Psychology 1001
Introduction to Psychology
Spring Semester, 2009
Section 33
TTh 4:40-6:35, Vincent 16
Please keep this material for reference. You are
responsible for its contents.
This syllabus is subject to change as the needs of the class demand.
Go To: General_Information
(Instructor, Textbook, Course Description & Objectives) /
Student_Conduct/ Exams
/ Grading / REP / Schedule / Lecture
Notes
Instructor:
Steve Maurer, Ph.D., LP
Phone:
651-962-6780
e-mail:
maure001@umn.edu or stmaurer@stthomas.edu
Office
Hours: By appointment
Teaching Assistant: Laura Sherr
Phone:
e-mail: sherr030@umn.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00 – 2:00
Office: N567 Elliott Hall
You may also schedule a different time to meet with Steve or Laura.
Textbook: Myers, David. (2007).
Psychology (8th ed.).
Description
Psychology 1001 is an introduction to the scientific study of human behavior and a prerequisite for all advanced psychology courses. The course introduces the problems, methods, and findings of modern psychology to beginning students, and emphasizes the scientific analysis of behavior.
Objectives
I have designed this course with four objectives in mind. At the end of this course you should:
1. know the basic terms, concepts, principles, methods,
and perspectives of psychology;
2. be able to apply this knowledge to your own life and the
world around you;
3. be able to think critically about psychology and pop
psychology;
4. be able to do the first three things after you get out
into the so-called real world after college.
These objectives are hierarchical. You cannot do objective 3, for instance, without first being able to do objective 2. All the course requirements are designed to help you achieve these four objectives.
I have some personal objectives for this course as well. First, I hope that each of you will gain an appreciation for the incredible breadth and depth of the field of psychology. I hope that some of the questions you have about human thought and behavior will be answered during the semester, and that this course raises many more questions (which you're willing to raise in class)! Second, I believe that all learning is a reciprocal process, and that I and the other students will learn from you as well. Your insights and questions are both welcome and valuable. I will also be asking you to complete teaching evaluation forms in the middle and at the end of the semester. This feedback helps me to become a more effective teacher, you to be a more effective learner, and allows us to make some changes, if necessary, during the semester.
Student Conduct
Students are expected to abide by the
Academic dishonesty is defined by the Committee on Student Academic Affairs as any act that violates the rights of other students with respect to academic work or that involves misrepresentations of a student’s own work. Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) "cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting as one’s own anything done by another), submitting the same or substantially similar papers (or creative work) for more than one course without consent of all instructors concerned, depriving another of necessary course materials, and sabotaging another’s work". Students caught cheating on an exam or quiz will receive a score of 0 for that exam or paper. Further action may also be taken.
Students with Other Needs
The University is committed to providing equal access for all students. If you need special accommodations, please see the instructor as soon as possible. Students whose native language is not English or who are otherwise at a disadvantage dealing with the conventional written test format under conditions of limited time should arrange to have extra time for exam taking. International students will not be allowed to use foreign language dictionaries during exams. However, international and all other students may ask for help with words on the exams that are not technical psychological terms. For more information about the CLA policy on accommodations, press here.
Course Structure and Requirements
Classes
Classes will consist of lectures, films, group discussions, demonstrations, and group activities. Whereas class attendance is not specifically required, it is highly recommended. Class participation will be worth 25 points of your overall grade, and in-class assignments worth 30 points. You will not be allowed to make up any in-class assignments. So missing class will inevitably result in a loss of points. Lectures will cover topics from the book in greater depth, as well as material not found in the text. You are responsible for all material covered in this course, regardless of your attendance.
There will be four exams, each covering 4-5 chapters from the text, as well as lecture and classroom material covered during that time. Each exam will be worth 60 points, and will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Exams will not be cumulative, and there will be no “final” exam, as such. If you miss an exam and have a legitimate excuse, you must contact the instructor as soon as possible. Any makeup exam must be completed within one week of the scheduled exam. Students who do not take an exam will receive a score of 0 on the exam.
