ERIC Number: EJ1343298
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-Jul
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0098-6283
EISSN: N/A
Can Teaching Data Analysis In-House Improve Psychology Students' Skills?
Vittengl, Jeffrey R.; Vittengl, Karen L.
Teaching of Psychology, v49 n3 p206-211 Jul 2022
Background: Acquisition and generalization of data analysis skills are perennial challenges for psychology students. Teaching advanced data analysis in a psychology-specific context might improve students' learning. Objective: At a mid-sized public university, we evaluated student outcomes after a new quantitative psychology course taught in the psychology department compared to upper-level statistics courses taught in the statistics department. Method: Undergraduate psychology majors (N = 80) completed quantitative psychology and/or upper-level statistics courses in preparation for their capstone research course. Participants also completed a brief data analysis skills assessment and the Major Field Test for Psychology. Results: Controlling for prerequisite grades and ACT composites, participants who completed quantitative psychology compared to upper-level statistics had significantly better academic outcomes, on average (standardized mean difference = 0.37). Conclusions: Psychology students completing an upper-level data analysis course within versus outside the department demonstrated better learning outcomes in psychology. Teaching Implications: Psychology programs that outsource data analysis courses should consider whether teaching these skills in-house holds potential to improve student outcomes. Alternatively, statistics departments might consider developing psychology-themed courses taught by faculty with expertise in psychological science.
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Data Analysis, Generalization, Psychology, Statistics Education, Undergraduate Students, Majors (Students), Outcomes of Education, Comparative Analysis, Skill Development, Capstone Experiences, Grades (Scholastic), College Entrance Examinations, Student Records, Multiple Choice Tests
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: ACT Assessment
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A