Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Senior Project: Independent Research II (Face-to-Face)

PSY 4940-06

Course: PSY 4940-06
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: PSY
CRN: 13753

Course Description

Ideally suited to students wishing to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. This course allows students to conduct research for which they have received IRB approval. Students will complete their research project with individualized mentorship from a faculty member and submit an APA-style professional paper. Though not required, it is anticipated that many students will submit their research for presentation and/or publication. This course may be repeated for up to 12 credits with a maximum of 3 credits applied toward a psychology degree. This course serves as one option for satisfying the senior capstone requirement of the psychology major, and if used as such, this is intended as a culminating experience in undergraduate study of psychology. While it may be taken earlier, students using this course to fulfill the capstone requirement must have successfully completed 24 credit hours of psychology courses beyond PSY 1010 to enroll. This course is generally taken during the Spring semester, after having completed PSY 4930 - Senior Project: Independent Research I and PSY 4935 - Senior Project: Independent Research I Lab the preceding Fall semester, though exceptions are considered. Due to the individualized mentorship model of this course, instructor permission is always required to enroll. (Fall [As Needed], Spring [As Needed]) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): PSY 1010 and PSY 2010 and PSY 3010 and PSY 3015 and instructor permission - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 12 Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

None

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the course will be able to

a.      navigate and complete the IRB application process if they haven’t already done so
b.      post and manage their study on SONA, track participant signups, and grant research credit to participants
c.      collect data from participants and manage data storage
d.      analyze data using SPSS and interpret the results
e.      use Excel to create graphs and/or Microsoft Word to create tables to visually display and summarize results
f.       finalize their written, APA-formatted thesis by completing the methods, results, discussion, and abstract.

Course Requirements

SONA setup and management                    5%
participant testing and data acquisition      40%
data analysis and interpretation                 20%
APA-formatted methods                               5%
APA-formatted results                                  5%
APA-formatted graphs/tables                       5%
APA-formatted discussion                            5%
APA-formatted abstract                                5%
Final thesis submission                               10%

Course Outline

SONA setup and management
participant testing and data acquisition
data analysis and interpretation
write APA-formatted methods
write APA-formatted results
create APA-formatted graphs/tables
write APA-formatted discussion
write APA-formatted abstract
complete the APA-formatted thesis

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

There will be a 2% per day "late fee” on late submissions.

Attendance Policy

As an “independent research course”, there are no classes to attend. However, students are strongly encouraged to meet with their mentor on a weekly basis to discuss their progress, brainstorm solutions to any research-related hiccups, and receive additional training/instruction specific to their project. This will facilitate success and strengthen the student-mentor relationship that is key to receiving strong letters of recommendation required for graduate/professional studies.

Course Fees

$12

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.