CSPP at
PSY6052-F1 Data Analysis,
Research Design & Program Evaluation
Spring 2014
Instructor: Merle Canfield,
Ph.D.
Contact Information: Phone: (559) 253-2237 E-mail:
mcanfield@alliant.edu
Cell : (917-881-1398)
Office Hours: Mon-Fri. 8:00 to
9:00 in my office or by appointment.
Course Day/Time: Thursdays 1:00 PM to 3:55 PM
Location: Room 73
Teaching Assistant: TBD (see Moodle for
information)
This
course is instrumental in creating the basic level of knowledge required by
practicing psychologists to consume the vast and expanding quantities of
research literature in the area of practice they choose. This course will focus on
helping students develop an understanding of the statistical analyses used in
psychological research in order to enhance their understanding of the
literature and create competence to undertake research projects. Additionally,
this course prepares students to do research of their own including the
dissertation and evaluation of practice.
The course will focus simultaneously on completing and consuming
research. Additionally,
this class will cover general research design issues throughout the year as a
part of weekly class discussion. As a likely and frequently necessary area of
research for practicing psychologists, this course will include coverage of the
basics of program evaluation and incorporate real world examples. Finally a
significant portion of the first semester will focus on psychological
measurement. There will be a paper due
psychotherapy research.
A.
Course
Description: This is the second semester
course of a two semester sequence. It is a practical
course in research design, statistical analysis, psychological measurement, and
evaluation of clinical processes. Design
and statistical procedures are presented in “lectures” and each student will
construct tests, perform psychometrics, compre
groups, and design a program evaluation proposal and carry out the analysis and
write a report on simulated data. In the
process students will perform the following statistical analysis: multiple
regression, MANOVA, MANCOVA, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, logistic analysis,
and structural equation modeling, and with all the necessary components. Psychotherapy research will be covered.
B.
Instructor
Assumptions: It is my assumption that we all need to have
a strong conceptual base for us to take full advantage of the power of statstics in reseach. Consequently, the general linear model will
be brought to students attention with the introduction
of the statical analysis methods. Additionally, time
will be dedicated to the assumptions related to each statistic taught due to
the importance of assumptions.
Additionally, attention also must be paid to the difference between
clinical and statistical significance.
Not all that is statistically significant is important. Thus, frequent attention will be devoted to
measures of effect size and how to report them.
Philosophy of science is often played out in the variaous
statistical procedures and we will consider internal and external threats to
validity, and falsifiability.
C.
Specific Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the first
semester of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand assumptions for each statistical technique;
2. Understand the general linear model;
3. Conduct a number of statistical procedures using SPSS
and other statistical software;
4. Comprehend the necessary information in an SPSS
printout;
5. Write up statistical findings in APA style.
6. Comprehend basic psychological measurement theory.
7. Choose appropriate univariate and multivariate
statistical procedures;
8. Design a research project;
9. Describe and calculate different forms of reliability
and validity and how each can be assessed
10. Design instruments;
11.
Select and
critique instruments based on psychometric properties.
12.
Be conversant
with the most common methods for assessing therapeutic effectiveness; including
efficacy studies, effectiveness studies, and meta-analysis
13. Understand the basics of program evaluation;
14. Write and assess process and outcome questions for a
program evaluation;
15. Write a comprehensive research proposal;
16. Conduct culturally competent research;
D. Instructional Strategy: The
format of the class will utilize lecture, SPSS demonstration, small group
activities and a computer lab for students to obtain individual
assistance. Additionally, students can
use the discussion boards, assignments feature and other resources setup for
this course in Moodle. There will weekly
pre-test and post-tests.
