Introduction

1. Introduction 46-512: Statistics for Graduate Study in Psychology

2. Why this course is required • It’s what we do • Psychologists are scientists • The nature of the Ph. D. • Credibility • Need skills to… • Participate in research • Conduct your own research • Critically evaluate trends in field • Accreditation Requirements • Skills carry over to other aspects of professional & personal life

3. What some of you are feeling now • Stratospheric levels of anxiety • Nausea • Dry mouth • Denial • False sense of confidence • Faint pulse • Minimal awareness • Strong desire for caffeine • Strange longing for a time gone by… • Impostor syndrome

4. What I’ve learned from teaching this course… • Good students do well • Students who do the readings do well • Students who work continuously have less anxiety about assignments • “Good at math” isn’t much related to performance in this class • At least 60% of the class will hate the book • We will probably have fun, unless it goes like it did in the past • You will grow to hate the topic assignments, but… • When you go to use these skills, you will thank me for the topic assignments • People who ask a lot of questions generally learn a lot and often begin to ask really good questions

5. How to get the most out of this class • Ask questions • Do the practice problems • Read the text (before, after, or both) • Study/work in small groups • Think about thesis/dissertation ideas and how you might test your ideas with the designs we discuss • Visit me during office hours • Think of questions you might like to ask, to better understand • Ask questions

6. Pitfalls • Assuming graduate work is a continuation of undergraduate work • The “I already learned this” syndrome. • Underestimating time requirements • Topic Assignments will take you a long time to complete • Not staying on top of material (and reading) • Becoming involved in smuggling of exotic species and getting caught at the border with a trunk full of, well, you get the idea…

7. Things you should know about me • I will make mistakes in my formulas or presentations on occasion • I prefer to communicate via email, or in person during office hours • I appreciate student resourcefulness • I enjoy a good laugh, even at myself • I’m a bit over the top about the appropriate use of statistical models • I can come unhinged about poor reporting • Over the course of the semester I may tease certain people, even ridicule them. It’s not to be taken the wrong way, it means I like you. • Probably.

8. Our Approach • This is a “new” class • Have to be patient at times • Main Theme • Analysis of data from experiments • Traces of observational research analysis • Proper analytic procedures versus flexibility in data analysis • Coverage • The two most common statistical techniques in the literature • Lots of ANOVA • helps us to master other designs • Lots of MRA • Foundational to most other techniques

9. Learning Outcomes • By the end of this class, you should be able to… • Properly conduct ANOVA & MRA analyses • Report & discuss results of analyses • Understand assumptions of analyses & robustness issues • Understand results section in literature

10. Assignments: Declarative Knowledge • What is it? • What does the analysis reveal? • What are the assumptions? • What are the robustness considerations? • What alternatives are available? • What is a credible design example? • What should be reported?

11. Assignments: Procedural Knowledge • Hands-on analysis component • May work in groups, to learn from one another • Properly communicate results • Must be your work* * Note: I have, in the past, received papers that were eerily similar. If this occurs, I will assign one grade and split the points between both students. Think before doing it, and think before sharing your work with others!

12. The Lab and GA Responsibilities • Goals of Lab • Strengthen your skills with software • Serves as GA Office Hours • Provide you with an opportunity to practice problems similar to those you are working on for TA • Help you better understand, through practice, the statistical techniques Are labs important?

13. Rules for Lab • Lab is not a place to get answers to specific questions on TA • If you have such questions, ask me. Gas are instructed not to help with this. • Be respectful toward GAs • Even though the GAs are your peers, do not abuse the relationship (pestering emails and calls to their homes) • Be respectful of each other (diversity in style)

14. What to expect • The usual side-effects of graduate school • Sleep disturbance • Generalized anxiety • Unrealistic workload • Specific side-effects of this class1 • Unhealthy social comparison practices • Bewilderment • Nightmares • Seething hostility 1: most side effects disappear within 12 months of completing this course

15. The benefits • Ability to understand literature better • Basic analytic skills for your thesis / dissertation • Ability to teach yourself new techniques • The vocabulary! • Impress your friends!