Psychological Statistics
Psychological Statistics is an asynchronous, three-week introductory course in the statistical methods used in the behavioral sciences. Designed as a required course for psychology majors, it emphasizes statistical reasoning, interpretation of findings, and critical evaluation of statistical information. Students learn how to organize, describe, analyze, and interpret behavioral data using both descriptive and inferential statistics.
Topics include frequency distributions and graphs, central tendency, variability, z scores, probability, hypothesis testing, t tests for one and two samples, analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, and regression. Students complete readings, lecture materials, MindTap assignments, end-of-chapter problems, and two Jamovi-based projects. The course also introduces students to using statistical software to conduct analyses and communicate results. By the end of the course, students should be able to select appropriate basic statistical procedures, conduct analyses, interpret output, and apply statistical concepts to psychological research questions.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Construct and interpret frequency distributions, tables, and graphs.
- Compute and interpret measures of central tendency and variability.
- Calculate and interpret z scores and use them to describe relative standing in a distribution.
- Explain foundational probability concepts and their role in statistical inference.
- Describe the logic, assumptions, and limitations of hypothesis testing.
- Compute and interpret inferential tests for one mean and for comparisons between two means.
- Distinguish between independent-samples and related-samples t tests and select the appropriate test.
- Compute and interpret one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).
- Compute and interpret correlation and linear regression analyses.
- Use Jamovi or similar statistical software to conduct basic statistical analyses.
- Interpret statistical findings in the context of behavioral-science research.