What This Document Is
This resource is a practical worksheet designed to guide students through the process of analyzing data collected in developmental psychology research. It focuses on applying appropriate statistical techniques based on the experimental design used – whether between-subjects or within-subjects – and interpreting the results. It’s intended to be used *in conjunction* with data obtained from a laboratory experiment within the PSCH 321 course.
Why This Document Matters
This worksheet is invaluable for students enrolled in Laboratory in Developmental Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It’s particularly helpful when you’re ready to begin the data analysis phase of your lab work. It will assist you in organizing your data, selecting the correct statistical tests, and understanding how to interpret the output from statistical software. Successfully navigating this worksheet will build confidence in your ability to draw meaningful conclusions from research findings.
Topics Covered
* Experimental Design Identification (Between-Subjects, Within-Subjects, Quasi-Experimental)
* Independent and Dependent Variable Definition
* Data Organization for Statistical Analysis
* Descriptive Statistics (Means, Standard Deviations, Frequencies)
* Inferential Statistics (T-tests, Chi-Square)
* Hypothesis Evaluation based on Statistical Results
* Data Visualization (Bar Graphs)
What This Document Provides
* A structured framework for identifying your research design.
* Guidance on preparing your data for entry into statistical software.
* Step-by-step instructions (accessible with full access) for generating descriptive statistics and visualizations.
* A clear pathway for conducting appropriate statistical tests to evaluate your hypotheses.
* Tables for recording your statistical output and drawing conclusions.
* Specific instructions for handling categorical dependent variables.
