Admission requirements
It is assumed that the student has basic knowledge of the statistical methods discussed in this course. Advanced knowledge is assumed for the mathematical basics and SPSS skills. Additional literature to catch up with the topics is suggested during lectures or computer classes.
Only masterstudents are able to enroll.
Description
The Preparatory Master Thesis Statistics Course teaches students statistical knowledge and practical skills at a conceptual level, useful for the quantitative research process used in most master theses. The topics cover part of the bachelor statistics program with specific attention for formulating research questions, (dirty) data handling in SPSS, interpreting and reporting SPSS results (APA style), and drawing conclusions based on these results.
Course objectives
The Preparatory Master Thesis Statistics Course teaches students statistical knowledge and practical skills for the independent completion of the statistical part of their master thesis.
Timetable
Preparatory Master Thesis Statistics Course (2010-2011):
Mode of instruction
The course consists of 6 lectures (2 hours each) and 10 computer classes (2-3 hours each).
Assessment method
The students are required to attend both lectures and computer classes. The students must also turn in four research assignments, that is, the students are required to write four short reports using different statistical techniques.
The final assignment consists of a report using several statistical techniques.
The average grade of the four assignments is combined with the grade of the final assignment to determine the final grade. This final grade must be equal to or greater than 5.5 to pass.
Note: From January 1, 2006 the Faculty of Social Sciences has instituted the Ephorus system to be used by instructors for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. Please see the information concerning fraud .
Reading list
Andy Field (2009). Discovering Statistics using SPSS. Third Edition. Sage: London.
IBM SPSS 17/18. Via www.surfspot.nl.
Registration
Introduction and enrolment for courses of the first semester will take place on 2 September 2010. Introduction and enrolment for courses of the second semester will take place on 27 January 2011. More information will be available at the website of the Institute of Psychology.
NB: Exam registration will take place via uSis, and will be open between a month and a week before the (re)exam. Students who haven’t registered, cannot participate in the exam.
Contact information
Frank Busing
Room 3B21
Phone 071-527 3814
E-mail: busing@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
In Dutch: Toelatingscommissie bepaalt of een niet-doorstroom student aan deze cursus verplicht moet deelnemen.