PY 101 Section 006: Intro To Psychology

 

 

Office: Gordon Palmer Hall, Room 158

Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 11:00AM - 12:00PM or by appointment

 

Office Phone: (205) 348-5083 (Psychology Department Main Office) 

 

Mailbox: Located in the Psychology Department Main Office, Gordon Palmer Hall, Room 348 

 

Email (best way to reach me): meruiter@crimson.ua.edu  

 

Psychology 101 is designed to expose students to the science of human behavior and mental processing. More specifically, this course will cover a range of topics in psychology including its origins, research methods, social behavior, the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, principles in learning, memory and language, the nature of consciousness, human development, stress and coping, personality, and psychological disorders.  Researchers in psychology have explored a wide variety of questions within these areas.  Questions have included the following:

• How do people remember so many things? Why do people forget? 
• What are the causes of mental illness and how is it diagnosed? 
• What happens in the brain when people sleep? 
• Does the quality of parent-child relationships predict the quality of later romantic relationships?
• Why do people obey and conform?
• How are we conscious? 
• Why do people stereotype each other?

We will explore these questions by reviewing relevant psychological theories, examining existing research, and critically thinking about our own experiences and observations in daily life. 

 

The main goals of this course are for you to obtain an understanding of (a) basic human behavior, thoughts, and emotions; (b) the main theoretical perspectives utilized in psychology; and (c) the ways in which ideas about human behavior are tested by psychologists.  Many people hold a number of misconceptions about psychology and human behavior, and I intend for this course to help you distinguish common myths from empirically-validated psychological findings.  By familiarizing you with the methods psychologists use in various research studies to test their ideas, I hope that this course helps you appreciate the scientific nature of psychology. Although I will introduce you to the scientific method applied to humans, this course is not primarily methodological or focused on professional skills. Throughout the course, I hope to show you how there are basic characteristics shared by all humans and how some aspects of experiences are shaped by social institutions and culture. I also hope that you will see how psychology relates to your chosen field of study.

 

Memorizing dates or the names of studies will not be emphasized in this course.  Instead, this course is designed to foster the development of critical thinking skills that can be applied to psychological topics in your day-to-day life, yielding a better understanding of yourself and your relation to others.  General and specific learning outcomes are as follows:  

 

General Learning Outcomes

• Develop and refine both writing and critical thinking skills
• Utilize critical thinking skills to explore and challenge preconceived notions
• Recognize and explain the scientific method and use it to evaluate psychological research

 

Specific Learning Outcomes for PY101 

You will be able to:

• Demonstrate entry-level familiarity with the theories and content of psychology
• Ask thoughtful questions related to the field of psychology (e.g., Asking a psychologist, “Are you analyzing me?” is NOT a thoughtful question!)
• Understand the value of psychology as a science and the use of scientific methods to understand behavior, cognitions, and emotions
• Apply course concepts to your personal, social, and professional lives 

 

The learning outcomes described above will be assessed through ten in-class exercises, a writing assignment, and four exams.

 

Tentative Class Schedule

 

Below is a tentative class schedule.  Keep in mind that every class is different, and I may end up spending more or less time on a given topic depending on how well students seem to be comprehending material and where students’ interests lie.  If the class schedule changes dramatically, I will provide you with an updated version.

 

 

