Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Statistics and Research Design I (Face-to-Face)

PSY 6700-01

Course: PSY 6700-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Psychology
CRN: 30505

Course Description

Students learn to interpret and evaluate elements of research design and statistical analyses and their applicability in health services psychology. Included are quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Demonstration of the ability to formulate a research proposal is required. Attention is paid to issues related to individual and cultural diversity, ethics, and research with vulnerable populations. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): PsyD students only

Required Texts

Required texts will be provided by the instructor. Field, A. (2018). Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th N. American edition). London: Sage.

 
Urban, J. B. & Van Eeden-Moorefield (2018). Designing and Proposing Your Research Project. DC: American Psychological Association. 
 

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes will be provided by the instructor.PWC Outcome - Research

Demonstrate the substantially independent ability to formulate research or other scholarly activities (e.g., critical literature reviews, dissertation, efficacy studies, clinical case studies, theoretical papers, program evaluation projects, program development projects) that are of sufficient quality and rigor to have the potential to contribute to the scientific, psychological, or professional knowledge base. Outcomes are measured as part of PSY 6700 for its project
proposal, which is scored using the project proposal rubric, with passing requiring B- level
performance on all dimensions.
 

 

ELOs

 |   | Article analyses  | Statistical application | Research Proposal
 | Inquiry & analysis |             X |                 X |               X
 | Problem solving |             X |                 X |               X
 | Quantitative literacy |   |                 X |               X
 | Ethical reasoning |             X |   |  
 | Intercultural knowledge & competence |             X |   |  
 | Integrative learning |             X |   |                X

Course Requirements

Course requirements will be provided by the instructor.COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 

Article analyses
Critical review of research articles will improve your ability to read and consume psychological research that you encounter as a clinician. For each article, students will explain the purpose, methodology, and outcome of the study. Sampling, measurement, and statistical analyses must be addressed. If applicable, discuss how the study could be modified for minority/vulnerable participants. Choose 5 of the 8 available articles to analyze. Article analyses are due the week after the topic is discussed. 5 @ 100 points  
 
Statistical application assignments
Students will work with data sets to apply techniques of statistical analyses, including t tests and ANOVAs, using SPSS. Students must interpret results and demonstrate understanding of the appropriateness of statistical analyses to particular data sets. 3 @ 100 points.   
 
Research proposal
You may decide that your research proposal will be the basis of your professional project. The research proposal should include a background of the topic (approximately 4-5 pages), including a research question, and detailed methodology to answer your research question, including:

1)      Participants 

2)      Measures (what you will use and why you chose these measures in particular)

3)      Research design to answer your question (use one of the designs we learned about)

4)      Data analysis plan

5)      Expected outcomes

6)      Potential problems with your methods and how you will address them

7)      Completion of CITI training for research with human subjects; attach certificate

100 points. See rubric.

Course Outline

Course outline will be provided by the instructor.Sept. 14th   
Ethics and Cultural Competency
1: McClure, K. S. (2020). Following ethical principles and guidelines, pp. 73-80. Selecting and Describing Your Research Instruments. DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
2: Fried, A. L. (2012). Ethics in psychological research: Guidelines and regulations, pp. 55-73. APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology, vol. 1, H. Cooper (Ed.). DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
3: Matsumoto, D. & van de Vijver, F. J. R. (2012). Cross-cultural research methods, pp. 85-100. APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology, vol. 1, H. Cooper (Ed.). DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
4: Moving Human Rights to the Forefront of Psychology: The Final Report of the APA Task Force on Human Rights (2021). DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
Article analysis:
5: Sunderji, N., Angl, E. N., Polaha, J., & Gao, C. (2019). Why and how to use patient-oriented research to promote translational research. Families, Systems, & Health, 37, 1-9. 
 
Theory /hypothesis testing
Field, A. (2018). Why is my evil lecturer forcing me to use statistics? pp. 1-45. Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th N. American edition). London: Sage.

 
6: Creswell, J. W. & Creswell, J. D. (2018). The use of theory, pp. 90-124. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, 5th Ed., Los Angeles: Sage.
 
Sept. 21st   
Measurement techniques
7: McClure, K. S. (2020). Identifying and defining constructs and variables to measure, pp. 9-18. Selecting and Describing Your Research Instruments. DC: American Psychological Association.
 
