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 the course.
Only master students required fulfill the course may to enroll.
Description
The Preparatory 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 Statistics Course teaches students statistical knowledge and practical skills for the independent completion of data analysis and reporting in the context of a psychology Master’s thesis.
Timetable
Preparatory Statistics Course (2013-2014):
Lectures
Mode of instruction
The course consists of 16 lectures (1 hours each) and 16 computer practicals (1 hours each).
Assessment method
The students are required to attend all lectures and computer classes. The students must also turn in six practical assignments in which a short report using different statistical techniques is written.
The midterm and final exams consist of a writing a research report using several statistical techniques.
The final grade is determined by combining the averaging the grades of the assignments and midterm exam (50%) with the grade of the final exam (50%). 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 (2012). Discovering Statistics using SPSS. Fourth Edition. Sage: London.
IBM SPSS 19/20. Via www.surfspot.nl.
Contact information
Claire Stevenson
Room 3B14
Phone 071-527 3789
E-mail: “cstevenson@fsw.leidenuniv.nl“mailto:cstevenson@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
In Dutch: Toelatingscommissie bepaalt of een niet-doorstroom student aan deze cursus verplicht moet deelnemen.
In English: the admission board decides if a student is obliged to take this course. This is stated in the Decision on Admission