Date	Day	Topic Covered	Assigned Reading
1/12/2010	Tuesday	Introduction	Text Chapter 1
1/14/2010	Thursday	Research Methodology	Text Chapter 2
1/19/2010	Tuesday	Research Methodology	Text Chapter 2
1/21/2010	Thursday	Biological Foundations	Text Chapter 3
1/26/2010	Tuesday	Biological Foundations	Text Chapter 3
1/28/2010	Thursday	Mind and Consciousness	Text Chapter 4
2/2/2010	Tuesday	Mind and Consciousness	Text Chapter 4
2/4/2010	Thursday	Sensation and Perception & Exam Review	Text Chapter 5
2/9/2010	Tuesday	Exam  (Chapters 1,2,3,4,5)	All text and class material from 1/12/2010 through 2/4/2010
2/11/2010	Thursday	Learning	Text Chapter 6
2/16/2010	Tuesday	Learning	Text Chapter 6
2/18/2010	Thursday	Attention and Memory	Text Chapter 7
2/23/2010	Tuesday	Attention and Memory	Text Chapter 7
2/25/2010	Thursday	Thinking and Intelligence	Text Chapter 8
3/2/2010	Tuesday	Thinking and Intelligence	Text Chapter 8
3/4/2010	Thursday	Motivation and Emotion	Text Chapter 9
3/9/2010	Tuesday	Motivation and Emotion & Exam Review	Text Chapter 9
3/11/2010	Thursday	Exam  (Chapters 6,7,8,9)	All text and class material from 2/11/2010 through 3/4/2010
3/16/2010	Tuesday	No Class, Spring Break
3/18/2010	Thursday	No Class, Spring Break
3/23/2010	Tuesday	Personality	Text Chapter 13
3/25/2010	Thursday	Personality	Text Chapter 13
3/30/2010	Tuesday	Health and Well Being	Text Chapter 10
4/1/2010	Thursday	Health and Well Being	Text Chapter 10
4/6/2010	Tuesday	Social Psychology	Text Chapter 12
4/8/2010	Thursday	Social Psychology	Text Chapter 12
4/13/2010	Tuesday	Human Development (Childhood)  & Exam Review	Text Chapter 11
4/15/2010	Thursday	Exam  (Chapters 10,11,12,13)	All text and class material from 3/23/2010 through 4/13/2010
4/20/2010	Tuesday	Human Development (Adolescence & Adulthood)	Text Chapter 11
4/22/2010	Thursday	Disorders of the Mind and Body	Text Chapter 14
4/27/2010	Tuesday	Disorders of the Mind and Body	Text Chapter 14
4/29/2010	Thursday	Treating Disorders of the Mind and Body & Exam Review	Text Chapter 15
5/3/2010	Monday	Final Exam  (11:30AM- 2:00PM) Chapters 11,14,15	All text and class material from 4/20/2010 through 4/29/2010

 

 

Course Format

Given the introductory nature of this course, a large amount of material will be covered.  Consequently, a large portion of class time will be spent in the traditional lecture format.  These lectures will be supplemented by in-class videos, demonstrations, discussions, writing assignments, and group activities to promote the learning and application of course material. Active participation and respect for others’ opinions is expected during all course activities.  To be an active participant, you must read the assigned chapters prior to coming to class and give the material careful thought as doing so will facilitate our class discussions.  Asking questions and making comments during class is encouraged.  As psychology is an expansive field, we will be unable to cover all assigned readings in class. You will be tested on all assigned readings, regardless of whether they were covered in lectures.  I encourage you to use the text book, study guide, and companion websites to review the material not covered in class. At some points during this semester, I may assign additional readings outside of the textbook, such as journal articles or news articles that are related to course topics. I will either provide a hard copy of these readings or post them on the course e-learning website. 

 

I also encourage you to contact me outside of class regarding the course content or assignments.  You don’t have to be struggling to come and talk.  If you have questions not answered in class or just want to talk about the class format, topics, careers in psychology, etc., please stop by during my office hours or e-mail me.

 

Course Requirements

 

1. Assigned Readings: Each week there are 1-2 chapters from the text assigned for reading (see the course schedule for specific information). I expect that you will complete the assigned readings before the class session in which they will be discussed. As noted previously, I will be unable to cover all assigned textbook readings during class lectures. You will be tested on all assigned readings regardless of whether they were covered during the lecture. 

 

1. In-class Exercises (10%): Throughout the semester, you will have the opportunity to participate in in-class exercises such as writing assignments, group activities, class discussions and demonstrations, and quizzes designed to supplement the assigned topic or previous topics. These exercises will not be announced ahead of time, and there will be no make-up opportunities. To receive full credit for this portion of your grade, you must be present and fully participate in 10 of 13 in-class exercises.  By “fully participate”, I mean that you were prepared for the exercise and gave thoughtful responses. Each exercise is worth 10 points toward your final grade and it will be graded on a pass/fail basis.  If you complete more than 10 in-class exercises, the extras will count as bonus points toward your final score. 