WEEK |
T |
Readings
|
Assignments |
Assignments Due |
1 2/3 |
Introcution to SPSS,
review univarite statistics, multivariate
statistics, psychotherapy research, programs evaluation;General
Linear Model |
|
Assignment 1: Creste a set of fake data and run: correlation; t-test;
chi square |
|
2 2/10 |
Multiple Regression Models |
Tabachnick Chapter 5 Psy605q.com |
Assignment 2: Mutiple regression; stepwise regression |
Correlation; t-test; chi square syntax and output due. |
3 2/17 |
MANOVA and MANCOVA |
Tabachnick Chapter 7 Psy605q.com |
ASMT 3: MANOVA;
MANCOVA |
Mutiple regression; stepwise regression due Part and partial correlations; hierarchical |
4 2/24 |
Test construction; write items;
reliability; validity |
Psy605q.com;validity
article |
ASMT 4: create a scale; get
people to complete with fake data; do reliability |
MANOVA and
MANCOVA syntax and output files
|
5 3/5 |
Discriminant Analysis |
Tabachnick Chapter 9 |
ASMT 5: Run at least two discriminant
functions – one on data from scale |
Syntax files and
output from scale
|
6 3/10 |
Factor Anaysis |
Tabachnick Chapter 13 |
ASMT 5: At least 4 factor
analysis runs assessing factor structer |
Discriminant functions – syntax filex and output |
7 3/17 |
Midterm Exam: Psychological
Measurement & Theory Psychological tests & test
score interpretation |
Psy605q.com
Psychometrics |
Assignment 6: Testing
information – cut-score; standard scores;norms |
A couple of syntax files and some output showing best factor structer |
8 3/24 |
Spring Break |
|
|
|
9 3/31 |
Structural
Equation Modeling |
Psy605q.com. |
Confirmatory factor analysis |
Testing information – cut-score; standard scores;norms |
10 4/7 |
Structural Equation Modeling cont |
Psy605q.com |
Mediating structural model |
Confirmatory factor analysis runs due |
11 4/14 |
Potpourri of Research Design;
non-linear dat; dosage; measuring treatment |
Psy605q.com |
Runs for non-linear;
interaction; measing treatment |
Mediating structural model |
12 4/21 |
Logistic Regression |
Psy605q.com |
Runs for logistic regression. |
Syntax & output for non-linear; interaction; measring treatment |
13 4/28 |
Cluster Analysis |
Psy605q.com; template
for Private Practive Outcome |
Run Cluster Analysis |
Syntax files and output for logistic regression |
14 5/5 |
Prog Eval: Introduction
Private practice; psychothereapy research |
Psy605q.com;
template for Private Practive Outcome |
Work on scales; analysis; |
Syntax and output for cluster analysis |
15 5/12 |
Prog Eval: Continued – Agency providing MH services;psychotherapy
research |
Psy605q.com;
template for Private Practive Outcome |
Work on report |
Analysis of evaluation of agency providing MH services. |
16 5/19 |
Possible: Profile analysis or
Survival analysis |
Study for exam |
|
Scales; syntax files |
17 5/26 |
Final Exam |
|
|
Psychotherapy Paper due |
IV. Bibliography
Required Texts
Tabachnick & Fidell (2013). Using Multivariate Statistics. 6th edition.
Pearson, New York.
Canfield, M.
L.
Required Journal
Article
Required
Software
SPSS
14.0 or newer version. Available for use in the computer labs on campus. Available at Amazon.com and
typically on e-bay. Additionally, you can rent an SPSS license online
from various places.
Spring
Semester
Homework (week post) 30% 10 points per syntax and output
post (15 posts – 150 points)
Weekly Exams 30% 1 point per each correct answer
(150 points)
Midterm Exam 10% 1 point per each correct answer
(50 questions)
Final Exam 10% 1 point per each correct answer
(50 questions)
Evaluation Paper 20% 1 point per each correct answer
(100 points)
Please note: Percentages are approximate. Point values will be followed precisely.
97 - 100% of possible points A+
93 - 96 % A
89 - 92 % A-
85 - 88 % B+
81 – 84% B
77 – 80% B-
below 80% (1600
points or less) will receive an F for the course
Homework: The syntax for SPSS/EQS run plus the output from the
run (discuss in class).
Weekley Exams: The weekly exams will cover the material
covered in the previous class.
Midterm Exam: The midterm (50 items) will cover mataial covered.
Final Exam: Material covered from Midterm to last class (50
items).
Paper: Paper on psychotherapy research.
VI. Right to Alter Syllabus
This syllabus does not constitute a contract between
the instructor and the students in the course.
While every effort will be made to present the material as described the
instructor retains the right to alter the syllabus for any reason at any
time. When such changes are made every
effort will be made to provide students with both adequeate
notification of the changes and to provide them with sufficient time to meet
any changes in the course requirements.
VII. Course Specific Policies
A.
Class
Attendance, Lateness, Missed Exams or Assignments The University
expects regular class attendance by all students. Each student is responsible for all academic
work missed during absences. When an
absence is necessary, students should contact the instructor and to check for
assignments. See the University Catalog
for the complete policy on attendance.
When prolonged absence is necessary, students should contact the
instructor in advance if at all possible or as quickly as possible if there are
unforeseen absences. Student will be
expected to complete the necessary work before the absence or immediately upon
return.
B.
Credit Hour Policy: This three-unit
course requires 9 hours per week of work.
This will typically include three hours a week of classroom
instruction/work. In addition it is
expected that homework and assignments require an additional six hours of outside
work per week for a total of 135 hours of student work per semester. Some weeks the three hours of classroom time
will be replaced by online video lectures and other materials.
