Author: Amy Hoyt

Statistically Significant: Loyola’s Academic Research Technology Updates

Statistically Significant: Loyola’s Academic Research Technology Updates

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As we near the end of the calendar year, it’s an excellent time to review changes and updates to the statistical software offerings available through the university. Here are some critical updates to help you stay current as you look toward next semester!

SPSS 29

Loyola currently supports SPSS 29. However, this version is incompatible with the recently released Sonoma OS (14.0) on Mac devices. Until a new release includes a permanent fix, IBM has provided an interim fix that allows SPSS 29 to run on the Sonoma OS. After installing SPSS 29, the interim fix can be downloaded and applied from the IBM website.

STATA 18

As of October 1, 2023, STATA 18 is now available in all open-access labs and for installation on LUC-owned Windows and Mac devices via a request to the Service Desk. You can also install STATA 18 on your personal device. Please submit a Self-Service Request form to request STATA18 for your personal device.

SAS 9.4 TS1M8

If your SAS license has expired, you can request an updated license through the ITS Service Desk. In previous years, an updated code would have been sufficient to bring your software up to date. This year, however, SAS has released a new version with a critical security update. When you request an update to your SAS license, you will need to uninstall your current version and re-install the latest version of the software. You should proactively submit your request to download the newest version of SAS, allowing time for this installation process without disrupting ongoing projects.

Please visit the ITRS Academic Research Technologies page for a comprehensive overview of available software.

Think Beyond the Survey

Think Beyond the Survey

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Qualtrics is web-based survey software available to all Loyola University Chicago faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students. While primarily known as a survey platform, this versatile tool can also be used for a variety of non-survey projects. Here are a few ideas for alternative uses of Qualtrics:

Program Evaluations: Qualtrics can be used to administer pre- and post-test surveys to measure changes in knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors. Open-ended questions allow respondents to provide insightful feedback about their program experience.

Event Registrations: Create registration forms using Qualtrics and automatically send confirmation emails once a form is submitted. The platform can also be used to track attendance and send follow-up feedback requests.

Customer Feedback: Collect customer feedback for special events, user testing, product opinions, etc. Whatever your customer feedback needs may be, Qualtrics can help collect user responses.

The Qualtrics platform provides a flexible interface and advanced features to tailor your data collection tool to best meet the needs for each project. The Offline Survey App also allows for data collection on mobile devices when an internet connection is not available. Your imagination is just the beginning of what is possible with this tool!

For more information about using Qualtrics at Loyola, please contact Amy Hoyt at ahoyt@luc.edu.

Extended Reality (XR) at the Stritch School of Medicine

Extended Reality (XR) at the Stritch School of Medicine

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Extended Reality (XR) is a collective term encompassing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies. These technologies are expanding in higher education, providing experiential learning opportunities for students to enhance their understanding of materials presented in class.  

The Loyola Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) recently conducted a VR pilot in the second-year Mechanisms of Human Disease (MHD) course. Embodied Labs offers a series of modules providing students an immersive learning experience. Using the Oculus Rift S and Embodied Labs platform, students were able to experience Macular Degeneration and Hearing Loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and Lewey body dementia with Parkinson’s disease from the patient perspective. This exercise provided unique insight into conditions students learned about in class. Upon completion, students reported increased understanding of the conditions experienced and empathy for patients living with these conditions.  

This pilot was a successful VR implementation, with students indicating they would welcome increased use of this delivery platform throughout the curriculum. Please see our Bringing the Patient Experience into the Basic Sciences Through Virtual Reality poster for additional details. 

If you are interested in using XR and would like to explore how this technology might enhance your curriculum, please use the ITRS Scheduling page to start the conversation!