 

1. Writing Assignment (15%): In order for to gauge your understanding of the readings and for you to apply and integrate their content, I will assign one reaction paper worth 15% of your grade or 150 points. I will also post this writing assignment on the course website. You will choose one topic from several provided. There will be four major questions you will need to research and answer. Each of these questions are worth 30 points. To receive full credit you must provide good, insightful answers, cite quality periodicals and research articles as evidence for your answers, and organize your answers logically. The remaining 30 points will be devoted to grammar, mechanics, and how well you follow the writing assignment instructions provided below.   

 

This assignments will be posted on the e-learning “Course Contents” page in the “Writing Assignments” folder. It must be turned in on the date specified by the start of class according to your last name (see website for due date that corresponds to your last name). You must turn in a hard copy of your paper and this can be done by turning it in during class. 

 No late assignments will be accepted.

 

Please ensure that your papers meet the following requirements: 

• Papers must be typed.  Handwritten papers will not be accepted.

• 12 point, Times New Roman font 
• Double-spaced
• 1 inch margins

• Papers must be between 3-4 pages.
• Make sure there is no identifying information (e.g., name, CWID) anywhere on the front of the paper. Please write your name and student ID on the back of your paper that you turn in
• Use at least five sources as reference materials. Print the first page of each reference material and attach them to the back of your paper.
• Citations and references must be in APA style.  We will provide an instruction sheet on APA style on the course website.  You may also visit http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ for assistance on APA style.  
• Wikipedia is NOT a source. You may look up a topic on that site in order to get an idea of the theory and relevant sources, but do not rely primarily on or quote from this site. 

 

1. Exams (75%): There will be 4 non-cumulative exams throughout the semester, with the last exam given during finals week, Monday, May 3^rd 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.).  Even though the final exam is not cumulative, there may be some items on the exam that require understanding of material that was covered earlier in the semester.  Any and all of the material covered in class lectures, class activities, and assigned readings will be fair game for the exams.  However, the majority of the exam questions will cover material that was discussed during class. (Yet another reason you should attend class!)  Exams will consist of multiple-choice questions, and may include short answer questions.  Each of the four exams will be worth 18.75% or 188 points of your total grade.

 

1. Research Assignment: The Department of Psychology requires that all PY 101 students satisfy a   research requirement by participating in psychological research studies during the semester.  The purpose of this requirement is to introduce you to different methods used by psychological researchers and to help advance our knowledge of various psychological processes.  Faculty members and graduate students who are part of the Psychology Department conduct these studies.  It is beneficial to complete this requirement early in the semester! There will be more options available at the beginning of the semester; at the end of the semester, fewer studies are conducted and time-slots are much harder to find. Also, if you arrive late or fail to show up for a research study for which you have signed up, there will be a deduction in your accumulated research hours. The research requirement must be fulfilled completely (partial credit is not an option).  If you fail to fully complete this requirement, your grade will be reduced by one full grade level as stated in the Department Policies. That is, if a student has a C in the course, it will become a D; if they have an A-, it will become a B-.  You can be docked for failing to show up for a study, so be sure to carefully examine the cancellation policies. Be sure to look at a copy of the research participation requirement on the website.  To sign up for research studies and receive credit, you must create an account for the Psychology Research Pool.  The website is http://researchpool.psych.ua.edu

 

Grading System: Your final grade will be based on your in-class activities (10%), reaction papers (15%), and exams (75%).  Also, as previously mentioned, you will have extra credit opportunities and, as such, it is possible for you to get more than a 100 in the course. Please keep in mind that the research requirement is not directly calculated into the final grade; however, failure to complete the research participation requirement will result in a grade reduction by one full letter grade. Disputes regarding grading should be addressed by making an appointment with me within one week of receiving the grade.  Emails about grade disputes will not be accepted. If you would like to discuss your course grade, please come by my office hours or schedule an appointment to do so before finals week. 

