Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Principles of Assessment Lab (Face-to-Face)

PSY 3435-02

Course: PSY 3435-02
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSY
CRN: 30789

Course Description

In this lab, students will learn about and perform various statistical operations associated with psychometric analyses. Skills gained in the lab will be used to help students design, conduct, and disseminate results from a measurement-oriented research project conducted in PSY 3430. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): PSY 3430

Required Texts

“Tests and Measurement for People (Who Think They) Hate Tests and Measurement, 4th Edition; Neil, J. Salkind & Bruce B. Frey. Sage Publications, ISBN: 978-1-0718-1717-9. (2023).

Learning Outcomes

In this lab you will perform four different types of statistical analyses using SPSS (Central Tendency and Dispersion, Correlation and Regression, Factor Analyses, and Reliability Analyses).  You will also work in teams to design, conduct and disseminate the results of a measurement-oriented research study. 

 

Southern Utah University Essential Learning Outcomes:  This course will address the following Essential Learning Outcomes:

            

            Communication

            Teamwork

            Quantitative Literacy

Course Requirements

CITI Training:

                Since you will be conducting psychological research with human subjects, understanding correct 

ethical practices is essential. The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) provides training designed to promote ethical research at organizations around the world. You will complete a training in ethical research. Review the CITI Training Instructions on the IRB website to ensure you complete the right training.  You need only complete this training one time after March 1, 2008. If you have already done it for another class, uploading a copy of the completion certificate is sufficient.  If you have not already done the training, or if you completed the training prior to March 1, 2008, you must complete the current version of the training.  Please do so early in the semester and upload A COPY OF the completion certificate in Canvas.

 

SPSS Assignments:

                Students will be required to complete 4 assignments using SPSS.  The assignments will involve 

entering, organizing, and analyzing data with one of the most powerful and most common statistical packages used in the social sciences.  Each assignment can be completed anywhere you can access your student account.  An orientation to the program will take place.  Each assignment is worth 10 points. 

 

Burros/Mental Measurements Yearbook Assignment: After a brief orientation, you will look up a 

psychological test measuring something in which you have professional or personal interest. Write a brief summary, including, the authors, the availability/cost, the posted reliability and validity values, the standardization sample, and any other interesting information. 

 

Qualtrics Assignment: After a brief orientation to Qualtrics, you will be expected to design, construct, and 

publish a brief survey. The URL will be sent to me for grading. 

 

Research Project:

                Each student will employ the scientific method in a hands-on research project.  This can be 

accomplished in one of two ways. We will be working on the research project both in class (PSY 

3430) and in the lab section of this course. While credit for the project is granted in PSY 3430, many of the tasks and assignments we do in this course directly support what is required for completion of the project. It is imperative research groups ask the type of research 

question relevant to this class. Only projects that focus on establishing psychometric quality of a measurement instrument are valid. 

Course Outline

 | Thursday August 28 | Introduction, Group Formation Research Questionnaires
| Thursday, September 4 | Intro to SUU Data Bases (Library), Buros MMY Assignment IB 002
| Thursday, September 11 | SPSS Introduction: SPSS Homework #1 Part 1 SPSS Activation Code  c65a826418a104a88ddc
| Thursday, September 18 | SPSS Homework #1 Part 2 corrections, Part 3 Syntax SPSS Activation Code  c65a826418a104a88ddc
| Thursday, September 25 | SPSS Homework #2 Correlation and Regression Lab
| Thursday, October 2 | Reliability Analysis: Homework #3
| Thursday, October 9 | Validity/Factor Analysis: Homework #4
| Thursday, October 16 | IRB/CITI Training Session
| Thursday, October 23 | Data Collection Lab: Qualtrics Introduction Qualtrics Assignment https://suuhss.co1.qualtrics.com Qualtrics Access Code: HSSIVYDFJQTFCR 
| Thursday, October 30 | SPRING BREAK  
| Thursday, November 6 | Project Planning/ IRB Proposals IRB Submissions
| Thursday, November 13 | Project Planning/ IRB Proposals IRB Submissions IRB Proposal Worksheet Due
| Thursday, November 20 | Data Collection/Analysis IRB Proposal Worksheet Due
| Thursday, November 27 | Project Data Analysis No Class RMPA
| Thursday, December 4 | Project Data Analysis
| Monday, December 8, 5:00-6:50  | Class Skills Assessment
 

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

LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy: Course content will occur in face-to-face lab sessions. Attendance is required. 

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.