Psychology 385 - Statistics with Computer Lab - Sections A & B
Fall 2009
Dr. John P. Galla 

OFFICE: My office is in Kapelski Learning Center, room 137B. 
OFFICE HOURS: My office hours for fall 2009 are M 1-3:50 and W 1-2:00 PM and F 8-8:50 AM.  You may meet with me at other times if you make an appointment.
PHONE: You may call me at (610) 499-4371.  If I am not in my office, leave a voice message that includes your name, number where I can reach you, the times I can reach you, and the reason for your call. Please note:  I do not discuss grades over the telephone.
EMAIL: You may also email me at jpgalla@mail.widener.edu.  However, due to the burden of unsolicited email, and of destructive viruses carried in email, I will only respond to your email if your name, and the number and section of your course appear in the subject line (e.g., Your Name, Psy 385, Section A).  Email without this information will be erased without being opened.  Please note:  I do not discuss grades via email. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES
Psychology 385 covers elementary statistics applied to the behavioral and social sciences.  The computer laboratory will introduce you to data handling, statistics, and graphing with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). 
      In this course you will become acquainted with the many ways in which empirical information is obtained and analyzed.  Basically, there are two things to learn about applied statistics: How to use particular statistical procedures and when to use them. 

COURSE MATERIALS AND POLICIES

PREREQUISITES:  You must have placed out of Math 101 on the Math Placement Test or have earned at least a C in Math 101.  NO EXCEPTIONS!

TEXTBOOKS, DISK, CALCULATOR: Please purchase the textbooks, disk and calculator and bring them to all classes all of the time:

Text:  Gravetter & Wallnau (2008).  Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, 6^th
          edition, Wadsworth: Belmont, California.
          ISBN 0495383945
          Companion Web Site: http://www.thomsonedu.com/psychology/gravetter                      

Text:  Aspelmeier & Pierce (2009).  SPSS – A User Friendly Approach, Worth: New York.
         ISBN 1429224185

Purchase one USB flash drive.
  
Purchase an inexpensive calculator with square root key.  Note: cell phone calculators are not allowed.

ATTENDANCE:  You are allowed six absences, (provided they do not occur on the day of a scheduled exam).  These allowed absences are provided so that you won't be penalized for the occasional "doctor's appointment" or "away game."  However, I reserve the right to reduce your grade by 5 percentage points for each absence beyond six.


ARRIVING LATE:  I expect you to be on time for class.  If you arrive after class has started please enter the classroom in an unobtrusive manner and find the nearest available seat.  I reserve the right to reduce your grade by 5 percentage points for each late arrival beyond three (i.e., if you are habitually late). 

ELECTRONIC DEVICES:  All electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, IPods, pagers, laptop computers, Bluetooth or wireless devices, etc.) must be turned off during the class period. I subscribe to the campus alert system and my own cell phone will remain on during class in case of an emergency.  I will deduct 5 percentage points from your final grade for any violation of this policy. This includes texting!  Please note that violation of this policy for any reason during an exam will be considered evidence of cheating and you will be dropped from the course with an F for academic fraud.  Sorry - no exceptions.  

RECORDING: Recording lectures is generally prohibited.  A student with special needs may be allowed to record lectures if 1) official documentation regarding the special need is presented and 2) a standard contract is signed regarding the use and disposition of the recorded lectures.

CHEATING:  I begin with the assumption that you are honest and honorable.  My faith in your integrity notwithstanding I adhere strictly to the cheating policy which appears in the 2009-2010 Student Handbook for the Main Campus, Day Session. As mentioned above, the use of an electronic device (e.g., cell phone) during an exam will be considered evidence of cheating and you will be dropped from the course with an F for academic fraud.

HOMEWORK: Reading, problem and lab assignments appear on the course outline. You are required to attempt all assignments and be prepared to discuss them in class. I recommend you keep all written homework in a special notebook. Please bring completed assignments with you when you meet with me.

EXAMS:  There will be 4 exams and an optional final (for those who qualify).  Exams will be based on information from lecture and lab.  The four exams will be averaged together to arrive at your final grade (i.e., each regular exam is worth 25% of the final grade). If after completing all 4 exams your average is not less than 55 and not more than 59, you may, at your option, take a cumulative final.  If you earn at least 70 points (out of 100) on the cumulative final, you will receive a D for the course.    

I expect you to take each exam on the scheduled date.  I have tentatively scheduled exams for Friday, September 25; Friday, October 16; Friday, November 6; and Wednesday, December 9.  If you miss an exam on a scheduled exam date, you will have to take a make-up exam.  All make-up exams will be given on Friday, December 11, 2009 (the last day of classes). 

GRADES:  Letter grades will be assigned as indicated in the table below.  Please understand what this table means.  If your final average is a minimum of 93 you earn an A, below 93 you do not earn an A.  If your average is 80 you earn a B-, below 80 you do not earn a B-, and so forth.  I do not round up to the next highest grade.

 

Psychology 385 - Course Lecture Outline, Fall 2009 Semester