On Sat, 23 Dec 2000, G. Marc Turner wrote:
I have been teaching statistics to undergrads for many years, and the
amount and content of what I teach has been changing. I have come to
several conclusions. First, most of what we cover the students will not
remember. Thus, cover only those topics which the students are likely to
use during their undergraduate careers. (I have indicated in your list
which _I_ think are crucial.) Second, the most important skill is to be
able to use the statistics to make ones case. Finally, to not be afraid of
statistics.
If I can achieve those goals, I feel I have done a lot. To try to
cover all that you have listed would scare the bejezus out of most
students.
:-)
:-) Why we use statistics, brief history, etc.
:-) Scales of Measurement
:-) Populations vs samples
:-) Central Tendency
:-) Mean, Median, Mode
:-) Variablity
:-) Range, IQR, Semi-IQR, variance, standard deviation, etc.
When was the last time you used IQR or SIQR?
:-) Probability
My probability is less than 10 minutes long.
:-) Z- Scores
:-) correlation
:-) pearson
I don't cover the next 4 at all.
:-) spearman
:-) pt-biserial
:-) phi
:-) part & partial
:-) simple regression
:-) single sample t-test
:-) independent measures t-test
:-) dependent measures t-test
:-) 1 factor, ind. meas. ANOVA
I don't cover the next 3 either. They can learn those in Research methods
if needed.
:-) 1 factor, repeated measures ANOVA
:-) 2 factor, ind. meas. anova
:-) mixed anovas
:-) chi-square
I don't cover those listed below either. They are in the text for
refrence.
:-) nonparametric alternatives
:-) mann whitney u
:-) wilcoxon
:-) kruskal-wallace
:-) power
:-) confidence intervals
:-) effect sizes
We talk about graphing all the way through the course.
:-) graphing
I don't use a stat package. We do all the caclualtions by hand calculator.
(Just my preferce.) I am more concerned with getting than to think than to
use stat packages.
Joel
Joel S. Freund Phone: 501/575-4256
Department of Psychology FAX: 501/575-3219
216 Memorial Hall Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201
:-) SPSS
:-) entering data, saving data
:-) calculating descriptives
:-) calculating t, anova, chi-square, etc.
:-) interpreting output from different procedures
:-)
:-) I'll have them twice a week for an hour and 15 minutes over 14 weeks. I
:-) already know that I'm going to have to scale things back, but I also feel
:-) that one reason so little is taught in the course currently is an
:-) underestimation of the ability of our students. (New university admission
:-) requirements and requirements to get into the major have raised the quality
:-) of students slightly over the past few years, of course I'm probably
:-) overestimating their ability.)
:-)
:-) I'm currently thinking of how I can incorporate the SPSS along with the
:-) hand calculations. The room I'll be teaching in has 12 machines around the
:-) perimeter, so I'm thinking I might split the class in half (approx
:-) enrollment of 30 students). That way I can have half working with SPSS
:-) while the other half calculates by hand... then have them switch off. And
:-) I'm going to try and incorporate some of the trivial knowledge about stats
:-) in along the way... like while Carl Pearson changed his name to Karl...
:-) basically, trying to keep the human interest side of things going... I have
:-) been putting notes from other courses on-line since my second semester of
:-) teaching (intro in 97, methods in 98) so I do plan on doing that as well.
:-) I'm going to tell them on the first day that I don't expect them to
:-) memorize formulas, but I do expect them to be able to explain the concepts
:-) of different procedures.
:-)
:-) My main goals are to make students realize that stats doesn't have to be
:-) intimidating, that it is useful, and that they are capable of doing it. Oh,
:-) and since I'll be seeing most of them again in the fall for the methods
:-) course, I want to be sure and prepare them with what I feel they should
:-) know when coming into that course...
:-)
:-) Any thoughts, comments, etc. are welcome...
:-) - Marc
:-)
:-) G. Marc Turner, MEd
:-) Lecturer & Head of Computer Operations
:-) Department of Psychology
:-) Southwest Texas State University
:-) San Marcos, TX 78666
:-) phone: (512)245-2526
:-) email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
:-)