Assignments
Students will be required to hand in two written assignments during the semester. The assignments will be worth 30-35 points each. They are to be typed and double-spaced. Grading will be based on accurate application of psychological principles, and the demonstration of critical thinking in doing so. Late assignments will be assessed a 3-point deduction for each class day the assignment is late.
There will also be a series of in-class assignments throughout the semester. Some of these will be graded (see above), some won’t be. Graded in-class assignments will be worth between 2-5 points each, for a total of 30 points.
Grades
Course grades will be determined on the basis of the total number of points
earned. Grades will not be assigned on the basis of a class curve.
Your grade will reflect your mastery of the content and material covered in the
course, as well as your critical thinking skills. There is no limit to
the number of students who may earn any grade. The following grade scale
will be used, and may be adjusted (never more stringently than shown below).
|
Grade |
Cutoff (%) |
Cutoff (Total
Points) |
|
A |
93% |
334.8 |
|
A- |
90% |
324.0 |
|
B+ |
87% |
313.2 |
|
B |
83% |
298.8 |
|
B- |
80% |
288.0 |
|
C+ |
77% |
277.2 |
|
C |
73% |
262.8 |
|
C- |
70% |
252.0 |
|
D+ |
67% |
241.2 |
|
D |
63% |
226.8 |
|
D- |
60% |
216.0 |
|
F |
Less than 60% |
Less than 216 |
Those registered for S - N grading must earn a minimum of 252 points (70%) to receive an S for the course.
Throughout the semester, grades will be posted on the class website.
Click here to see the Grades
page. To receive your final grades by email, send me an email message
after the last exam. To receive grades by mail, submit a stamped,
self-addressed envelope at the end of the last exam.
THE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (REP)
The Research Experience Program (REP) is a voluntary part of the Psychology 1001 course. Through the REP, students can learn more about the field of psychology by participating in research conducted by members of the Department of Psychology. The objective of the REP is twofold: 1) to provide students with another educational device for learning about contemporary research in psychology, and 2) to sustain the extensive and nationally recognized programs of research being conducted in psychology. As an educational opportunity, students who participate in research projects receive point credit that can be applied to their final course grade. Such credit reflects the experience and knowledge that students tend to acquire when they take part in psychology research.
Psychology 1001 students receive 1 course point for each half-hour of research participation. You may participate in as many hours of research as you wish, however you will receive no more than 18 points of course credit. REP points are added to your total points after grade cut-offs have been set. REP points can make a difference of one letter grade when a student's point total from exams and discussion sections is near the next higher grade cut-off. The Department cannot guarantee every student a chance to earn the maximum number of REP points, since the number of research projects varies from term to term. Typically, however, there are enough projects to accommodate students who want to participate for REP point credit.
How to participate in REP
1. Sign-up in Elliott Hall. Descriptions of research projects and openings for participants are posted on the REP bulletin board on the first floor of Elliott Hall. Each project will contain a brief description and requirements (if any) for participation. If you are interested in participating and meet the requirements stated on the sign-up sheet, simply write your name on the list. In some cases, the sign-up sheet will tell you the time and place you should appear. In other cases, the researcher will call you later to arrange a time and place. You may also call the researcher directly to arrange a time and place. Be sure to make a note of the project number and the researcher's name and phone number.
2. Rep Sign-ups Outside (and inside) Class. Throughout the quarter, researchers will set up sign-up tables outside the auditorium before and after class. At each table you will find a description of the project and a list of possible openings for participants. On occasion, researchers will make announcements about their studies just before the lecture begins in Willey Hall. They may also have sign-ups sheets available at that time.
3. Web page. The REP has a webpage (http://www.psych.umn.edu/courses/psy1001/REP/REPBulletin.htm#start) with information about the program, including current studies recruiting participants. Remember, when you agree to participate in a session, you are forming a contract with the researcher to be punctually present at the place and time you have selected.
