MERCY COLLEGE

FALL 2013
PSYN 226-DL: COMPUTERS FOR THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Instructor: Rossi A. Hassad, PhD, MPH
E-mail: Rhassad@mercy.edu or via Blackboard (preferred)

Required Text:
IBM SPSS Statistics 19 (or updated version) Step by Step: A Simple Guide
and Reference: Darren George and Paul Mallery:
ISBN-10: 0205255884
ISBN-13: 9780205255887

Required Software:
IBM SPSS Statistics Standard GradPack 20 or 21
Please check with the Mercy College Bookstore. For another option, you can
rent the software (for Windows or Macintosh) from:
http://www.onthehub.com/spss/, for either 6 or 12 months. This option is the
least expensive, and once you pay, you can immediately download the program to
your computer, and begin using it.
Course Description:
An introduction to computers in the social and behavioral sciences, with emphasis
on data management (data collection, organization, analysis, interpretation and
presentation) using SPSS, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, with a major focus on
statistical methods (descriptive and inferential), as well as sources and quality of
information/data.
Cross-Curricular Competencies:
Cross-curricular competencies of writing, oral communication, information
literacy, quantitative reasoning, and critical thinking will be included in
assignments throughout the course.
Specific learning Objectives
To facilitate the student to:
1. Recognize the importance of computers in the social & behavioral sciences.
2. Identify sources of scientific literature (via the internet), and critically appraise
the data.
3. Perform descriptive and inferential statistical analyses using SPSS.
4. Create appropriate charts and graphs for effective presentation of data.
5. Prepare and present a scientific report (APA format) using computer
applications (including SPSS, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint).
1

Course Topics:

Introduction and Overview: Computers in the Social and Behavioral Sciences

(including rationale, trends, advantages and disadvantages, and the internet)

Computer Basics Hardware and Software

Word Processing (overview of Microsoft Word and the APA writing format)

The Role of Computers in the Research Process (including literature search,

sources of data, organization of data, data analysis, and quality control)

Introduction to SPSS: Collecting, Entering, Editing, and Analyzing Data

Introduction to Descriptive Statistics with SPSS (Concepts & Applications)

Measures of Central Tendency
Measures of Variability
Cross-tabulation

Displaying and Presenting Data (charts and graphs)

Writing a Scientific Report

Introduction to Inferential Statistics with SPSS (Concepts & Applications)

One-Sample t-test

Independent & Dependent Samples t-tests

ANOVA (one-way)

Simple Linear Correlation and Regression

Chi-Squared Analysis

EDA (Exploratory Data Analysis) Project

Assessment:
Assessment will be based on a cumulative final examination, a data analysis project,
participation in six (6) online threaded discussions, and 6 assignments (requiring the use
of the IBM-SPSS software). Specific requirements will be provided. NOTE that you may
be required to participate in telephone or in-person (on campus) meetings with me (the
instructor) so that I can better gauge how you are progressing in terms of the course
competencies.
2

The Data Analysis Project: In order to facilitate the application of knowledge in a

meaningful way, you will be required to complete a project during the semester in which
you will analyze data using the IBM-SPSS software, interpret the results, and provide a
coherent written report following the APA guidelines. You may be allowed to work in
small groups. All requirements and expectations will be posted
Grade Composition:
All submission deadlines, requirements, and examination arrangements will be posted via
Blackboard.

Online Threaded Discussions

- 20 %

Data Analysis Project

- 15 %

Six (6) Assignmensts (requiring the use of the IBM-SPSS software)

- 40 %

Final Assesment Exercise

- 25 %

NOTE: Mercy Colleges attendance policy will be enforced.

All components of the assessment must be completed

satisfactorily in order to obtain a passing grade.
Plagiarism
Mercy College recognizes plagiarism as a serious academic offense. Plagiarism is the act
of representing the work of another as yours. It generally takes the form of copying,
paraphrasing or otherwise using the written or oral work of another without
acknowledging the source.
Students with Disabilities
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 offers guidelines for curriculum modifications and adaptations for students with
documented disabilities. If applicable, students may obtain adaptation recommendations
from Mercys Office of Disabilities Services (914-674-7523). The student must present
and discuss these recommendations with the instructor within a reasonable period,
preferably by the end of the Drop/Add period.