PSYCH 105: Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences

Welcome to PSYCH 105!

I am excited to have you in this course. All students have the opportunity to succeed in this class and at Valley. You've got this!

Have you ever heard a crazy “fact” about humans and wondered how we know it is true? Enter statistics!  In this course on basic statistics, you’ll learn about how social scientists consider data and make judgments about claims that are made. You’ll learn about the use of tables and charts, ways to “summarize” data, how to tell if two things are related, and ways to test a claim using data. Don’t worry, we’ll be using calculators and computer programs to help along the way!

Course

PSYCH-105-01

Spring 2023: 1/17 - 5/23

Meets: 11 AM - 12:50 PM on Mondays & Wednesdays

Location: GYM-140

Final Exam: Mon 5/22 11 AM

Prerequisite: MATH 095 or 096; Dept. Advisory: PSYCH 100 or 100H

4 units, Associate Degree applicable, transfers to CSU and UC, required for Psychology Transfer Degree, prereq for PSYCH 201

Instructor

Dr. Danielle Graham

Phone: 951-878-0687 – Call/Text, 909-384-8568 – Call only

Email: dgraham@valleycollege.edu, drdanigraham@gmail.com

Please allow at least 24 hours during weekdays & 48 hours on weekends for a response.

My full communication policy is on Canvas. Pronto is my preferred method of contact.

UNDOCUALLY, I am an LGBTQ+ ALLY, I Support Our Veterans, Black Lives Matter!

How can you get help?

• Open Computer Lab in GYM-140 on Mondays 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
• Online Support Hours on Pronto Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30 - 6:00 pm
  • Send me a message in Pronto to "knock on my door" & get help!

Course Materials

What do I need?

You will need access to a computer with internet outside of class to complete assignments. I'll use our Canvas page to keep us organized. This is where I will post ALL of our class materials, including assignments, videos, and other resources. Let me know right away if you cannot access our class page!

Please bring a pencil, paper, and a calculator with exponent and square root functions to class. I have a few extras I can lend out during class.

Is there a textbook?

There is NO REQUIRED TEXTBOOK for this class. We will build our own textbook of Guided Notes and Classwork. For extra help, try the FREE Statistics textbook from OpenStax: https://openstax.org/details/books/introductory-statistics

Limited Chromebooks available for checkout!

Visit the Library:

• Monday - Thursday: 8 AM - 7 PM
• Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM

What will you learn?

Student Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to understand such topics as measurement frequency distributions and the normal curve, measures of central tendency and variability, sampling and statistical inference, correlation, hypothesis testing, and ANOVA, as assessed by exams and homework assignments.
• Apply statistical concepts to real research examples, as assessed by handing in a successfully completed statistical analysis of a research project.
• Select the statistical test appropriate for analyzing data presented in research simulations.

College-Wide Core Competencies:

• Read and retain information.
• Employ vocabulary of the subject studied.
• Find and interpret information.

How Will You Be Graded?

Grading Scale

• A = 90% +
• B = 80 – < 90%
• C = 70 – < 80%
• D = 60 – < 70%
• F = 0 – < 60%

Grade Breakdown

• Guided Notes = 20%
• Classwork = 30%
• A&Rs (5) = 50%____   
• Total = 100%

Prepare: Guided Notes

You will take guided notes while watching lecture videos on YouTube to build a set of notes you can take with you to every other class requiring some statistical knowledge. In order to effectively contribute to our learning community, notes must be completed prior to the next class. Notes are graded based on completeness.

Clarify: Classwork

Activities and discussions are an important part of class, as they help you make sense of and practice the material. It is VITAL that you attend class to have the best chance at success in this class. Classwork is graded based on completeness and effort and requires contributing to class discussions.

Assess: A&Rs

You will complete five Analysis & Reporting assignments, or A&Rs, to demonstrate and assess your learning. These assessments focus on demonstrating a conceptual understanding of what you have learned. For each assignment, you will analyze a data set and report your findings in APA style.

Late Work Policy

We all have lives and obligations other than this class. However, it is important to your success in this course, as well as to future courses and jobs, that you can manage your time and submit assignments on time. In this class, new content builds on what we have already covered. Once you fall behind, it is very difficult to catch up!

You must keep track of deadlines. You will have a team to help keep you accountable. Remember to make plenty of time to begin and thoughtfully complete your assignments before they're due.

I understand that sometimes life happens. Please communicate with me & your team so we all stay on track. There is no formal late penalty, but I will discuss with you if late work becomes a problem. Late work gets graded last.

Course Policies

Be Informed

Some announcements may be made at the beginning of class. Announcements will also be posted on the course Canvas page. Additional resources and announcements may be posted throughout the week, so please be sure to check the page regularly to stay up-to-date. ALWAYS READ ANNOUNCEMENTS posted on Canvas or sent by email!

Show Up

Learning statistics requires a conceptual understanding of the statistical formulas as well as practice applying the concepts. Your attendance and participation in class will help you gain the knowledge and skills required for success in the course. Your attendance will be taken in the form of classwork, described under grading. Classwork is available on Canvas and you are expected to complete it regardless of in-class attendance. If you must miss a class, discuss with your teammates as soon as possible to go over what you missed or visit support hours. 

Be Prepared

The classwork is designed assuming that you have watched the video lectures and completed the guided notes. While some of the concepts may be difficult because of their unfamiliarity, classwork activities and discussions will be used to help clarify the main points of the videos. Although some classwork will include some lecture, most will involve engaging in class discussions and activities that require you to have watched the videos before coming to class. In the spirit of collaborative learning, I expect you to commit to your learning and that of your fellow students by completing the assigned notes in a timely manner and doing your part to be prepared to fully engage in each class.

