Why Are Statistics in Psychology Necessary?

Some psychology students are surprised (maybe even dismayed) to realize that they must take a statistics course. But almost all psychology programs have this requirement for graduation. The subject is also discussed in many other classes, highlighting the importance of statistics in psychology.

Recognizing the role of statistics in psychology is necessary when pursuing careers in this field, and may even make it easier to accept having to take this type of course. It can also be beneficial to know what type of statistics classes may be required when majoring in psychology, along with how to get help if this subject feels challenging to learn.

The Importance of Statistics in Psychology

Consider the sheer volume of data we encounter in a given day. How many hours did you sleep? How many students in your class ate breakfast this morning? How many people live within a one-mile radius of your home? By using statistics, we can organize and interpret all this information in a meaningful way.

In psychology, we are also confronted with enormous amounts of data. Statistics allow psychologists to:

• Organize data: When dealing with huge amounts of information, it's all too easy to become overwhelmed. Statistics enable psychologists to organize data in ways that are easier to comprehend. Visual displays such as graphs, pie charts, frequency distributions, and scatterplots provide researchers with a better overview of the information, making it easier to find patterns they might otherwise miss.
• Describe data: Think about what happens when researchers collect a great deal of information about a group of people. An example of this would be the U.S. Census. Descriptive statistics provide a way to summarize data such as the number of adults versus children or the percentage of the population that is currently employed.
• Make inferences based on data: By using what's known as inferential statistics, researchers can draw conclusions about a given sample or population. Psychologists use statistics to help determine whether their hypothesis should be accepted or rejected.

Benefits of Statistics in Psychology

In psychology research, there are often more questions than answers. How do changes in one variable impact other variables? Is there a way to demonstrate a relationship between variables? What is the overall strength of this relationship and what does this mean? Statistics allow us to answer these kinds of questions.

Having an understanding of statistical methods can also help us excel in other classes. Whether taking a class in social psychology or human sexuality, a great deal of time is often spent learning about research. Developing a strong foundation of statistical knowledge allows us to make better sense of the research described in these psychology courses.

Plus, think about all the claims about psychology that we encounter outside of class on a daily basis. Magazines publish stories about the latest scientific findings, self-help books make proclamations about different ways to approach problems, and news reports interpret (or misinterpret) psychology research.

By understanding the research process—including the types of statistical analyses used—we become a wise consumer of psychology information and can make better judgments of the information we come across. Understanding statistics in psychology even enables us to make better decisions about our own health and well-being.

Statistics Requirements for Psychology Majors

Academic institutions have specific graduation requirements. Completing a certain number of math classes helps fulfill the school's general education requirements. For students majoring in psychology, statistics is a mathematics-based class that is also typically required.

Because every school is different, it's important to check the requirements for your specific institution. Look at both the school's general education requirements and the class requirements related to your desired psychology degree. This will tell you whether a statistics class is needed and, if so, which one or ones.

Getting Help With Statistics in Psychology

Understanding the importance of statistics in psychology can help students create a more positive mindset before even stepping into a statistics course. That said, we do recognize that this subject isn't always easy to learn.

Here's the good news: it's still possible to succeed in a stats class if you don't consider yourself "good at math." Some extra effort might be needed, but help is available.

Start with the class instructor. Ask about books, online tools, and on-campus resources that can help make your studies easier. Many colleges and universities offer a math lab where students can go to receive extra help and tutoring for any type of math course, statistics included.

Joining a study group is another option. If a statistics study group isn't available, you may even decide to create one. This can help not only you but others who may be struggling with the subject as well.