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, workgroups, and exams, select your study programme.
Psychology timetables
Registration
Course
First year students are automatically enrolled for courses, but do need to register themselves for the exam.
Other students do not only need to register for exams themselves, but also for lectures and work group sessions. For information on registration periods consult the bachelor course 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.
Consult the first year guide in the info for first year students International Bachelor in Psychology
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.
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%). Credits are awarded if the final grade is higher than 5.5 and both components are no lower than 5.0.
Regulations on grade calculation.
The Faculty of Social and Behavioural 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.
Reading list
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 23. Released 1012. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp., [www.surfspot.nl].
Additional materials are provided via Blackboard (including lecture slides, assignments, translated terms, errata, further instructions and explanations, etc).
Contact information
Dr. Frank Busing
busing@fsw.leidenuniv.nl