TIME: 11-11:50 am MWF AMH 212
INSTRUCTOR: Carole S. Slotterback, Ph.D.
OFFICE AND OFFICE HOURS: AMH 218 MW 10-10:50am,
Weds 3-3:50pm
(or by appointment)
PHONE: 941-7895 (email: slotterbacc1@uofs.edu)
REQUIRED TEXT: Bernstein, D. A., Clarke-Stewart, A., Roy, E. J., & Wickens, C. D. (2000). Psychology (5th edition). New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.
DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the scientific study of behavior through a survey of psychology’s principal methods, content areas, and applications. Course requirements include participation in psychological research or preparation of a short article review.
OBJECTIVES: Students will:
(1) Gain factual knowledge of terminology, methods, and trends within
this area.
(2) Learn fundamental theories of psychology, and be able to critique
them.
(3) Learn how professionals in this field go about gathering data and
altering theories.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
EXAMS: A total of three regular exams will be given. Each will be worth 100 points. These exams may include several components: multiple choice, true/false, or matching questions, as well as essay questions. The chapters each exam covers, as well as tentative exam dates, are on the attached schedule. Please note that the third exam (given during finals week) will not be comprehensive. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE UP EXAMS. If the student is absent, he/she will receive a score of zero for that exam, unless a sufficiently compelling reason for the absence is presented (i.e., a doctor’s note or copy of a police report for an accident). In such a case, the student will be allowed to take a cumulative exam at the same time as the final. The grade on the cumulative test will be allowed as a replacement for the exam that was missed. If you do not present a sufficiently compelling reason for your absence from the test, you will NOT be allowed to take the cumulative exam. If a student does not miss any of the regular exams, but wishes to take the cumulative exam to replace an earlier grade, he/she will be allowed to do so. If the score on the cumulative exam is higher than a previous exam score, the higher score will be counted toward the final grade. NOTE: Anyone caught cheating on a test will receive a score of zero for that test, and other actions may be taken (I will follow the university’s policy on academic dishonesty).
QUIZZES: A total of seven quizzes will be given. These are worth 10 points each, and your lowest quiz score will be dropped. All quizzes will be announced in class. All quizzes will be based on reading material from the book, and will take place BEFORE that material is covered in class. This way, you will have some familiarity with terminology, etc., when you attend lecture.
RESEARCH REQUIREMENT: To enhance your understanding of how psychologists conduct research, you are required to do one of two things: EITHER a summary of a research article from a psychology or neuroscience journal OR actual participation in research. FAILURE TO COMPLETE THIS REQUIREMENT WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF YOUR GRADE TO THE NEXT LOWEST LEVEL (E.G., B TO B-). More information on this will be distributed in class.
ATTENDANCE: Attendance will be taken. After three absences, your grade will be lowered (e.g., B to B-). If you decide to cut a class, bear in mind that you are responsible for finding out any additions/deletions to the syllabus that are made during class.
EXTRA CREDIT: There will be opportunities to earn extra credit; these will come from activities announced in class.
GRADES: There will be a total of 360 points that can be earned (plus an additional 10 points of extra credit). Grades will be assigned based on the scale below:
A = 335+ points
C+ = 274-287 points
A- = 324-334 points
C = 263-273
B+ = 310-323
C- = 252-262
B = 299-309
D+ = 238-251
B- = 288-298
D = 227-237
ADDENDUM: You [the student] should be able to display a professional attitude and behavior, which includes the following: reliability, respect for and cooperation with colleagues, willingness to work calmly and courteously under difficult conditions, determination to achieve first-class work while meeting deadlines, respect for equipment and systems, and constructive response to criticism (reference: Kilian (1995). Design your syllabus as a management tool. Teaching for Success, 7(5), 2).
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Date
Topic
Chapter(s)
Aug 27-31
Introduction
1
Sept 5, 7 Psychological
Research
2
Sept 10-14 Biological Aspects
3
Sept 17-21 Sensation/Perception
4, 5
Sept. 24 EXAM 1 (ch 1-5)
Sept 26-28 Consciousness
9
Oct 1-5
Learning
6
Oct 10-12
Memory
7
Oct 15-19
Language
8
Oct 22-26
Intelligence
10
Oct 29-Nov 2 Development
12
Nov 5 EXAM 2 (ch 6-10)
Nov 7-9 Motivation & Emotion,Health, Stress & Coping
11, 13
Nov 12-16 Personality
14
Nov 19 Psychological
Disorders
15
Nov 26-30 Treatment of Disorders
16
Dec 3-5 Social Cognition
17, 18
Friday, December 7, 2001: STUDY DAY--NO CLASSES
FINALS BEGIN ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2001
(when I know the date of the final, I will announce it in class)
Final Exam will cover chapters 11-18