Be sure to write down the Date, Time and Place of your session. You and the researcher are the only ones who know the time and place of your REP study. You should also write down the Project number, the Researcher's name, and the Researcher's phone number. Because of the large number of projects being conducted at one time, the Psychology Office, Teaching Assistants, or the Coordinator cannot provide you with forgotten information about when or where your session is scheduled. If you can't remember the where or when of your session you can check the REP bulletin board on the main floor of Elliott Hall to see if your study is posted (the time & location may be indicated). If you must cancel your appointment, call the Researcher directly, and early enough for another student to be offered an opportunity.
When you participate in a REP project be sure to fill out a card for the researcher. This will provide documentation of your participation and ensure that the correct number of REP points are applied to your final score in the course. Here is an example of the REP card format and the information you should include to get credit for your participation:
Keeping track of your REP points
Print out the REP Points Form to keep track of your REP appointments and your points. It is important that you keep an accurate record of your participation and points. Any discrepancies should be reported and I will investigate. Note: You may be asked to verify your REP studies, so keep a careful record of your participation. If you want to check on how may REP points you’ve earned, log into the grades page of the day school Psy 1001 course. Here’s the link:
https://www.umn.edu/login?desturl=https://secure.cla.umn.edu/psyrep/student.php
Course Schedule
The following is a comprehensive
schedule of topics, assigned readings, assignments,
and exams. Any deviation from this schedule will be announced in class and on
the Announcements page.
|
Date |
Topic |
Assigned |
Assignments |
|
T 1-20 |
Prologue |
|
|
|
Th 1-22 |
Chapter 1 |
|
|
|
T 1-27 |
Chapter 1 |
|
|
|
Th 1-29 |
Chapter 2 |
|
|
|
T 2-3 |
Chapter 3 |
|
|
|
Th 2-5 |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
|
T 2-10 |
Exam #1 |
|
|
|
Th 2-12 |
Chapter 6 |
|
|
|
T 2-17 |
Chapter 11 |
|
|
|
Th 2-19 |
Chapter 11 |
|
|
|
T 2-24 |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
|
Th 2-26 |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
|
T 3-3 |
Chapter 4 |
|
|
|
Th 3-5 |
Chapter 4 |
Good Will Hunting Paper Due |
|
|
T 3-10 |
Exam #2 |
|
|
|
Th 3-12 |
Chapter 7 |
|
|
|
T 3-17 |
Spring Break |
|
|
|
Th 3-19 |
Spring Break |
|
|
|
T 3-24 |
Chapter 8 |
|
|
|
Th 3-26 |
Chapter 8 |
|
|
|
T 3-31 |
Chapter 9 |
|
|
|
Th 4-2 |
Chapter 9 |
|
|
|
T 4-7 |
Chapter 13 |
|
|
|
T 4-9 |
Exam #3 |
|
|
|
Th 4-14 |
Chapter 15 |
|
|
|
Th 4-16 |
Chapter 15 |
||
|
T 4-21 |
Chapter 18 |
||
|
Th 4-23 |
Chapter 18 |
||
|
T 4-28 |
Chapter 16 |
|
|
|
Th 4-30 |
Chapter 16 |
|
|
|
T 5-5 |
Chapter 17 |
|
|
|
Th 5-7 |
Treatment; Evaluations;
Exam Review |
|
|
|
T 5-12 |
Exam #4 |
|
|
Lecture Notes
Lecture notes can be obtained by clicking on the topic in the above schedule. This will take you to the notes I used in class. Please note that these lecture notes will include material we did not cover in class, as well as some links to relevant websites. You will not be tested on lecture material contained in the notes but not covered in class, unless this material is also covered in the assigned reading. If that last sentence made no sense, please let me know!
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If you have comments or suggestions, email me at stmaurer@stthomas.edu