Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Applied Research and Program Evaluation (Face-to-Face)

PSY 7010-01

Course: PSY 7010-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Psychology
CRN: 33408

Course Description

This course introduces students to the foundational skills for psychological and mental health program/service planning and evaluation. The process of formulating appropriate research questions, research design, sampling, methods of data collection, procedures to assess and improve the validity and reliability of data and measures, and the ethics of scientific inquiry will be addressed. As consumers of research, students will learn to locate, assess, and critique research studies so as to draw appropriate inference, particularly as it affects diverse populations. Students will gain a basic understanding of how to plan and implement psychological and mental health programs and how to design evaluations to determine if those programs are effective. This course will help students understand mental health practice through the critical examination of methods and approaches associated with decision-making, critical thinking, and ethical judgment. [Graded (Standard Letter)]
Registration Restriction(s): Students must be enrolled in the Doctorate of Psychology Program

Required Texts

Mertens, D. M., Hall, J. N., & Wilson, A. T. (2025). Program evaluation theory and practice: A comprehensive guide (3rd ed.). Guilford Press. ISBN: 978-1-4625-5590-1 

Learning Outcomes

This course contributes to students' development in several APA Profession-Wide Competency domains, particularly Research, Ethical and Legal Standards, Individual and Cultural Diversity, and Consultation and Interprofessional Skills. By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Research and Scientific Inquiry
  • Critically evaluate published program evaluation studies, identify methodological strengths and limitations, and draw appropriate inferences for diverse clinical populations.
  • Formulate clear, answerable evaluation questions through systematic needs assessment, stakeholder analysis, and logic model development that articulates a program's theory of change.
  • Design a methodologically sound program evaluation using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approaches matched to the evaluation question and real-world constraints.
  • Select, apply, and critique data collection strategies and measurement instruments with appropriate attention to validity, reliability, and psychometric appropriateness for the population being served.
  • Analyze and interpret program evaluation data with attention to statistical and clinical significance, potential sources of bias, and honest representation of findings.
Ethical and Legal Standards
  • Apply ethical principles to the design and conduct of program evaluation, including considerations related to informed consent, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and obligations to vulnerable populations.
Individual and Cultural Diversity
  • Integrate culturally responsive practices into evaluation design, measurement selection, data collection, and interpretation of findings for programs serving diverse populations.
Consultation and Interprofessional Skills
  • Apply a systematic consulting framework to program evaluation engagements, including entry and contracting, discovery, feedback, and utilization of findings within organizational contexts.
  • Communicate evaluation findings effectively to multiple stakeholder audiences, including program directors, funders, and community members, with appropriate attention to how findings will be used and by whom.
Program Planning
  • Apply program planning principles to the design and evaluation of psychological and mental health programs.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements

This course uses a 100-point grading system. Your point total at any time is your current grade, no extra calculation required! Detailed assignment descriptions, point values, and due dates are posted on Canvas.

Grading Scale

A: 94-100 | A-: 90-93 | B+: 87-89 | B: 84-86 | B-: 80-83 | C+: 77-79 | C: 74-76 | C-: 70-73 | D: 60-69 | F: Below 60

This is a elective course in the PsyD program. Please refer to your program handbook for the minimum grade required to receive credit.

Course Outline

WeekDateTopic
1 September 2 Introduction to program evaluation and the consulting role
2 September 9 History of evaluation and philosophical frameworks
3 September 16 Evaluation paradigms: postpositivist and transformative approaches
4 September 23 Evaluation paradigms: Indigenous and contextual approaches
5 September 30 Working with stakeholders
6 October 7 Evaluation purposes, types, and questions
7 October 14 Evaluation designs
8 October 21 Qualitative data collection
9 October 28 Quantitative data collection
10 November 4 Stakeholders, participants, and sampling
11 November 11 Data analysis and interpretation
12 November 18 Communication and utilization of findings
-- November 25 No class — Thanksgiving Break
13 December 2 Meta-evaluation and project management
14 December 9 Final consulting presentations

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

In the event of a University approved absence or a significant medical problem please contact the instructor prior to the due date to discuss making up a missed exam or presentation. Written documentation (e.g. university notice, note from physician) will be required for a make-up. Family vacations, weddings, sleeping in, etc. will not justify missing an assignment or exam. No exceptions will be made to this policy.

Attendance Policy

Attendance and participation in all class activities is required and helps solidify students' identities as an entry level professional psychologist. Documented medical emergencies, illnesses, and other unavoidable circumstances that may require absence will be taken under consideration in students' annual evaluations. Other situations (e.g., work conflicts, family vacations, or other matters of personal business) are not considered to be excused absences and may result in informal or formal review proceedings. Students should consult the academic course calendar, course syllabi, and clinical placement site schedules before planning activities.

If a student misses more than 20% of an academic course (excused or unexcused), they cannot be considered to have gained the necessary competencies and knowledge needed to fulfill that area of their training. They will receive a failing or incomplete grade (at the faculty's discretion), receive a Remediation Plan or be put on Formal Probation, and need to work with the faculty member and Psy.D. Executive Team to establish next steps.

With respect to practicum courses and placements, there is less flexibility on absences in order to protect clients from harm as well as ensure students have adequate opportunity to achieve fundamental competencies. The extent of allowed absences depends on requirements for individual practicum placements. Repeated absences (excused or unexcused) are grounds for Improvement or Remediation Plan with the student, supervisor, and Psy.D. Executive Team included; failure to remediate identified competencies and improve attendance will result in Formal Probation and review for dismissal from the Program.

Due to the nature of seminar graduate training and consistent with APA and other graduate programs, attendance in-person is expected. Limited accommodations can be made for acute concerns, but extended participation via Zoom is considered a fundamental alteration to the program. When a faculty does accommodate Zoom participation in limited circumstances, the faculty determines whether it counts towards the required 80% minimum attendance based on whether the student can reasonably meet the required activities in the class during that time period via zoom (for example, Zoom attendance is almost always a fundamental alteration to the core activities in practicum and applied classes, but based on semester timing it may count as regular attendance in a course that had a faculty lecture that day). In cases where interference with attendance will be unavoidable, students may petition a full or partial Leave of Absence.

Course Fees

Please consult the PsyD program handbook for tuition information. 

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.