Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Rachel Kallen
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(PSYX104 and PSYX105) or (PSYC104 and PSYC105) or (PSYU1104 and PSYU1105)
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This is an intermediate statistics unit, which covers both the design and statistical components of experiments common to psychological research. The importance of interpretation based on both the design and statistics components is emphasised, together with concepts of power and sample size requirements for efficient research. Statistical methods covered include: descriptive statistics; one-way and two-way analysis of variance; correlation; and regression and non parametric equivalents of ANOVA. The unit includes instruction on the presentation of statistical results in report formal. Practical classes are based on the use of the Stata statistical software.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
There are 3 forms of assessment for PSY 248: quizzes, two assignments, and two exams. Overall grades for the unit will be determined by adding together marks for each of the assessments described in this guide. See the university policy on grading for more information.
In PSY 248, you are encouraged to form study groups to revise course material and practice using STATA. However, any work you submit for assessment must be your own, including calculations and written expression. In recent years we have had a number of problems with students copying other students' work and submitting it as their own work. While we encourage students to discuss their work with each other, and working together can be especially beneficial for statistics, cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please check your University Handbook of Undergraduate Studies and the Psychology Department's Policy on plagiarism for the consequences attached to copying others' work and claiming it as your own.
It is in your best interest to keep a (hard or electronic) copy of your submitted work. Firstly, to be able to produce the copy if your original goes missing, and, secondly, to be able to produce an unmarked copy in the case of requesting a re-mark. If you request a re-mark, you will need to submit an unmarked copy of your work, which will be marked by a different marker, and you will receive the revised mark which may be either higher or lower than the original mark. If you wish to request a re-mark you will need to collect a Department of Psychology Application for Re-mark form from the Faculty.
Assignments:
Quizzes:
Two non-cumulative quizzes will be used to test you understanding of the topics as we proceed through the unit. These should act as a guide to how well you are learning the material, and to identify any areas in which you may require more study or assistance.
Exams:
The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for Special Consideration. Students who experience serious and unavoidable disruption, must apply for special consideration via ask.mq.edu.au. If a Supplementary Examination is granted, the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. The format of a supplementary examination is at each unit convener’s discretion and is subject to change from the original final examination. Supplementary Exams are only offered to students who have satisfactorily completed all other assessments for the unit and were unable to sit the final exam because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, which is the final day of the official examination period.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Assignment 1 | 10% | No | Week 4 |
Quiz 2 | 10% | No | Week 7 |
Final examination | 40% | No | 11/9/20 (Week 7) |
Mid-term examination | 20% | No | Week 11 |
Assignment 2 | 10% | No | 6/11/20 (Week 13) |
Quiz 1 | 10% | No | TBA |
Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 9 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 10%
Students submit an assignment involving use of STATA, data analysis, interpretation of results, and communication of findings up to 2 pages.
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 10%
Multiple choice quiz to be completed in approximately 50 minutes
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 11/9/20 (Week 7)
Weighting: 40%
Final examination held within the University’s formal exam period, in accordance with relevant requirements.
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 20%
Multiple choice mid-term examination to be completed in approximately 50 minutes
Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 9 hours
Due: 6/11/20 (Week 13)
Weighting: 10%
Students submit an assignment involving use of STATA, data analysis, interpretation of results, and communication of findings up to 2 pages.
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: TBA
Weighting: 10%
Multiple choice quiz to be completed in approximately 50 minutes
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
The lectures are considered essential to understanding the unit material so you must be sure to watch each lecture and stay up to date on the materials.
The unit’s tutorial program is vital for students to have a first-hand understanding of the material and its application in psychology research.
The names ‘tutorials’ and ‘practicals’ are used interchangeably in this unit. Students should to participate 1 x tutorial class for most weeks (2,3,5,6,8,9,10,12,13). Tutorials commence in Week 2 and continue throughout the semester. The last tutorial is in week 13.
Most weeks (starting Week 1) there will be a set of practical exercises to complete before the next week's Practical Meeting. Most weeks this will involve a data analysis task (involving STATA) and an interpretation task, although in some weeks outputs may be provided for interpretation. Practical assignments will end with a series of questions that you should be able to answer from the analysis task that you were asked to perform. Completing the practical tasks will help ensure that students keep up with the unit material week-by-week. Tutors will then work through the solution during tutorial sessions in the subsequent week. Tutors are instructed not to do the practical exercises for you, but rather to discuss your work, resolve difficulties, etc. throughout tutorial classes. Practical exercises for each tutorial class will be available on the unit’s web page.
Participation is strongly recommended, as success in the unit is unlikely with our revision of practical materials.
Technology
Students must have access to STATA, a statistical software package, for this unit. STATA can be accessed on University computers (e.g. laptops on loan from the Library), and/or accessed on students' own computer online via AppStream. See https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk/appstream for more information about accessing STATA via AppStream.
You will also be expected to access the PSY248 unit Web Page at least weekly for unit notices and information regarding data files, etc.
You are expected to have had prior experience in the use of STATA before coming into PSYC248, and be able to read raw data files, access pre-existing data files and retrieve STATA data files. You are also expected to have some knowledge of syntax in STATA.
Technical Support
If you experience technological difficulties with iLearn or AppStream, make sure you take a screenshot of any error messages or difficulties that occur, and contact the university's technical support team via OneHelp. Raise and track requests directly at onehelp.mq.edu.au. Alternatively, you can log an issue by calling the IT HelpDesk on (02) 9850 HELP (4357), email onehelp@mq.edu.au, or visit the IT HelpDesk. Because AppStream and use of STATA are fundamental to PSY248, it is your responsibility to make sure you can access both throughout the semester. See http://www.mq.edu.au/onehelp/FAQ.html for more information.
• Weinberg, S. L. & Abramowitz, S. K. (2020). Statistics using Stata: An Integrative Approach (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.
The textbook is available through Booktopia in both paperback and e-book formats:
Text: https://www.booktopia.com.au/statistics-using-stata-sharon-lawner-weinberg/book/9781108725835.html
E-book: https://www.booktopia.com.au/statistics-using-stata-sharon-lawner-weinberg/ebook/9781108808224.html
Course notes
All slides and unit notes will be made available weekly, by topic, on the PSY248 iLearn page.
Additional Computing and Statistics References will be posted to iLearn
This is comprehensive introductory to intermediate level text that overlaps to a reasonable level with this course.
Computing References - Please look to iLearn for more STATA resources
Proposed lecture schedule (subject to change)
Weeks |
Topics |
1 – 2 |
Introduction to Course Revision: Psychological Design & Methods Summarising Data & Descriptive Statistics |
2 – 3 |
Revision of Correlation Simple Linear Regression |
4 |
Introduction to Multiple Regression |
5 – 6 |
Revision: Independent t-test One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) |
6 – 7 |
One-way ANOVA Mid-session Summary |
8 – 10 |
Factorial ANOVA |
11 - 12 |
Non-parametric Tests Power & Effect Size Revisited |
13 |
Summary and Revision |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
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Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
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