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330.657.01
Statistics for Psychosocial Research: Measurement

Location
East Baltimore
Term
1st Term
Department
Mental Health
Credit(s)
4
Academic Year
2023 - 2024
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
M, W, 10:30 - 11:50am
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Kenneth Feder
Contact Email
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

140.621-624, former 140.601-604, or 140.651-654, or consent of instructor

Description
Presents quantitative approaches to measurement in the psychological and social sciences. Covers two related topics: 1. Principles of psychometrics, including reliability and validity. 2. The statistical basis for analysis of unobserved (“latent”) variables, including factor analysis, latent class analysis, and latent trait analysis. Includes examples from the social sciences, including: stress and distress, social class and socioeconomic status, personality, consumer satisfaction, functional impairment and disability, quality of life, and the measurement of overall health status.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Read and evaluate scientific articles as regards measurement in public health
  2. Design and conduct studies of reliability and validity.
  3. Fit latent variable models, including factor analyses, latent class analyses, and latent trait analyses (IRT).
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 60% Homework
  • 40% Final Exam
Jointly Offered With