Tools:

• World Wide Web: We will use a system called Oncourse for posting announcements, homework assignments, discussion, and posting of grades. Consult these pages frequently. To get to Oncourse, go to http://oncourse.iu.edu/ and click on the Login button. You need to have an IU computer account, and you need to be enrolled in this course. If you are auditing you can be added to the course roster for Oncourse access; please contact the instructor. (If you have not already done so, please activate your computer account and network ID immediately. For information, consult the web document http://kb.indiana.edu/data/achn.html.)

• Statistical Software: We will use the statistics program called SPSS. Information about SPSS, as implemented at IU, is available from the IU Stat-Math Center, at http://www.indiana.edu/~statmath/stat/spss/index.html. SPSS is available on all campus computers, and you can purchase SPSS for your own computer for $25 from the StatMath center. For sales info, see the StatMath web page.

• Calculator. Your life will be easier (especially during quizzes and lab projects) if you have a calculator that has basic statistical operations including mean and variance (standard deviation). It seems that batteries have plenty of power until class/lab, at which time the batteries tend to go dead. So you might want to get a calculator powered or assisted by photo-voltaic cells. There are many different brands and models that suffice, for less than $15.

Assignments: There will be weekly homework assignments that cumulatively count for 50% of your grade. Homework assignments will be posted on the Web. Late homework will be severely penalized: Each day late, up to three days, reduces the total possible by 10%, and after three days no points are possible (unless you have a cogent excuse, in which case you should contact Prof. Kruschke as soon as possible, preferably the same day, by phone or e-mail). There are three reasons for this policy: First, the course moves quickly and the material is largely cumulative, so the late penalty acts as an extra incentive to keep up. Second, the graders should be given all students' papers for a given assignment in one batch to maximize consistency of grading across students. Third, the graders should not be given a flood of late papers at the end of the semester.

There will be regular in-lab projects and/or quizzes, cumulatively counting 50% of your grade. The quizzes require you to work individually and quickly, unlike the homework assignments. The in-lab projects also require individual work.

Missed Assignments: If you know in advance that you must miss an assignment due date, please let Prof. Kruschke know ahead of time, and it will usually be possible to make adjustments (i.e., alternative due dates). If you unexpectedly miss an assignment, contact Prof. Kruschke as soon as possible, preferably the same day, via phone or e-mail. Cogent, documented reasons for the absence must be provided if any accommodation is to be made.

Course Grading Method: Grading is based on your overall percentile relative to the class. As this is a graduate course, grades are typically in the A to B range, and only rarely is a C or less assigned. It is Department policy to give incompletes ("I" grades) only with a valid medical excuse.

Lecture Notes: Neither lecture notes, nor copies of projector slides, are available. If you must miss a lecture, get notes from a classmate, and then please see Prof. Kruschke or one of the assistants during office hours if you have questions.

Disclaimer: This syllabus is meant to be suggestive, not absolute. Any and all of the information on this syllabus is subject to change at any time, including exam dates, grading policies, office hours, etc. Changes will be announced in class.