Green & Salkind p. 257-264, 275-282
Linear Regression Notes
Linear & Multiple Regression
Correlation & Regression (my background notes)
Meet in Computer Lab--BR 364
Introduce Lab Assign. 3 Part II: Simple Correlation & Regression in SPSS due Monday, 11/11

12
11/11


11/13

Multiple Regression--Read Green & Salkind p. 285-299
Hierarchical vs. Step-wise Regression
Linear & Multiple Regression

Meet in Computer Lab--BR 364
Introduce Lab Assignment 4: Multiple Regression, Due Monday, 11/18
Download this data file for Lab 4
Save the file to your flashdrive before class.  Then on class day, open SPSS, within SPSS choose File, Open, data, browse to locate and select the file.

13 
11/18




11/20

MANOVA---read Green & Salkind p. 222-231
MANOVA Notes
One-way MANOVA example
Garson's extensive MANOVA notes
Mertler & Vannatta MANOVA Chapter      MANOVA Discussion Questions

Ethics in Research: Online NIH Ethics Training
Notes--Ethical Principles      MSUM IRB       Sample submission

14
11/25


11/27

ANCOVA-MANCOVA  Green & Salkind p. 209-231
ANCOVA notes
ANCOVA-MANCOVA notes
Mertler & Vannatta ANCOVA Chapter
No classes 11/27-11/29

15
12/2



12/4

Parametric vs. Nonparametric Statistics  Green & Salkind p. 357-376
Chi-Square Notes
Goodness of Fit       Car example data
Test for Independence    Hair example data
Meet in Computer Lab--BR 364
Introduce Lab Assignment 5

12/9

Wrap up--Attendance Required--Lab Assignment 5 due at beginning of class
Distribute final exam
Final Exam due to my mailbox by 4:30 pm on Monday, 12/16

 

Required text:  Using SPSS for Windows and Macintosh: Analyzing and Understanding Data (6th Edition) by Samuel B. Green & Neil J. Salkind

 

Course Description
 Principles of univariate, bivariate and non-parametric statistics, including inferential tests, correlation, and regression, as well as critical analysis and interpretation of school-psychology relevant research articles.  Includes principles of experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational research, focusing on designs, validity, power, effect size, and ethical principles.

Pre-requisite: One course in statistics.

 

Student Learning Outcomes:   

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of evidence based practice, data-based decision-making and accountability
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of how research and research based practice impacts the role of school psychologists and the principles of school psychology practice and development.
  3. Display knowledge of various research methods and techniques
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of research ethics
  5. Utilize a variety of information resources and show familiarity with technology used in research


Academic Honesty:  http://web.mnstate.edu/sthandbook/policiesprocedures/academichonesty.cfm

On-line Resources

Berger, D. (2005).  Web Interface for Statistics Education. Claremont Graduate University  http://wise.cgu.edu/. 

 Lane, D. M. (2006). Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics. Rice University.  http://onlinestatbook.com/rvls.html

 Plous, S. (2007).  Research Methods and Statistics Links by Subtopic. Social Psychology Network. http://www.socialpsychology.org/methods.htm

StatSoft, Inc. (2007). Electronic Statistics Textbook. Tulsa, OK: StatSoft. http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/stathome.html 

 

Expectations:  Students are expected to attend all classes, participate actively in discussions of assigned readings, complete all in-class and homework exercises, and pass a mid-term and final exam.

Evaluation and Grading:   Below is a general list of assignments for this semester.  Specific assignments and due dates will be discussed in class and posted on the course website.

         

Grades will be assigned using the following scale:  A = 90-100%      B = 80-89%   C = 70-79%   
  
Policies:   Late work without a documented excuse will be penalized grade-wise:  -- 15 percent  per school day. 
All work will look professional – e.g., typed, well organized,  properly referenced, etc. (If unsure, ask the instructor).

 Special Accommodations: Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Director of Disability Services at 477-4318 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), Flora Frick 154 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.  Information regarding Disability Services is available at http://web.mnstate.edu/disability.