Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Statistics in Psychology Lab (Face-to-Face)

PSY 3015-03

Course: PSY 3015-03
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSY
CRN: 30754

Course Description

This lab provides students a hands-on experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. In addition to analyzing and interpreting assigned data sets, students will work on a group project and present their findings to their classmates, at the department’s annual fall research symposium, and/or the campus-wide Festival of Excellence. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): PSY 3010 Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

White, L.H.  (2023). Statistics Straight Up: The Essential Guide to Understanding and Using Statistics. 2nd edition. New York, NY: Linus Learning

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the lab will be able to;

a.  enter and code variables into SPSS (a statistical software program)
b.  enter data sets into SPSS
c.   execute and interpret descriptive statistics and inferential tests using SPSS
d.  use a slide presentation to disseminate your empirical research results
 


Course Requirements

10 SPSS digital wellness assignments  40%
8 team assignments  30%
SPSS test  20%
 team presentation  10%
 
 each graded activity is described in detail on the website for the course:
https://www.lynnwhite-suu.com/statistics-lab

Course Outline

SPSS basics
Data entry
Descriptive Statistics
Z scores and outliers
Confidence Intervals
Independent and dependent t-tests
One-way ANOVAs
Mixed ANOVAs
Chi-square tests
Correlation and regression

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Due dates have been established to help you stay on track and discourage procrastination. But "life happens". Maybe you are sick, have a dentist appointment, or need a mental health day. The reason does not matter. I have a three-day grace period on everything except the SOLO analysis you do for a team assignment and the team presentation. During the grace period, you can submit something late. You will "pay" me 5% for each grace day you are late. After the grace period ends, so does your opportunity to submit. Want to erase late fees? Earn bonus points and cash them in for this "reward" at the end of the semester. 
 
If you cannot submit something by the end of the grace period because of an unforeseen, unavoidable, and justifiable reason, you may contact me (via email or a direct message in Canvas) to request an extension. You will need to tell me which graded activity was or will be missed and why. Documentation may be required. IMPORTANT: requests for an extension must be made a soon as possible. Waiting too late might result in a request denial. Also, you will still incur late fees - but these will be capped at 15%. Remember, you can always erase them later using bonus points. 

Unable to participate in a team assignment?

To receive full credit on a team assignment, two things must happen. 1. you must be physically present in that day's lab, and 2. you must submit the SOLO analysis for that team assignment no later than the day BEFORE the lab. If only 1 or 2 are satisfied, whatever the team gets on the assignment, you will get half of that. Because the team relies on everyone doing the SOLO analysis (to make sure it was done correctly), you cannot submit your SOLO analysis late! However, the good news is that you can use reward points at the end of the semester to drop up to 2 team assignments.

A late team assignment?

​​Because you will conduct your SOLO analysis before the lab and then work on the final touches during the lab - there should be no reason for a late team assignment. If you are going to be late, you must contact me immediately so I can assess the reason and determine the consequences. More often than not, when a team assignment is turned in late it is because the person designated to turn it in dropped the ball. To prevent this, a team leader will be formally designated for each team assignment. If the team leader does not submit the otherwise ready team assignment - he/she will receive the late fee, not the team.  If the team assignment is submitted late because the team was not ready, then all members of the team will receive the late fee. Note that the 3-day grace period and the 5% per day fee applies to both scenarios (late leader, late team).

Missing the team presentation

 You must be present for the team presentation at the end of the semester. This is considered the lab final. If you miss it, you must document your reason and receive approval for accommodation. Note that you must have an unforeseen, unavoidable, and justifiable reason for missing a final! If you miss the team presentation and your reason is accepted, you will be required to give the presentation on your own at a later date.

Attendance Policy

In-person Lab Attendance is Mandatory. If you are tardy, you will lose 1 bonus point. If you leave early, you will lose one point.

Moreover, to receive points on a team assignment, you must 1. be physically present in the lab, and 2. complete the SOLO analysis for that lab no later than the day before the lab. Please see the "late stuff" policy in the syllabus for what happens if you don't.

What about Zoom?

I do not use Zoom. However, you are welcome to ask your teammates to zoom you in. Note that this does not count as being "physically present".  As such, you will not receive attendance points, nor will this satisfy the attendance requirement for the lab. This might seem harsh but remember: you can use bonus points to drop 2 team assignments. That's 25% of the assignments. If you are missing more than this, you are not learning what you should - nor are you contributing to your team.

Course Fees

$4

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.