Coding for Psychology

PSY 0110 · PSY 0210 · Fall 2026 — Python builds the experiment, R analyzes what it collects.

Practical, transferable coding skills for collecting and analyzing data in psychology studies. No prior programming experience required — one prior course in statistics assumed. Cross-listed for undergraduates (PSY 0110) and graduate students (PSY 0210), meeting once a week in a computer lab.

Instructor Heather L. Urry, Ph.D.
heather.urry@tufts.edu

Everything is free Every text, tool, and platform this semester is open and free to use — see Syllabus.

Meets Tuesdays, 4:30–7:00 PM
Psychology 109

Dates Sept 8 – Dec 8, 2026
(no class Nov 10)

A Course in Three Parts

I designed this course to unfold in three parts, as described below.

PART I · CLASSES 1–5 Task Programming in PsychoPy and Python. Install your tools, then build a two-condition PsychoPy experiment together as a class. You’ll learn about routines and custom scoring logic, and pilot the task on someone else.

PART II · CLASSES 6–9 Wrangling & Reporting Data in R. Bring your pilot data into R. Wrangle it with dplyr, visualize it with ggplot2, then write it up as an APA-style report with apaquarto — a complete mini research project, start to finish, on data you collected yourself.

PART III · CLASSES 10–13 Simulating Data & Building Your Own Task. Learn to simulate data — the tool your final project’s results come from — then design, build, and report simulated results from an original two-condition experiment of your own. Publish your finished repo publicly to close out the semester.

See the full week-by-week breakdown on Schedule, or browse each class in more depth on Content.

Where to start

  • Read the Syllabus — course description, materials, policies, and grading.
  • Check the Schedule — every class, reading, and due date at a glance.
  • Review Assignments — all seven homeworks, both quizzes, the final project, participation, and extra credit.
  • Familiarize yourself with course Resources — communication, help, university resources, and policies.
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