Final Project M7-223

PSY 223 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric

Overview

The final project for this course is the creation of a statistical analysis report. The two research courses (PSY 223 and PSY 224) will demystify statistics and research methods in order to show that they are based on simple principles that apply to situations in the social sciences. In psychology, we need to distinguish what is “real” from what is “not real but looks real.” Is this patient really depressed? Does this form of group treatment of adolescents work better than a different form of treatment? In this summative assessment, you will choose a scenario from a given set to be the basis for your statistical analysis report. Within the scenario, you will be given a data set based on two groups. You will apply the statistical analysis skills you have learned in this course to interpret the data and write up a report of the results. You will be evaluated not only on your computations but also on your explanation of the interpretation of the data. The project is divided into three milestones and a final product. The milestones will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and to ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, and Five. The final project will be submitted in Module Seven. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:

 Analyze descriptive and inferential statistics for preparing statistically accurate psychological research

 Utilize appropriate statistical techniques for computing descriptive statistics and generating graphs regarding statistical analyses of psychological research

 Select appropriate statistical procedures for use in statistical analyses regarding psychological research

 Interpret the results of statistical analyses of psychological research data for drawing informed conclusions regarding the implications of psychological research

 Assess scenarios involving statistical procedures for ensuring alignment with the expectations of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists

Prompt

Select a scenario from the Scenarios and Data Sets document to be the basis of your statistical analysis report. When deciding on which scenario to choose, determine which one is the most beneficial for your area of concentration in psychology. This statistical analysis report will inform stakeholders about the analysis and interpretation of the data presented in the scenario. Microsoft Excel is the recommended statistical software for this course, and the data sets are already placed into Excel files. You will first summarize your chosen scenario and discuss ethical issues. You will then begin your data analysis, determining the appropriate procedures in testing your hypothesis. Finally, you will summarize and interpret your results, making appropriate conclusions based on those results. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

I. Introduction A. Summarize the scenario you have chosen, including participants, the data set presented, and the question that can be answered by the data. B. Discuss why the scenario exemplifies a study that agrees with APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists. C. Discuss ethical issues that may potentially arise when analyzing and reporting statistical data. D. Explain what you will do in your data analysis and reporting to ensure alignment with the expectations of APA’s Ethical Principles of

Psychologists.

II. Data Analysis A. Identify the sample size and explain how it will inform your analysis. In other words, what is the sample size? How will the size of the sample

inform your analysis? B. Select what statistical procedures should be implemented in your analysis, and justify why you feel these are appropriate. C. Explain how statistical procedures can help you determine whether the data is attributable to chance factors. D. Compute the mean and the standard deviation for each set of data using appropriate abbreviations and terminology. E. Prepare an appropriately labeled histogram for each set of data. F. Evaluate the shape of each distribution using your created histograms. In other words, what does the shape of each distribution tell us about the

data?

III. Hypothesis A. Determine whether one mean is higher, showing how you made the determination. B. Identify the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis using appropriate statistical symbols and language based on what you are comparing.

IV. Results A. Based on your results, determine whether the data provide evidence for a valid effect. B. Explain whether or not the results are statistically significant. Support your response with results from the data analysis. C. Present properly labeled graphs representing the data analysis results detailed clearly for ease of stakeholder interpretation.

V. Conclusion A. Explain your interpretation of the data. In other words, based on your results, what do you think the data mean? What are the potential

implications of this data for the stakeholders? What do these results mean for future research into the topic area? B. Justify the data analysis procedures you used to reach your interpretation. C. Discuss whether it would be appropriate to conduct more statistical procedures to further interpret the data.

Milestones Milestone One: Are Things Okay Ethically? In Module Two, you will submit the Milestone One Worksheet. In this milestone, you will address the following: (1) Indicate what data set you have chosen and why. If you chose a particular data set to align with your concentration in psychology, describe in a sentence or two why you have chosen this concentration. (2) Describe the involved parties in the data set presented and the question that you can answer by the data. (3) Discuss why the data set exemplifies a study that agrees with the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists. (4) Discuss ethical issues that may arise when analyzing and reporting statistical data. (5) Describe one way in which you will ensure your reporting of results will align with the APA’s Ethical Principles. This milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: What Method Will You Use? In Module Four, you will submit the Milestone Two Worksheet. In this milestone, you will address the following: (1) Indicate sample size (n = ?) and describe what consequence(s) this sample size will have in terms of analyses and reporting. (2) Using the Choose Your Test document, select a statistical procedure appropriate to your scenario/data. Explain why you selected that test, linking features of the scenario/data to information from the Choose Your Test document. This milestone addresses critical elements Section II, parts A and B only. You will do the calculations for Section II parts C, D, E, and F as you complete your final project. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Hypothesizing In Module Five, you will submit the Milestone Three Worksheet. In this milestone, you will indicate the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis and state your understanding of what the hypotheses mean. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Final Submission: In Module Seven, you will submit the statistical analysis report. You will complete the remaining critical elements, Section II C–F (Data Analysis), Section IV (Results), and Section V (Conclusion). Combine these elements with your revised milestones to develop a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final project. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded using the Final Project Rubric.