Be Respectful

Successful learning experiences require mutual respect on the part of the student and the instructor. No instructor or student should be subject to others’ behavior that is rude, disruptive, intimidating, or demeaning. Discussions should be civilized and respectful to everyone and relevant to the topic we are discussing. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Discussion is meant to allow us to hear a variety of viewpoints. This can only happen if we respect each other and our differences. Student conduct which disrupts the learning process will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action. I reserve the right to remove any posts that I feel do not fit these guidelines.

In online posts, practice good Netiquette: be polite and respectful in your postings (no “Flaming” or posting / sending negative, hurtful comments to others); use good grammar and correct spelling; don’t write in all caps (it feels like you’re shouting) or exotic fonts (they may not show up on everyone’s computer). In short, present your best self!

Plagiarism

Your thoughts and ideas are important. In order to protect your words and others' words, we have rules about plagiarism.  Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that occurs when a person passes off someone else's work as their own. Plagiarism includes:

• using AI to complete coursework;
• using another student’s ideas or paper;
• buying a paper;
• copying and pasting (or typing) paragraphs from websites;
• handing in a paper downloaded from the Internet; or
• failing to cite another person’s ideas.

Please review the "Academic Dishonesty" section in the College Catalog. If I suspect your work does not meet with Valley College standards of academic honesty, I will meet with you to discuss the problem. If an exam or assignment is deemed to involve academic dishonesty, you will receive 0 points and you will be subject to the College's penalties for academic dishonesty. 

Support Services

Your success in this class is important to me! We will all need accommodations because we all learn differently. If there are aspects of this course that prevent you from learning or exclude you, please let me know as soon as possible. Together we’ll develop strategies that meet both your needs and the requirements of the course.

I encourage you to contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS; formerly called Disabled Student Programs & Services or DSPS) if you require accommodations for a disability or would like information on applying for services. SAS is located in ADSS 105. Their contact information is: 

Voice: (909) 384-4443

Video chat: (909) 332-5877

Email: sbvcsas@valleycollege.edu

There are many other resources on campus and online, including:

THE WRITING CENTER is a FREE composition tutoring service that hosts an experienced staff of writing tutors who are available for in person and online tutoring to assist students across the disciplines. The Writing Center is located in Liberal Arts building room 201, LA-201.

THE LIBRARY: Open Mon-Thurs 8 AM - 7 PM, Fri 8 AM - 5 PM. Check the website for LIVE help!

COUNSELING SERVICES are available to assist students with making informed decisions about your academic, career, and life goals. Meet with a counselor to develop an educational plan to reach these goals. Online and in-person appointments are available and can be scheduled through the website. You can also chat with a counselor via the virtual drop-in lobby.

A counselor can also talk to you about one of our programs designed to support students like you:

• • Athletics - Get support specific for student athletes, like time management and study skills

  • Dreamers - Visit DREAMers Resource Center (DRC) to connect with resources!

  • International Students - Get support in AD/SS-103!

  • MESA - Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement program support

  • Puente Project - Open to all students! Learn more by calling (909) 384-8255

  • Umoja-Tumaini - Black and African American student community of support

  • Guardian Scholars - Support services for current and former foster youth

  • CalWORKs - Assistance in finding meaningful employment and support services

  • EOPS/CARE - Talk to a counselor to see if you qualify for extended support services

  • Honors - Learn about developing a deeper engagement in your college experience

  • ...and MORE!!!

THE HELP DESK: is available for 24/7 assistance with technical matters (e-mail, Canvas, registration, Web Advisor log-in, etc.) by calling (909) 384-4357.

THE VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER assists veterans and their families entering college for the first time or returning to college to further their education. Call (909) 384-4411, email veterans@valleycollege.edu or visit Campus Center Building, room 133 (CC-133) for more information.

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES are available to support both your physical and mental health.  For appointments or questions, call (909) 384-4495. 

THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER provides free services to help you succeed. In addition to tutoring, there is an open computer lab, and reading and study skills workshops and printing services are available. Stop by  LA 206 or call (909) 384-4463 for more information. 

Department and Division Information

Psychology is part of the Social Sciences, Human Development and Physical Education Division.

The division office is located in NH-345 and can be contacted at (909) 384-8603.

Our Dean is Dr. Wally Johnson and our division secretary is Angela Grotke. You'll visit them if you need any help with getting forms signed and submitted. Make sure to say thank you, as they do a lot to help us faculty members stay organized and focusing on you!

PLEASE NOTE: San Bernardino Community College District policy states: “If a faculty member wishes to use sexually explicit material in the classroom to stimulate dialogue, as a part of classroom material, or as a teaching style or technique, the faculty member shall give clear notice to students in a syllabus or other appropriate document no later than the first day of class.”

This is your written notification that this psychology course may include discussion of sexuality, race, and other emotionally charged social issues. Please know that any references that might be offensive or objectionable to some people are not made to intentionally offend or harass but to discuss the material in ways that are relevant to our lives and communities.

...and FINALLY!

Want to guess what one of Dr. G's biggest pet peeves is?? Why don't I let my friends tell you?

• Peter Griffin says: "You know what really grinds my gears? Students who blew off the entire semester begging for extra credit points during finals week."
• Willy Wonka says: "Oh, so you want extra credit? How about doing all of the regular credit?"
• The Most Interesting Man in the World says: "I don't always care about my grade... but when I do it's the end of the semester and even though I didn't do all the assignments, I'll ask for extra credit now.

Don't be "that guy"!