Course Syllabus:
 Psychology 300 -- Computer Applications in Psychology

Course Description/Objectives:

    This course is designed to present a basic overview of how computers are used in Psychology.  This includes, but is not limited to, the use of the World Wide Web for information, communication over the internet, basic writing and presentation functions, and data management and analysis.

    The main goals of this course are to (a) provide you a brief historical overview of computers and computing, (b) initiate you into the wonderful yet precarious world of the Web and Internet, (c) get you up-and-running with basic word processing, data-presentation, and spreadsheet packages, (d) have you be proficient in the use of SPSS, and (e) make you think about big-picture computing-to-presentation skills.  Parts C, D, and E will be heavily stressed.  Prerequisites for the course are Psychology 101 and 201.  In addition, one major assumption is that you have had some minor experience with some type of computer in your lifetime.   

 Required Materials: 

 - Three 3 ½ inch HD diskettes (2 for homework, 1 for exams)

 - An E-mail account (either Fullerton OR outside vendor).  As a CSUF student, you are provided free on campus E-mail and E-mail account. 

 - A three-ring binder to put “things” and materials you will be working on/collecting over the semester.

Optional Materials:

- Any version of SPSS (V. 7.5, 8, or 9).  There is an SPSS for WIndows Student version (which has some limitations), and then there is a more advanced graduate version.  Bookstore should have both.

- A calculator

Required Reading:

Shenk, D. (1997). Data smog: Surviving the information glut.  NY: HarperEdge.

Optional (but Recommended)

SPSS student guide (as of this writing, its still on order) 

Any NON-2000 guide to Excel, Word, or the Internet.  The "Dummies" books tend to be good, yet rather inexpensive.  I really recommend an additional Excel book.

A basic behavioral science statistics book.

Exams:  

There will be a midterm and final.  Both will be open-book, open-note, but will be TIMED.  In other words, I will put a strict time limit on completion of the exams (my thinking here is that in the workplace, you will generally have access to all sorts of notes and books, but projects are dead-line based).  Exams will be very applied in nature, so you can demonstrate the skills you have learned in the course. 

 Homework:

We learn to use computers by doing.  Hence, homework is required.  Assignments will be made approximately every week.  Earlier assignments will be easier, and less time consuming, than later assignments (those requiring statistical runs and graphs) -- hence, be prepared for this come the second part of the semester.  They will be graded on a plus/check/minus system (plus = 100; check = 75; minus = 50).

Binder:

Your binder will be a guide into the world of computers and psychology.  It will contain all sorts of tidbits and information about how to do “things” with computers.  Each class, I recommend you take notes on what we are doing in class, then place these tidbits in the binder.  Re-write them if you need to.  Anything else you want to add for a particular week, please do so.  By the END of the semester, you should have a small, yet interesting binder of materials.  This will be turned in for quick review the week prior to the final (and you will get it back that same evening).  Hence, you will need to make sure it is in good order by the end of the semester.

Grading:

Midterm:                                               20%
Final Exam                                           30%
Homework                                            40%
Binder                                                  10%
                                                            ___
                                                            100%

 Grading Procedure, late papers, absences:

Grades will be assigned based on total points from exams and section assignments.  Grades will be broken down by the following percentages:

90% - 100%           = A
80% - 89%             = B
70% - 79%             = C
60% - 69%             = D

 Late assignments will be penalized 25% each week late.  It will benefit students to turn in all assignments no matter how late because grades are based on total points.  In addition to attending class, students are expected to stay the entire class period.

Class Schedule and Reading Assignments 

    The above schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of unforeseen  circumstances.  The Shenk book should be read the first 3 weeks of class.  NOTE: if we skip any topics, they will be Powerpoint.