When I was in college, that's how they did it: methods first, then stats. That's when I learned that you never collect data unless you know how you're going to analyze it. It was the most frustrating experience of my undergrad career. (Okay, maybe not, but it was close.) Having to generate an experiment and not know anything about analysis?
If you have to separate them, doing stats first makes much more sense. The statistical concepts map nicely onto design concepts; the reverse seems more difficult (to me -- and to Jim Clark!). m -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts & Sciences Baker University -- > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Clark [mailto:j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca] > Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 1:36 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: Re: [tips] Best Methods, Stats, and Stats Lab > Instructive Material > > Hi > > I've never understood the methods first rationale, and argued > strongly about 20 years ago for stats first, which we have > had since. My reasoning: > > 1. difficult to teach some methods concepts without stats > (e.g., reliability), and it helps for others (e.g., computing > Ms for two randomly divided samples to show that, on average, > equality results from random assignment; smaller error term > for within-s than between-s comparisons, ...) > > 2. having stats allows one to reinforce it during methods; > analyzing results of some demo for randomization or > counterbalancing; computing Ms, SDs, and split half rs for > measurement; ... > > Given methods first, seems to me that one must end up > teaching stats or else not do a very deep intro to concepts. > > Take care > Jim > > > James M. Clark > Professor of Psychology > 204-786-9757 > 204-774-4134 Fax > j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca > > >>> Michael Smith <tipsl...@gmail.com> 14-Apr-10 1:18:28 PM >>> > Thank you for all of the advice :-) > > Hmmmm..... > > Well it would be a separate methods course and a separate > stats course with a 1 hour lab component. > The students would be majors but this would be a first stats > and first methods course (and I suppose maybe their only one > for undergrad) > > Methods would come first (if y'all thinks that makes a > difference about how to teach it). > > I've never heard of the Cozby text. Which text is it? > > --Mike > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: j.cl...@uwinnipeg.ca. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea > 7a891720c9&n=T&l=tips&o=1951 > or send a blank email to > leave-1951-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.fros > tburg.edu > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: marc.car...@bakeru.edu. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13029.76c7c563b32ad9d8d09c72 > a2d17c90e1&n=T&l=tips&o=1954 > or send a blank email to > leave-1954-13029.76c7c563b32ad9d8d09c72a2d17c9...@fsulist.fros > tburg.edu > The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto ("e-mail") is sent by Baker University ("BU") and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify Baker University by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=1955 or send a blank email to leave-1955-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