Deliverables

Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading

One Are Things All Right Ethically? Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric

Two What Method Will You Use? Four Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric

Three Hypothesizing Five Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric

Final Submission: Statistical Analysis Report Seven Graded separately; Final Project Rubric

Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your report should be approximately 4 to 5 pages (not including cover page, references, graphs, and/or visuals) and must be written in APA format. Use double spacing, one-inch margins, and 12-point Times New Roman font. Include a cover page for your report. Include at least three references, cited in APA format.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction: Scenario Meets “Proficient” criteria and summary is exceptionally clear and contextualized around the problem or question being addressed

Provides a summary of the scenario chosen

Provides a summary of the scenario chosen, but summary is cursory or illogical

Does not summarize the scenario chosen

3

Introduction: Scenario Agrees

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry-specific language to establish expertise

Discusses why the scenario exemplifies a study that agrees with the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists

Discusses why the scenario exemplifies a study that agrees with the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists, but discussion is cursory or illogical

Does not discuss why the scenario exemplifies a study that agrees with the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists

3

Introduction: Ethical Issues

Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws insightful connections between ethical issues and data analysis and reporting

Discusses ethical issues that may potentially arise when analyzing and reporting statistical data

Discusses ethical issues that may potentially arise when analyzing and reporting statistical data, but discussion is cursory or illogical

Does not discuss ethical issues that may potentially arise when analyzing and reporting statistical data

6.26

Introduction: Ensure Alignment

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of ethical data analysis and reporting

Explains what will be done in personal data analysis and reporting to ensure alignment with the expectations of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists

Explains what will be done in personal data analysis and reporting to ensure alignment with the expectations of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists, but explanation is illogical or irrelevant

Does not explain what will be done in personal data analysis and reporting to ensure alignment with the expectations of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists

6.26

Data Analysis: Sample Size

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation demonstrates a sophisticated awareness of how the sample size can inform statistical analysis

Identifies the sample size and explains how the sample size will inform the statistical analysis

Identifies the sample size and explains how the sample size will inform the statistical analysis but explanation is cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not identify the sample size or explain how the sample size will inform the statistical analysis

6.26

Data Analysis: Statistical Procedures

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates a nuanced understanding of appropriate application of statistical procedures

Selects what procedures should be implemented in the analysis and justifies why these statistical procedures are appropriate

Selects what procedures should be implemented in the analysis and justifies why these statistical procedures are appropriate, but some procedures selected are not appropriate or the justification is not logical

Does not select what procedures should be implemented in the analysis and justify why these statistical procedures are appropriate

6.26

Data Analysis: Chance Factors

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation is exceptionally clear and contextualized

Explains how statistical procedures can help determine whether the data is attributable to chance factors

Explains how statistical procedures can help determine whether the data is attributable to chance factors, but explanation is illogical

Does not explain how statistical procedures can help determine whether the data is attributable to chance factors

6.26

Data Analysis: Mean and Standard

Deviation

Computes the mean and standard deviation accurately for each set of scores using appropriate abbreviations and terminology

Computes the mean and standard deviation for each set of scores, but computations are not accurate or do not use appropriate abbreviations and terminology

Does not compute the mean and standard deviation for each set of scores

6.26

Data Analysis: Histogram

Prepares an accurate, appropriately labeled histogram graph for each set of scores or score distribution

Prepares a histogram graph for each set of scores or score distribution, but the graphs are not accurate or are not appropriately labeled

Does not prepare a histogram graph for each set of scores or score distribution

6.26

Data Analysis: Shape Meets “Proficient” criteria and evaluation demonstrates keen insight into what the shape of a distribution says about the data

Evaluates the shape of each distribution using created histograms

Evaluates the shape of each distribution using created histograms, but evaluation is cursory or contains inaccuracies

Does not evaluate the shape of each distribution using created histograms

6.26

Hypothesis: Whether One Mean is Higher

Accurately determines whether one mean is higher, showing how the determination was made

Determines whether one mean is higher, but result is inaccurate or does not show how the determination was made

Does not determine whether one mean is higher

6.26

Hypothesis: Null Hypothesis and

Alternative Hypothesis

Accurately identifies the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis in language based on what is being compared and using appropriate statistical symbols

Identifies the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis in language based on what is being compared, but identification is not accurate or does not use appropriate statistical symbols

Does not identify the null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis

6.26

Results: Valid

Accurately determines if the data provides evidence for a valid effect

Determines if the data provides evidence for a valid effect, but the determination is illogical or inaccurate

Does not determine if the data provides evidence for a valid effect

3.76

Results: Statistically Significant

Meets “Proficient” criteria and explanation is exceptionally clear and contextualized

Explains whether or not the results are statistically significant

Explains whether or not the results are statistically significant, but explanation is cursory or illogical

Does not explain whether or not the results are statistically significant

3.76

Results: Graphs

Meets “Proficient” criteria and graphs are exceptionally well developed and readable

Presents accurate, properly labeled graphs representing the data analysis results detailed clearly for ease of stakeholder interpretation

Presents graphs representing the data analysis results, but the graphs are inaccurate, improperly labeled, or are lacking in detail

Does not present graphs representing the data analysis results

6.26

Conclusion: Interpretation

Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses discipline-specific terminology to establish expertise without overwhelming stakeholders

Explains the interpretation of the data

Explains the interpretation of the data, but explanation is cursory or illogical

Does not explain the interpretation of the data

3.76

Conclusion: Data Analysis Procedures

Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates a deep understanding of ethical data analysis procedures

Justifies the data analysis procedures used to reach the interpretation

Justifies the data analysis procedures used to reach the interpretation, but justification is illogical

Does not justify the data analysis procedures used to reach the interpretation

3.76

Conclusion: More Statistical Procedures

Meets “Proficient” criteria and discussion is exceptionally clear and contextualized

Discusses whether it would be appropriate to conduct more statistical procedures to further interpret the data

Discusses whether it would be appropriate to conduct more statistical procedures to further interpret the data, but discussion is cursory or contains issues of clarity

Does not discuss whether it would be appropriate to conduct more statistical procedures to further interpret the data

3.76

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy to read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

6.34

Total 100%