Prospectus

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Inferential Statistics (IBP)

Course
2014-2015

Students of the Dutch bachelor’s programme, see Toetsende Statistiek

Admission requirements

This course is a continuation of the Introduction to Research Methods and Statistics course, and presupposes the knowledge and skills taught there.

Description

In this course students’ knowledge of probability theory will be refreshed, and applied to the statistical tests used most frequently 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 should be able 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

Inferential Statistics (2014-2015):

Registration

Course

First year students are automatically enrolled in the courses. Other students need to enroll for lectures and work group sessions. Please consult the Instructions registration

Examination

Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date; students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination. Registering for exams

Mode of instruction

Instruction for the Inferential Statistics course will be over 8 successive weeks. The course will comprise a weekly lecture and work group sessions, during which we will work with or without a computer. At the end of the week additional work group sessions are organized, during which we will work with or without a computer.

In the lectures, course material will be introduced and explained. As preparation for the lectures students should study the chapters prescribed for that week.

Mandatory work group sessions will take place on one of the days following the lecture. In these meetings students will acquire further insight into the material (Course objective 1). In addition, students will practice with the choosing, conducting, assessing and representing of the correct test in a given situation (Course objective 2) as well as with working with the statistical software used for the testing (Course objective 3). Active participation in the meetings is mandatory.

In the extra work groups at the end of the week students are offered the opportunity to get some extra practice in statistical calculations, by hand or by using SPSS. All students who would like this extra support are free to attend these sessions.

Assessment

  • A written examination consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions, each with four 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 (0.7) and the grade for the SPSS skills test (0.3). To receive the course credits students must get a final grade of 5.5 or higher, and both examination and skills test grade must be 5.0 or higher.

Within thirty days of the final exam results students will have the opportunity to make an appointment with their work group instructor to review their examination performance.

Regulations on grade calculation in the propaedeutic phase

The Faculty of Social Sciences has instituted that instructors use a software programme for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. In case of fraud disciplinary actions will be taken. Please see the information concerning fraud

Blackboard

The Inferential Statistics course is supported by the Blackboard digital learning environment.

Blackboard will be used to provide study material (lecture slides, translations of specific terms, etc.) and practice questions, and to provide students with an opportunity to consult with course instructors and fellow-students during the course.

Literature and Course Material

  • Howell, D.C. (2014). Statistical Methods for Psychology (Leiden edition). Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.

  • Pallant, J. (2013). SPSS Survival Manual (5th edition). Berkshire: McGraw-Hill.

  • IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21. Released 1012. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp., [www.surfspot.nl: 19.75 euro]. The DVD contains the following digital manuals:

    • IBM SPSS Statistics 21 Brief Guide
    • IBM SPSS Statistics 21 Core System User’s Guide
    • IBM SPSS Statistics Base 21

  • Extra material will be provided via Blackboard (including lecture slides, assignments, translated terms, errata, further instructions and explanantions, etc).

Labyrint Book Service

If you are a member of the study association Labyrint you may purchase books at a reduced price via their study book service. Alternatively there are the academic book shops.

Contact

Coordinator for Inferential Statistics

Coordinator for SPSS