1. Reasoning in Psychology Using Statistics
Spring 2019

2. Announcements Outline Course format Brief syllabus review
Lecture classes: Conceptual foundations
Labs: Calculations and SPSS
Brief syllabus review
30 min intro video
Announcements

3. What are Statistics? “It’s about almost everything in modern society.”
Bennett, Briggs, Triola (2003), Statistical Reasoning for Everyday life
Statistics: tools, used to make data based decisions
Descriptive statistics
Inferential statistics
Data: numbers with a context
How were numbers measured, what do they mean?
Examples of stocks, sports, weather
What are Statistics?
Arthur Benjamin: Teach statistics before calculus
Peter Donnelly: How juries are fooled by statistics
Why do I have to take stats

4. What are Statistics? “It’s about almost everything in modern society.”
Bennett, Briggs, Triola (2003), Statistical Reasoning for Everyday life
Data science vs. Statistician
Statistics: tools, used to make data based decisions
Descriptive statistics
Inferential statistics
Data: numbers with a context
How were numbers measured, what do they mean?
“Overall employment of mathematicians and statisticians is projected to grow 33 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Businesses will need these workers to analyze the increasing volume of digital and electronic data.”
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Examples of stocks, sports, weather
What are Statistics?

5. Where is it?: ReggieNet (via )
Syllabus
Where is it?: ReggieNet (via )
Direct link to syllabus:
Includes contact information for me and your lab instructors
Course Calendar and Outline
Powerpoint lectures, links to labs, due dates, etc.
Evaluation:
1000 points total, for A, etc.
I don’t round up, so 899 is a B
Exams: In-lecture & in labs, quizzes, final project, labs

6. McBride (2018). The Process of Statistical Analysis in Psychology, Sage
Read it before coming to lecture and going to labs
“Stop and Think Practice questions (solutions are in the back)
Text book

7. Stats tutorial Reading Packet (download the pdf)
If you want a little more help, there is a Statistics Tutorial pdf linked to the ReggieNet page (from a past semester). Each section also has practice problems.
Stats tutorial Reading Packet (download the pdf)

8. Video review Main points from the video
Every statistical test starts with an appropriate selection of subjects
Inferences must be based on more than one observation because of variability
Two types of error must be controlled while testing hypotheses
A decision is based on two things:
The difference between groups
The variability of the scores
Week 3
Weeks 5&6
Inferential statistics: hypothesis testing – rats, robots, and roller skates
Wiley (1977)
Week 10
Weeks 10-15
Video review
The Credibility Gap
Michael McKean
David Lander
Harry Shearer

9. Questions? Today’s lab Getting to know Your GAs and the Lab set up
ReggieNet site
Practice a quiz
Uploading a file
Submitting and assignment
Questions?