Resources
Textbooks, tools, support, and policies
Textbooks & Documentation
Everything below is free and openly licensed — nothing to purchase.
| Resource | Used for |
|---|---|
| Think Python, 3rd ed. (Allen B. Downey) | Python fundamentals, Part I |
| PsychoPy documentation | Building & troubleshooting your PsychoPy experiment |
| Data Skills for Reproducible Research (Emily Nordmann, PsyTeachR) | R/tidyverse fundamentals, Part II |
| R for Data Science, 2nd ed. (Wickham, Çetinkaya-Rundel, Grolemund) | Wrangling & visualization reference |
| Quarto documentation | Reports, Classes 11–13 |
| apaquarto | APA-style reporting extension |
Software & Accounts
| Tool | Install when | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PsychoPy (standalone) | Class 1 | Needs admin rights — bundles its own Python |
| R, RStudio Desktop, Quarto | Class 1 | Used starting Class 6 |
| GitHub account | Class 1 | Free — you’ll create your own repo from the course template |
| Google account (Colab) | Class 1 | Used for Python practice, Classes 2–5; no local install needed |
| Zenodo account | Before Class 13 | Optional but recommended — linked to GitHub for your final DOI |
The Course GitHub Template
Every homework and, eventually, the final project lives in one private repository you create from coding-for-psychology-template — click “Use this template” inside our course organization, tufts-coding-for-psychology, once you’ve accepted the org invite in Class 1.
Each hwN/ folder in your repo has its own README (what’s due) and .qmd template, plus an automated structural check that runs on every push — a green check or red X in the repo’s Actions tab. A red X isn’t a full grade, just a fast sanity check with a message telling you what’s structurally off.
Getting Help
- Office hours / drop-in hours: see the Syllabus contact block.
- Course questions: post to Piazza (linked from Canvas) rather than emailing directly, so the whole class benefits from the answer.
- A red X on your homework: bring your laptop to office hours — that’s exactly what they’re for.
- When your code errors: read the error message’s last line first, then the line number it points to, before assuming something unrelated is broken.
Academic Support
The StAAR Center offers free resources to all students — writing-related appointments, subject tutoring, and academic coaching on skills like time management and navigating procrastination. Visit the StAAR Center website to make an appointment.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Tufts is committed to providing equal access to all qualified students through reasonable accommodations. If you have a disability that requires accommodations, contact the StAAR Center by email (StaarCenter@tufts.edu) or phone (617-627-4539). Accommodations can’t be applied retroactively, so please reach out as early as possible.
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
I want students from all backgrounds and perspectives to be well-served by this course. I view the diversity of students as a strength, and I intend to present materials and activities that are respectful of the many ways we all differ from one another — age, gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, and culture. Everyone belongs in this space, including in a room full of code.
Mental Health
Mental health concerns or stressful events can diminish your ability to participate in daily activities, including academic ones. Free, confidential mental health services are available through Tufts’ Counseling and Mental Health Service (CMHS), which offers consultation, brief counseling, and urgent care at no cost. To make an appointment, call 617-627-3360; visit the CMHS website to learn more about their services and resources.
Religious Accommodations
Tufts values and acknowledges the religious diversity of its student body. If you’re seeking accommodations related to a religious holy day, please reach out early in the semester so we can make a plan together; the University’s religious holy days calendar and Religious Accommodations Policy are both available through the University Chaplaincy.
Communication Norms
We’ll use Canvas for course content, announcements, and grades, and Piazza (linked from Canvas) for course-related questions — please post there rather than emailing directly, so the whole class benefits from the answer. You can post anonymously to classmates if you prefer. Expect a response within 24–48 business hours (faster on weekdays). For anything personal, email is the right channel.
Academic Integrity & AI Tools
Tufts holds all students accountable to its Academic Integrity policy, and code is not exempt — the work you submit needs to be your own. You’re welcome to use AI tools (and to work with classmates) for brainstorming, debugging help, or feedback on your own code, the same way you might in a professional setting. What’s not okay is submitting code, analysis, or writing that isn’t substantially your own understanding and effort. AI tools also make mistakes — sometimes confidently wrong ones, like hallucinated function arguments or nonexistent R packages — so if you use one, test what it gives you rather than trusting it blindly, and cite it if you use it. If there’s reason to believe submitted work isn’t a student’s own, it will be investigated and, if warranted, reported to the Dean of Students Office, as university policy requires.