8: Bakeman, R. & Quera, V. (2012). Behavioral observation, pp. 207-225. APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology, vol. 1, H. Cooper (Ed.). DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
9: Madill, A. (2012). Interviews and interviewing techniques, pp. 249-275. APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology, vol. 1, H. Cooper (Ed.). DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
Article analysis:
10: Stanton, K., McDonnell, C., Hayden, E., & Watson, D. (2020). Transdiagnostic approaches to psychopathology measurement: Recommendations for measure selection, data analysis, and participant recruitment. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 129, 21-28. 
 
Sept. 28th   
Sampling
11: Salkind, N. (2012). Sampling and generalizability, pp. 95-108. Exploring Research, 8th Ed. Boston: Pearson.
 
11b: Meyer, I. & Wilson, P. (2009). Sampling lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56, 23-31.
 
11c: Thalmayer, A.G., Toscanelli, C., & Arnett, J. (2020). The neglected 95% revisited: Is American psychology becoming less American. Final revision accepted by American Psychologist.
 
12: Roosa, M. W., Knight, G. P., & Umana-Taylor, A. J. (2012). Research with under researched populations, pp. 101-115. APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology, vol. 1, H. Cooper (Ed.). DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
Oct. 5th    
Strengths, limitations, technical aspects of rigorous case study
     13: Horner, R. H. & Odom, S. L., (2014). Constructing single case research designs: Logic and options, pp. 27-51. Single-case intervention research: Methodological and Statistical Advances. DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
     14: Kratochwill, T. R. & Levin, J. R. (2014). Enhancing scientific credibility of single-case intervention research: Randomization to the rescue, pp. 53-89. Single-case intervention research: Methodological and Statistical Advances. DC: American Psychological Association. 
 
     15: Rizvi, S. L. & Ferraioli, S. J. (2012). Single case experimental designs, pp. 589-611. APA Handbook of Research Methods in Psychology, vol. 1, H. Cooper (Ed.). DC: American Psychological Association.
 
Article analysis:  
16: Locatelli, M. G. (2020). Play therapy treatment of pediatric medical trauma: A retrospective case study of a preschool child. International Journal of Play Therapy, 29, 33-42. 
     
Article analysis:
17: Newcomb, E. T., Wright, A., Camblin, J. (2019). Assessment and treatment of aggressive behavior maintained by access to physical attention. Behavioral Analysis: Research and Practice, 19, 222-231. 
 
Oct. 12th   
Experimental designs
18: Creswell, J. W. & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Quantitative methods, pp. 206-253. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, 5th Ed., Los Angeles: Sage.
 
Descriptive statistics
Field, A. (2018). Exploring data with graphs, pp. 177-223. Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th N. American edition). London: Sage.

Fall break on 19th   
 
Univariate, t tests and ANOVAs
Oct. 26th   : independent and dependent t tests; Application Assignment 1 
Field, A. (2018). Comparing two means, pp. 437-479. Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th N. American edition). London: Sage.

 

November 2nd  : univariate and factorial ANOVAs; Application Assignment 2

Field, A. (2018). GLM 1: Comparing several independent means, pp. 519-570. Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th N. American edition). London: Sage.

 

November 9th   : Repeated Measures and Mixed Design ANOVAs; Application Assignment 3 

Field, A. (2018).GLM 4: Repeated measures designs, pp. 649-702  Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th N. American edition). London: Sage.

 

Field, A. (2018).  GLM 5: Mixed designs, pp. 703-734. Discovering Statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th N. American edition). London: Sage.

 

Article analysis:

19: Mass, J.J., McNeil, C., Bigfoot, D. S., & McNeil, D. W. (2021). Parenting practices and acceptability of behavioral parent training in American Indians and European Americans. The Behavior Therapist, 44, 171-180. 

 

Article analysis:

20: Schumacher, J. A., Williams, D. C., McAfee, N. W., Madson, M. B., & Lim, C. S. (2021). Practice and dissemination of screening brief intervention and referral to treatment: Integrating psychology interns into medical student evaluation. The Behavior Therapist, 44, 90-94. 

 

November 16th    
Qualitative designs and methods
     21: Camic, P. M. (2021).Going around the bend and back: Qualitative inquiry in psychological research, pp. 3-26. In Camic, M. P. (Ed.) Qualitative Research in Psychology: Expanding Perspectives in Methodology & Design. DC: American Psychological Association.
 
     22: Elliott, R. & Timulak, L. (2021). Why a generic approach to descriptive-interpretive qualitative research?, pp., 3-14. Descriptive-Interpretive Qualitative Research: A Generic Approach. DC: American Psychological Association. 
 

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

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work will be provided by the instructor. Late assignments will not be accepted unless prior approval was obtained from the professor

Attendance Policy

Attendance policy will be provided by the instructor. Attendance is required.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

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.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

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.