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University of Texas at Dallas --- Course Syllabus

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Course Information
PSY 3392-521 Research Design and Analysis
Summer 2007 Tuesday 6:00-10:00 p.m. GR 4.301
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Instructor Contact Information

Instructor Teaching Assistant


Dr. Jeffrey Martin Tara Reed, MCD
Phone: (972) 883-4230
Email: jsm016600@utdallas.edu Email: tara.reed@utdallas.edu
Office Location: GR 4.802A Office Location: GR 4.807
Office Hours: Tuesday 4:00 – 6:00 Office Hours: Thursday: 11:00 – 1:00

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Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

Prerequisite:
• PSY 2317 – Statistics for Psychology or
• PSY 3390 – Strategies of Research or
• STAT 1342

Research Exposure Credits Requirement: Because this is a core course in Psychology, you must complete
2 research exposure credits by the first day of the final exam period. If you do not complete this
requirement on time you will receive an incomplete (X) for the course. This requirement is described in
the accompanying flier. The research credit sign-up system is online: https://utdallas.sona-systems.com.
Use your UTD NetID to login and sign up for experiments. New experiments appear every few days
throughout the semester; keep checking the schedule if you cannot find a suitable time slot.
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Course Description
This course is designed to develop the student’s ability to apply basic statistical methods to the design and
analysis of experiments. Subject areas include: descriptive statistics (e.g., mean, variance, and standard
deviation), simple probability, distributions (e.g., normal, F), simple correlation and regression, concepts
of multiple regression, and inferential statistics (e.g., hypothesis testing, criterion, sources of error,
analysis of variance between subjects and repeated measures, factorial designs, planned comparisons, and
intensity of an effect.) The relationship between regression and analysis of variance is emphasized.
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Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes


Contributing to the goals in the psychology program, after completing the course, students will be able to:

2.1 a) Identify the various research designs that address different types of questions and hypotheses.
2.1 b) Articulate strengths and limitations of various research designs.
2.1 c) Distinguish the nature of designs that can determine cause and effect from those that can not.

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2.2 a) Compute or interpret basic descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, variance, standard
deviation, z scores) and inferential statistical tests ( ANOVA 1 factor between subjects, 1 factor
repeated measures, 2 factor between subjects, partially repeated measures, contrasts, correlation,
regression).
2.2 b) Distinguish between statistical significance and practical significance.
2.2 c) Compute measures of intensity of effect.

Additional Objectives provide a foundation for achieving the objectives stated above and continued
growth in statistics. After completing the course, students will be able to:
1. Interpret, define, and correctly use the probability, experimental design, and statistical
notation and terms as presented in the textbook.
2. Define possible probability values, manually compute simple and conditional probabilities,
apply the product and addition rules, do a test for independence, and compute a probability
using Bayes theorem.
3. Manually compute the expected value and standard deviation of a binomial distribution and a
normal approximation for the probability of a specified result.
4. Identify the independent and dependent variables in an experimental description.
5. Distinguish among the kinds of experimental validity.
6. Demonstrate understanding of Type I and II errors, their relationship to each other and to
power, and identify other influences on experimental power.
7. Define the partition of the total sum of squares and degrees of freedom for the ANOVA tests
presented.
8. Describe the relationship between ANOVA and regression.
9. Write experimental results in APA format.
10. Estimate the number of subjects required for a specified effect size.
11. Determine the contrast coefficients needed to test a hypothesis, test the orthogonality of
several contrasts, and define the effect of multiple comparisons on Type I error.
12. Construct a Latin Square to address carry over effects in a repeated measures design.
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Required Textbooks and Materials


Required textbooks
• Experimental Design and Research Methods for Undergraduate Students, Version 2, Abdi,
Edelman, Dowling, Valentin, Posamentier
• PSY 3392 – Research Design and Analysis Student Workbook, Version 4, Edelman,
Valentin, Choi, Drege, Abdi, Dowling

Additional Materials:
• A simple pocket calculator.
• Some extra problems on selected course topics will be available for you throughout the
semester.
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Assignments & Academic Calendar

Date Lecture Homework (HW) Reading


5/15/07 1. Review Syllabus
2. Descriptive Statistics Text: Chapter 1
3. Introduction to Probability Text: Chapter 2

5/22/07 1. Elem. Prob. and Bayes Theorem Text: Chapter 2


2. Probability Distributions Text: Chapter 3
3. Experimental Design Text: Chapter 4
5/29/07 1. Exam 1 (6:00-8:00 p.m.) HW due – Chapters 1-4
2. Correlation (with exam) Text: Chapter 5
6/5/06 1. Statistical Test Text: Chapter 6
2. Regression Text: Chapter 7
6/12/07 One factor ANOVA (cont.) Text: Chapters 8 & 9
6/19/07 1. Exam 2 (6:00-8:00 p.m.) HW due – Chapters 5-9
2. ANOVA (regression view) (with exam) Text: Chapter 10
6/26/07 1. Planned Comparisons Text: Chapter 11
2. Contrast Computation Text: Chapter 11
7/3/07 1. Experimental Design Text: Chapter 12
2. Two-factor ANOVA Text: Chapter 13
7/10/07 1. Exam 3 (6:00-8:00 p.m.) HW due – Chapters 10-
2. Repeated Measures 13 (with exam) Text: Chapter 14
7/17/07 1. Repeated Measures (continued) Text: Chapter 14
2. Partially Repeated Measures Text: Chapter 16
7/24/07 1. Partially Repeated Measures Text: Chapter 16
(continued)
2. Review
7/31/07 Exam 4 (6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) HW due – Chapters 14 &
16 (with exam)

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Grading Policy

The course grade is based on the total points obtained by the student on:

• 4 Exams = 80 % of the final grade


o Each exam will be worth 100 points (total of 400 points)
• Homework Assignments = 20% of the final grade
o Each set (4) of homework problems (see schedule) is worth 25 points (total of 100
points). Specific details about grading are listed under course policies.

