Students of the Dutch bachelor’s programme, see Toetsende Statistiek
Entry requirements
This course builds on the Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics course, and presupposes the knowledge and skills taught there.
Description
In this course the students’ knowledge of probability theory is refreshed and applied to the statistical tests most frequently used in psychology. The aim is for students to understand the following concepts: sampling distribution; statistical reliability; hypothesis testing; the principles and procedures for the various significance tests. Students learn to select and perform the appropriate test in a given situation.
Course objectives
Students will acquire an understanding of the concepts of sampling distribution, statistical reliability and hypothesis testing, as well as the principles and procedures of the various tests of significance.
Students will be able to select and perform the appropriate test in a given situation.
Students will acquire skills in working with statistical software used for these tests.
A complete list of course objectives for this course is available on Blackboard.
Timetable
For the timetables of your lectures, work group sessions, and exams, select your study programme.
Psychology timetables
Lectures Work group sessions Exams
Registration
Course
The Student Services Centre enrolls first-year students in lectures and work groups. However, students must register themselves in exams.
After the first year, students must register themselves in the first year course component they need to repeat: lectures, work groups and exams. A second (or higher) year student who needs only to repeat the SPSS skills test is required to attend the four SPSS work group meetings again. As such, he/she must also register again for these SPSS work groups.
Enrolling for workgroups
Examination
Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the exam date; students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination. Registering for exams
Mode of instruction
8 lectures of 2 hours and 8 work group sessions or more of 2 hours.
At the end of the week additional work group sessions are organized.
Active participation in the work group sessions is mandatory.
The lecture is recorded and available as weblecture.
Assessment method
A written examination consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions, each with 4 alternatives, covering both theory and statistical calculations from the literature, the work group sessions, and the lectures.
An SPSS skills test covering the various aspects of students’ skills in working with SPSS as well as describing and interpreting analysis output.
The final grade will be a weighted average of the examination grade (70%) and the grade for the SPSS skills test (30%).
The Institute of Psychology uses fixed rules for grade calculation and compulsory attendance. It also follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of these three policies.
Reading list
Howell, D.C. (2016). Statistical Methods for Psychology. Leiden edition. Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.
Pallant, J. (2016). SPSS Survival Manual. (6th edition) Berkshire: McGraw-Hill.
IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25. Released 1012. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp., [www.surfspot.nl].
Workbook Inferential Statistics (IBP).
Additional materials are provided via Blackboard (including lecture slides, assignments, translated terms, errata, further instructions and explanations, etc).
Contact information
Drs. Arjen de Vetten
a.j.de.vetten@fsw.leidenuniv.nl