C.
Cancellation of
Registration: The
University reserves the right to cancel the registration of any student who
does not comply with Alliant rules, regulations, or policies including the
nonpayment of tuition fees.
D.
Participation: Weekly
participation in class is required.
Failure to participate in class discussions can result in a lowering of
your course grade.
E.
Grading
Policy: All assignments
must be submitted through the assignments function in Moodle except for hand
written calculations which can be turned in to the TAs mailbox on campus. Late
papers or assignments will not be accepted without prior clearance from
the instructor.
INFORMATION
APPLYING TO ALL COURSES
VIII. Program, Campus,
School and University Policies
A. Policy on Course Requirements During Religious Holidays In keeping with the
institution’s commitment to respect and affirm cultural, religious, and
spiritual diversity, the University supports the rights of students, staff, and
faculty to observe religious/cultural/spiritual obligations that conflict with
the University’s schedule. Faculty instructors and
staff/administrative supervisory personnel are expected to make reasonable
accommodations when a student or an employee is absent from class or work
because of religious/cultural/spiritual observance.
A student who plans to be absent from class because
of a religious/cultural/spiritual observance is expected to request
accommodations by his/her instructors at least two weeks prior to the date in
question, and preferably within the first two weeks of the semester. A student
who makes such a request in advance must be given the opportunity to make up
the work which was missed, provided that the make-up work does not create an
unreasonable burden on the instructor or the University. Students should
suffer no adverse or prejudicial effects for missing class when they have given
due notice in advance. However, absence from classes or from examinations
does not relieve students of the responsibility for meeting the course
requirements. This policy does not change existing course or academic
program policies with respect to the impact of absences or missed class time on
the student’s evaluation. However, instructors are encouraged to consider
whether students, who, because of religious/cultural/spiritual observance, miss
more than the expected class time, might do so without penalty. It is
understood that the instructor’s ability to do this will likely be based on the
characteristics and expectations of the
particular course and the importance of maintaining the quality of the academic
program..
B. Responsibility to Keep Copies Remember – it is good
practice to keep copies of ALL major assignments/papers you turn in. On rare occasion, work may be lost because of
computer failure or other mishaps.
C. Respectful Speech and
D. Academic Code of Conduct and Ethics The University is
committed to principles of scholastic honesty.
Its members are expected to abide by ethical standards both in their
conduct and in their exercise of responsibility towards other members of the
community. Each student’s conduct is
expected to be in accordance with the standards of the University. The
complete Academic Code, which covers acts of misconduct including assistance
during examination, fabrication of data, plagiarism, unauthorized
collaboration, and assisting other students in acts of misconduct, among
others, may be found in the Alliant Catalog. The University reserves the right to use
plagiarism detection software.
E. Student Disclosure of Personal Information. Students may be (therefore) be required to participate in learning activities that
require different levels of self-disclousre. These multiple evaluative areas include but
are not limited to, demonstration of sufficient: 1) interpersonal and
professional competence; b) self-awareness, self-reflection and
self-evaluation; c) openness to processes of supervision; and d) resolution of
problems or issues that interfere with professional development or functioning
in a satisfactory manner. (The complete
CSPP policy on disclosure of personal information is contained in the Alliant
catalogue.)
F. Academic Standing:
Within CSPP students remain in Good Academic Standing unless they meet
one of the following criteria. Students
are placed on Warning if they receive 1 grade of C or lower. Students are placed on Probation if they
receive 2 Cs or 1 C and 1 D/F in the first 60 units of their program OR 3 Cs or
2 D/Fs and 1 C. Students will be
terminated from the program if their GPA falls below a 3.0 or they remain on
Probation for 2 consecutive semesters.
The complete CSPP Academic Standing policy is contained in the Alliant
catalogue.
G.
IRB policy
[in progress]
IX. Accomodations
and Resources
1.
Disability Accommodations If you need disability-related
accommodations in this class, please see me privately. All accommodations must be requested in a
timely manner (at least 2 weeks ahead of time) with a letter of support for
Alliant’s Office of Disability Services.
If you have questions about accommodations, please contact the Office of
Disability Services.
2. Obtaining Tutoring or Other Student Support Services Tutors are available
to help students with course-based or exam-based needs. Contact the Director of Student Support
Services for information on obtaining tutoring – or other student support
services – on your campus.
3. Problem Solving Resources If problems arise
with faculty, other students, staff, or student support services, students
should use the University Problem Solving Procedures located on the web at http://www.alliant.edu/academic/studentproblemsolving/Student_
GrievancePolicy.pdf or contact the University Ombudsperson.