Psy 633 Statistics/Methods for School Psychologists   
Course ID:  001414   Fall 2022

 Course Schedule

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. Prerequisite: 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: See the MSUM Student Handbook.  https://www.mnstate.edu/student-handbook/

Required texts: 

A Cross Section of Educational Research (5th Edition) by Lawrence S. Lyne

A Simple Guide to IBM SPSS Statistics (12^th Ed. Version 20 OR 13^th Ed. Version 22) by Lee A. Kirkpatrick and Brooke C. Feeney

On-line Resources

Zoom: Required every class for students attending remotely.  Zoom usage will be required of every student if a transition to fully online instruction becomes necessary at any point in the semester.

Remote Access to SPSS and map a drive: Distance students and those needing to work on SPSS outside of the lab classroom will need to install the remote version of SPSS.

Setting of remote access involves 1) install the remote version of SPSS, 2) map a drive to be able to save your files and recover them later, 3) install the VPN client, and 4) sign onto the VPN client each time before you open SPSS.

To access MSUM's remote applications, please follow this link and set up SPSS and map a drive: https://remote.mnstate.edu/RDWeb/Pages/en-us/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/RDWeb/Pages/en-us/Default.aspx  

The documentation for setting up remote access is hereà https://www2.mnstate.edu/it/remoteapps.aspx

VPN Client:  For the remote version of SPSS to run smoothly, you will also need to install and use the VPN client.  VPN will allow you to sign on to the University network from home as if you were on-campus.  If you do not install VPN and sign on to VPN each time before using remote SPSS, the SPSS software will be virtually unusable because of long delays and inefficiencies.  Each time you sign onto VPN, you will remain signed into the University network for about 4 hours.  After that time, the connection will disconnect and you will need to sign into the VPN client again. 

https://www2.mnstate.edu/it/vpn/  

Expectations:  Students are expected to attend all classes, participate actively and professionally in discussions of assigned readings, complete (with professional quality) all in-class and homework exercises, ask questions, and write the mid-term and final essay exams with accuracy, relevant details, and professional voice.

Discussion Leaders will lead a 12-15 minute discussion and PowerPoint presentation about their assigned article.  Use the assigned discussion questions as a springboard for deeper, focused questioning in a few areas of your choosing.  The areas should concern design, methods, and/or stats issues.  Use some visuals and outside resources (e.g., PowerPoint slides that display your questions, webpages that illustrate a point or example, another relevant research article, etc) to help the audience think about your article in a different way.  Then tie discussion questions to those resources. Also build in slides providing prompts/background/support for answers (should your audience be stumped).

 Please upload your PowerPoint presentation to the Discussion Leader D2L assignment folder by 1:30 the day of your presentation.  We will project the presentation on the classroom screen and in the Zoom meeting.  Be sure your discussion questions are written out within the presentation.  I suggest you prepare about three main questions (some of those may contain shorter follow-up questions) to be sure you fill your minutes.  If you do not get to all of your questions, that is okay as long as your time was filled with relevant, productive, well-reasoned discussion about your assigned article and related research design and stats issues. If an emergency arises and you are not able to present on your assigned day, please communicate promptly with the professor.

 
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.

• Midterm exam (take-home):  50 points
• Final exam including Ethics training (take-home):  50 points
• Approx. 4 article assignments: 15 points each
• Approx. 6 SPSS lab assignments: 10 points each
• In Class Discussion Leader:  24 points

 Grades will be assigned using the following scale:  A = 90-100%      B = 80-89%   C = 70-79%   
 
Policies:   All work will look professional – e.g., typed, well organized, properly referenced, etc. (If unsure, ask the instructor). If you are unable to meet a course due date, please email the professor as soon as possible.

Accessibility Statement: Minnesota State University Moorhead is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students and strives to make courses inclusive and accessible in accordance with sections 508, 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Accessibility Resources (AR) is the campus office that collaborates with students in need of accommodations and assists in arranging reasonable accommodations. 

If you have or think you may have a disability or are currently registered and have questions/concerns, please contact the Director of Accessibility Resources at:  Charles.Eade@mnstate.edu.  Additional information is available on the AR website: http://www.mnstate.edu/accessibility 

The ADA Coordinator for students and ADA compliance issues is Chuck Eade, Director of Accessibility Resources; charles.eade@mnstate.edu.

