How Can I Master Statistics for Psychology Without a Math Background?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter mischavalenti
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Forum
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by a psychology student, Mischa, in mastering statistics without a strong math background. The focus is on understanding statistical concepts, formulas, and symbols relevant to psychology research.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Mischa expresses difficulty in understanding statistics due to a lack of mathematical skills and familiarity with scientific calculators.
  • Ryan suggests that all sciences, including psychology, rely heavily on statistics for data analysis and recommends seeking help in a dedicated homework forum.
  • Mischa mentions searching for introductory guides to statistics but struggles to find suitable resources, expressing frustration with their current textbook.
  • Mischa indicates that language barriers complicate their understanding, as English is not their first language.
  • SW offers a link to an Italian edition of a medical statistics text, suggesting that such texts typically cover foundational topics in statistics.
  • Mischa clarifies that their username does not reflect their native language, revealing they are South African and speak Afrikaans, and inquires about resources in Afrikaans.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of statistics in psychology and the challenges faced by those without a math background. However, there is no consensus on specific resources or solutions to Mischa's difficulties.

Contextual Notes

Mischa's challenges are compounded by language barriers and the perceived inadequacy of available educational materials. The discussion highlights the need for tailored resources for non-native English speakers in the field of statistics.

mischavalenti
Hi everyone... I found this forum while desperately looking for someone to help me with my statistics assignment, well not just the assignment, just understanding all the new formulas and symbols and things in general.
I'm studying psychology and one of my modules is this research statistics. (I never knew it would involve math.) :cry:

I can't even work a scientific calculator and I count on my fingers so pushing me into this is like pushing me off a cliff and expecting me to fly.

I'd like to know if there is anyone out there that can help me?
Am I even in the right place?

Thank you
Mischa
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF mischavalenti! I'm sure you can get all the help you need, there is a forum at the top of the main page dedicated to helping with homework. If you post your questions there I'm sure you can get an answer.

Unfortunately for you all sciences, even psychology, are highly dependent on statistics. Without them we couldn't do proper data analysis! I'd advise buying an introductory guide to statistics so that you can rate your knowledge as higher then counting fingers in the future.
 
Thank you so much Ryan.

Yes, I have noticed that psychology does require some mathematical knowledge, unfortunately for me I found that out too late.

I did look for some kind of guide in bookshops and can't seem to find any...
So I'm browsing around on stattrek.com they have mock exams and explain things better than my textbook (which is written by local morons, I don't trust textbooks compiled by the university.)
I still don't find their "symbol" explanations easy enough.
They put the math problems out very nicely but it means nothing when you don't understand what all the {]}] etc. means.
I've printed out a matrix of what symbols mean what and still I'm a bit confused.

And it doesn't help that everything is in English and its not my first language.
 
mischavalenti said:
And it doesn't help that everything is in English and its not my first language.

I'm guessing your native language is Italian from your username. Here's an Italian edition of a text on medical statistics. In general such texts provide a decent basic introduction such as in estimating means and variances, hypothesis testing, normal theory, sample size determination, etc. I can't say I'm familiar with this particular text.

http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~mb55/intro/intitaly.htm
 
Thanks SW it's very kind of you but my username is far from my home language. :)
It's actually Mischavalentine, but the forum would not accept the full name. lol
I'm South-African and my native language is Afrikaans, you don't perhaps have an Afrikaans version? :)

Once again...super nice of you, thanks for trying. :wink:
 

Similar threads

Other After an Engineering Physics BSc, can I enroll in a Physics MSc?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Other Need advice regarding choosing my master's research project in theoretical physics and applied maths
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Why Do Some People Struggle with Math?
  • · Replies 55 ·
2
Replies
55
Views
11K
Other Can I (with a math major) do a masters in theoretical physics?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Programs Mathematical/Theoretical Physics MSc with High Teaching Quality
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
High School What is the Collatz Conjecture and How Can High Schoolers Have Fun With It?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
High School How do I calculate the Impact Force of an object?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
What Are My Chances of Acceptance Into a Statistics or Math PHD Program?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Advice: Doing grad school abroad and getting a masters instead of PhD
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
5K
Should I double up on math courses next school year?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K