Essential Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
by Gregory J. Privitera
Instructor Resources
Web Resources
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Statistics
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Teachpsychscience.org provides various activities and projects instructors can use to further illustrate descriptive statistics.
Provides description, examples, and visual representation of continuous, discrete, quantitative, and qualitative variables.
This page provides descriptions, examples and visual representation of qualitative and quantitative variables.
Chapter 2: Summarizing Data: Frequency Distributions in Tables and Graphs
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This video clip describes histograms and describes how to create a histogram using two examples (6:04).
This video clip describes bar charts, their use, and examples (3:08).
This video gives a brief overview of frequency distributions and cumulative frequency tables (1:34).
This TEDtalk describes an intriguing new pastime: using mobile apps and always-on gadgets to track and analyze the body, mood, diet, spending – just about everything in daily life you can measure (5:10)
Chapter 3: Summarizing Data: Central Tendency
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This video clip demonstrates how to calculate weighted means using an example (2:16).
This TEDtalk describes a landmark experiment on delayed gratification – and how it can predict future success (5:58).
Brief lecture on central tendency: mean, median, and mode (3:46).
Chapter 4: Summarizing Data: Variability
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Provides description and example of how to calculate standard deviation.
An online simulation illustrates how changes in the mean and standard deviation affect the position and shape of the distribution.
This article describes interquartile range including what it is, how to find it, what it is used for, and its history. Also includes a video on the website that calculates an example.
This article provides a more in-depth explanation why the sample variance has n-1 in the denominator.
Chapter 5: Probability, Normal Distributions, and z Scores
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This article describes the rules of probability, example problems with answers and explanations, and probability calculator.
This website illustrates the normal curve and discusses the meaning behind it. Also discusses scores (T-scores, z-scores, scaled scores) and percentiles.
This article describes the normal curve and how to find the area under the normal curve.
This article and calculator describe how to convert a z score to a raw score.
This article and calculator describe how to convert a raw score to a z score.
Chapter 6: Characteristics of the Sample Mean
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An NPR article applies the issue of trusting ‘scientific claims’ by discussing that the conclusions drawn from scientific studies almost always involve generalizing from a sample to a population. Describes what a sample is.
This article compares sampling with and without replacement using an example to illustrate the differences.
This article describes factors that impact sampling error and factors that decrease standard error.
The table provides some of the most common statistics (written-out and abbreviated forms) and how to use them following APA-style.
Provides examples of how to organize statistics into tables and figures.
Chapter 7: Hypothesis Testing: Significance, Effect Size, and Power
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This website includes definitions and simple explanations about the factors that affect power within a sample. Also contains links on the website to other helpful information related to this topic.
Provides an interactive visualization of Cohen’s d.
Includes effect size calculators.
This website includes an overview of the null hypothesis and directional vs. non-directional tests. It provides practice problems as well.
This website describes hypothesis testing, provides two sample problems, and discusses the use of the z score.
Chapter 8: Testing Means: One-Sample t Test With Confidence Intervals
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This website provides and compares one- and two-sample t tests.
Describes t tests and includes links to other helpful websites to further understand related concepts.
This website provides an overview of degrees of freedom by giving definitions and examples.
Describes effect sizes, significance, and gives examples of how to report results in APA style.
Chapter 9: Testing Means: Two-Independent-Sample t Test With Confidence Intervals
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This website provides and compares one- and two-sample t tests.
Describes t tests and includes links to other helpful websites to further understand related concepts.
This website provides an overview of degrees of freedom by giving definitions and examples.
Describes effect sizes, significance, and gives examples of how to report results in APA style.
Describes confidence intervals, misconceptions, and tips for interpretation.
Chapter 10: Testing Means: Related-Samples t Test With Confidence Intervals
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Provides overview of paired-samples t test, including an introduction to the topic, assumptions, how to conduct the analysis in SPSS, and how to write up results.
Describes t tests for two-related (dependent) samples of interval data. Includes definitions of related topics.
Specifies how dependent and independent samples are different.
A PDF of how to write APA style results.
Chapter 11: One-Way Analysis of Variance: Between-Subjects and Within-Subjects (Repeated Measures) Designs
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This website provides information about Analysis of Variance
Gives an introduction to Analysis of Variance, its uses, and links to other related concepts.
Three practice problems are asked and answers are provided.
This handout provides information on the use of post-hoc tests for ANOVA.
Description of within-subjects ANOVA and includes links to other related topics.
Provides introduction to repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS and the assumptions when deciding to analyze data using repeated measures ANOVA.
Chapter 12: Two-Way Analysis of Variance: Between-Subjects Factorial Design
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Provides introduction to mixed ANOVA and how to use SPSS to conduct the analysis. Three study designs and examples are provided.
This website provides an explanation of a two-way ANOVA, advantages of factorial design, and practice problems.
This helpful handout provides background on the analysis and interpretation of interaction effects in the ANOVA.
Describes two-way ANOVA and interactions as well as interprets SPSS output of an example problem.
Chapter 13: Correlation and Linear Regression
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This detailed slideshow outlines the purpose, use, and definitions of terms related to correlational design.
Definition of point biserial correlation.
Definition and interpretation of phi coefficient.
This simulation illustrates the effect of restricting the range of scores on the correlation between variables.
This website gives a description of linear regression. Also includes definitions of terms and short video.
This simulation allows users to explore fitting data with linear functions.
This website provides an in-depth description of the basics of regression.
Chapter 14. Chi-Square Tests: Goodness-Of-Fit and the Test for Independence
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This website provides an overview of the chi-square goodness of fit and chi-square test for independence.
Defines chi-square goodness of fit test, when to use this test, and hypothesis testing. Includes sample problem.
Defines chi-square test for independence. Includes sample problem.
Includes brief overview of the chi-square and provides links to other related terms.