 Continuity of Instruction: “MSUM is committed to the continuity of instruction in the event of an emergency disruption that may result in the suspension of activities, including face-to-face classes on MSUM’s campus. MSUM is committed to preparing for any significant disruption in classes, whether it's from closure due to flooding, weather, medical emergency, campus evacuation or other emergency.”Therefore, D2L and Zoom are being implemented at the beginning of the semester.  We will also set up remote access to SPSS for each student on their personal laptop.  We will become familiar with these technology tools, which will help us to prepare in case there is need to pivot our instruction to a completely online model due to COVID-19 (https://www.mnstate.edu/emergency/dragons-care/classes/

Academic honesty: Copying test answers or papers from classmates or other sources (including the web) is considered plagiarism and is the equivalent of scholarly or "literary" stealing. Such activities reflect shabby standards of personal integrity and such conduct is professionally unethical. In the event that you are caught plagiarizing or copying, you will be failed in the course, regardless of the level of work on other class activities. For more information, see the MSUM Student Handbook.  https://www.mnstate.edu/student-handbook/

 
Sexual Violence:  Acts of sexual violence are intolerable. MSUM expects all members of the campus community to act in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of others.  We are committed to eliminating all acts of sexual violence. 

MSUM faculty and staff are concerned about the well-being and development of our students. We are obligated to share information with the MSUM Title IX Coordinator in certain situations to help ensure that the students’ safety and welfare is being addressed, consistent with the requirements of the law. These disclosures include but are not limited to reports of sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.

If you have experienced or know someone who has experienced sexual violence, services and resources are available. You may also choose to file a report. For further information, contact Lynn Peterson, Title IX Coordinator, petrsnly@mnstate.edu; 218-477-2967, or Ashley Atteberry, Director of Student Conduct & Resolution; ashley.atteberry@mnstate.edu, 218-477-2174; both located in Flora Frick 153.  Additional information is available at: www.mnstate.edu/titleix

Safety/Emergency Plans:  As we prepare to start a new academic year and semester, the MSUM Facilities, Grounds & Safety Committee would like everyone to review the Emergency maps as well as the Emergency Preparedness Guide.  Even a quick look at this information can make a difference in how you may react/respond in an emergency.  If you have questions after reviewing this information, please contact Ryan Nelson, Director of Public Safety for further clarification.  Thank you in advance for taking time to help protect yourself and others.

Building maps showing emergency exit routes, fire extinguisher locations, and fire alarm pull stations are conspicuously located in classrooms, labs, conference rooms, departmental main offices and residence halls.  The Emergency Preparedness Guides (flip style booklets) are located with the maps.  Please review the floor plans as well as the guide so you know how to respond in an emergency situation to help protect yourself and others.    If you have questions, please contact Ryan Nelson, Director of Public Safety, at ryan.nelson@mnstate.edu or 218-477-5869.  https://www2.mnstate.edu/public-safety/ .

Anti-bias Statement: Minnesota State University Moorhead has an enduring commitment to enhancing Minnesota’s quality of life by developing and fostering understanding and appreciation of a free and diverse society and providing equal opportunity for all its students and employees. Incidents of hate and bias are inconsistent with the mission and values of MSUM.  

MSUM acknowledges that it occupies the ancestral land of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Dakota (Sisseton, Wahpeton) and Yanktonai Dakota First Nations.  We will strive to build toward better relationship between our university and the indigenous people still present with us.

A bias incident is an act of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation that is motivated in whole or in part by bias based on an individual's or group's actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or familial status.

If you are a student who has experienced or witnessed a hate or bias incident, we want to address the incident and provide you with resources. Contact the Campus Diversity Officer, Jered Pigeon at jered.pigeon@mnstate.edu, 218-477-2047, 114 CMU or the Dean of Students, Kara Gravley-Stack at kara.gravleystack@mnstate.edu, 218-477-4222, 153 Flora Frick Hall. Additional information is available at: https://www2.mnstate.edu/oscar/