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Grade Assignment Policy:


Grades will be assigned based on your sum of the numeric scores for the four exams and homework
assignments. The grade assignments will be:

Point Total Course Grade


465 – 500 = A
450 – 464 = A-
440 – 449 = B+
415 – 439 = B
400 – 414 = B-
390 – 399 = C+
365 – 389 = C
350 – 364 = C-
340 – 349 = D+
315 – 339 = D
300 – 314 = D-
< 300 = F
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Course & Instructor Policies

Attendance
Although attendance will be taken at each lecture, your attendance does not figure directly into the
computation of your final grade. To do well in this course, however, your attendance is strongly
encouraged. Any student who plans to miss more than 1 lecture should consider taking this course at a
later time. If you miss a lecture, it is not necessary to notify the instructor. Students are responsible for
getting all class notes, handouts, class announcements, or other course materials from a fellow classmate
should they miss a lecture.

Make-up Exams
No make-up exams will be administered unless you supply a medical certificate or other documentation
to excuse the absence. If you foresee that you will be absent for an exam, please supply a note to the
instructor well in advance. If the absence is justified, necessary arrangements will be made to retake the
exam. If a test is missed, and the absence is not excused, the grade given will be 0. Make-up exams will
be scheduled with the teaching assistant and will be administered outside of regular class hours. Make-up
exams must be completed before the next scheduled exam.

Homework
Homework assignments can be found in the Student Workbook. All answers should be placed on the
forms provided. Remove the pages and staple all pages together when turning in the assignments.
Remember to indicate your name on the front of the assignment. Each set of homework assignments will
be graded as follows:
• The assignment is turned in complete. The teaching assistant will grade each assignment on the
basis of whether the assignment was complete as opposed to level of correctness. 5 points will be
deducted from the grade for assignments turned in incomplete.
• The assignment is turned in on time. 5 points will be deducted from the grade for any
assignment not turned in on time.

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• All work and answers for each assignment are legible and organized. 5 points will be deducted
from the grade if the student’s work on the homework assignment is not legible and organized. 5
points will also be deducted from the grade for any student who does not put their name on the
assignment or fails to staple all pages together on individual homework assignments.

Answer keys to all homework assignments will be posted outside the office of the teaching assistant.
Answer keys will be posted well in advance of the exams. It is the responsibility of each student to check
their answers prior to the exams. The answer keys may not be removed from the office door/wall for
photocopying.

Extra Credit Assignments No extra credit assignments will be offered.

Specific Class Policies and Professional Courtesy


• Cell phones should be set to off or silent. If the student needs to return a page or make a phone
call, these calls must be made outside the classroom and preferably during class breaks.
• Laptop computers (or other devices except a calculator) must put away at all times.
• It is school policy that children do not attend class or wait for you outside the classroom.
• Emails sent to the instructor will be returned as quickly as possible, usually within 48 hours.
However, emails regarding exam or homework questions sent prior to an exam date (e.g., the
night before) may not be returned to the student in time.
• If you need to contact the instructor or TA, please slowly indicate your name, telephone number,
and the nature of your call. Since the phone number listed on the syllabus is shared by a number
of researchers, please indicate to whom you are directing the call (i.e., Dr. Martin, Tara Reed).

Field Trip Policies - Off-campus Instruction and Course Activities


There is no travel or risk-related activity associated with this course.

Student Conduct & Discipline


The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the
orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student
organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and
activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A
to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and
established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of
Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student
Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and
regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she
is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and
administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such
conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such
conduct.

Academic Integrity
The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the
value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that

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degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her
scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications
for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or material that is not
one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the following acts: cheating,
plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are
subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source
is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for
the details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible
plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use
The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between
faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning
security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official
student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and
staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows
the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and
the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is
to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at
U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class


The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These
dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be
followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other
words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will
not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures


Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of
academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the
matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates
(hereafter called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning
grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in
writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the
written response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean.
If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to
the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic
Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals
process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students,
where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.

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Incomplete Grade Policy
As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the
semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be
resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to
complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the
incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services
The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to
those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union.
Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to
7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The contact information for the Office of Disability Services
is: The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary
to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove
classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for students who are
blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus
an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility
impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to
provide special services such as registration, note taking, or mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation.
Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student
has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact
the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days


The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the
travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from
property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the
absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the
exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length
of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any
missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the
exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a
religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a
reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor
may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the
student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the professor

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