. – Psychometrics
Profs. Silvia Angela Osmetti, Marika Vezzoli
COURSE AIMS
The aim of the course is to give an introduction to the theory of measurement inpsychology and to the statistical analysis of data, providing the basic knowledge needed for developing adequate methodological skills and for tackling study of the principal methods and statistical models used in psychology sciences.The course will be conducted from a strictly elementary position for all the basic teaching whose content explicitly refers to scientific methods of quantification and measurement.
COURSE CONTENT
Module I
UNIVARIATE ANALYSIS
Statistical approach in psychology: the concept of measurement,scales of measurement andthe concept of variable.
Statistical distributions: statistical surveys, frequencydistributions, Graphical displays of data.
Univariate descriptive indices: locationindices, variability measures, indices of form, standardised indices.
BIVARIATE ANALYSIS: THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG VARIABLES
The relationship between two variables: association, dependence and correlation. Spearman’s index, indices of concordance and cograduation.
Linear regression model: definition, determination of the parameters, predictive use of the model.
Modulo II
Elements of probability theory
Definition of probability and basic theorems
Univariate probability models (uniform, binomial, hypergeometric, normal).
ELEMENTS OF STATISTICAL INFERENCE
Population and samples: general notions.
Parameter estimation: point estimation and interval estimation
Test of hypotheses.
READING LIST
For students attending the course:
Information on obtaining the material provided directly by the lecturer will be given in the lecture room.
Basic books:
A. P. Ercolani, A. Areni, L. Leone, Elementi di statistica per la psicologia, Il Mulino, 2008.
Books receomended for in-depth study, assessments and exercises:
A. Areni, T. G. Scalisi, A. Bosco, Esercitazioni di Psicometria, Masson, Milano, 2008.
A. P. Ercolani, A. Areni, V. Cinanni, Problemi risolti di statistica applicata alla psicologia, L.E.D., Milano, 1999.
For students not attending the course:
Please contact the lecturer in person.
TEACHING METHOD
Lectures and practical lessons in the lecture room. Some hours of practical lessons in the Information Technology workshop are planned.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
A written exam, including some practical exercises to be developed and possibly a series of theoretical questions.
It is advised to prepare for and take the exam after having passed the exam for the Methodology of Psychology Research. Attendance in the lecture room is strongly advised.
NOTES
Further information can be found on the lecturer’s webpage at or on the Faculty notice board.