 

 

 

A+	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D+	D	D-	F
97-100	93-96	90-92	87-89	83-86	80-82	77-79	73-76	70-72	67-69	63-66	60-62	≤ 59

 

 

 

Calculate your grade:

 

	Percentage of Final Grade	Points (Received/Possible)
In-Class Exercises/Prep checks	10%	____/100
Writing Assignments	15%	____/150
Exam 1	18.75%	____/188
Exam 2	18.75%	____/188
Exam 3	18.75%	____/188
Exam 4	18.75%	____/188
Total	100%	______/1000

 

 

 

Make-up Exams:  The dates for all exams are noted on the class schedule below.  If you see that you have a conflict with one of these exam dates (i.e., you have had a longstanding commitment that occurs on that day), you must notify me and place your request for a make-up exam by Tuesday, January 19^th.  Requests for make-up exams will not be accepted after Friday, August 28^th (except in extreme circumstances, such as a medical emergency or death in the family).  Common illnesses and sudden out-of-town travel do not qualify for a make-up exam. To qualify for a make-up exam, we must be notified either prior to the exam (highly preferable) or as soon as possible afterward. In the case of a medical emergency, written proof from a physician will be required. Proper medical documentation includes (a) date and time of visit, (b) description of the medical problem, and (c) clear description of why the student could not take the exam, even with this problem. You must also provide the name and contact information of the physician.  Further documentation may be requested. All make-up exams will be given immediately after the final exam during the same exam period (Monday May 3rd 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.) The make-up exams may be in a different format than the original exam. If you miss an exam without an approved excuse, you will receive a score of 0 for that exam.

 

1. Class Attendance and Participation:  Although attendance is not required, it is necessary for you to do well in the class for two major reasons.  First, exams will cover information from the assigned readings and information presented in classroom lectures not found in the textbook. Second, I will randomly assign in-class exercises (see #3 below) for course credit.  If you are not present for the in-class exercises, you will not receive credit.  

 

• www.nortonebooks.com  You can purchase the e-book for only $3 per chapter. The e-book replicates actual pages and allows you to highlight, take notes, print, and save your work.

 

 

Recommended Text:

• Lewandowski, Jr., G. W. (2010) Study guide for Psychological Science. (3rd Ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

 

Recommended Resource: 

www.wwnorton.com/studyspace  This is the textbook’s website for students. There, you can find practice quizzes, chapter audio podcasts, video podcasts, video exercises, animations, and more about psychology in the news.  Simply:

Click on Psychology (left menu)

Scroll down to the cover of Psychological Science and click Enter StudySpace.

The numbers at the top of the page are a chapter menu.

 

 

Class website: www.elearning.ua.edu 

You can also access this site by logging into your myBama account at www.mybama.ua.edu and clicking on the “Students” tab.

You should check this site frequently, as announcements, assignments, study guides, updates to the syllabus, and other important information will be posted periodically. 

Notes for each class will also be posted on the e-learning “Course Content” page in the “Notes” folder.  It is recommended that you print off the notes before coming to class each day. Please note that these class notes are not exhaustive.  You should still be prepared to take notes during lectures.

 

 

Helpful websites: 

1. Course website: www.elearning.ua.edu

I strongly encourage you to utilize this website throughout the course.  On this site, I will provide easy access to class notes, assignments, the syllabus, and links to websites that are relevant to the course and that you may enjoy.  Class notes will be also found on this website.  I will try my best to post these notes the day before class, however I cannot make any guarantees. Therefore, be prepared to take notes at each lecture. 

1. Student Companion website: www.wwnorton.com/studyspace 

1.   Psychology Research Pool:  http://researchpool.psych.ua.edu

1. University of Alabama Psychology Department Website: http://psychology.ua.edu/

 

Additional Resources Available to All Students: 

Resources are also available to support your academic success, emotional health and well-being, and your educational/career planning.  Some of these resources are listed below.  

1. The Center for Teaching and Learning: Obtain academic tutoring services in a variety of subject areas, as well as assistance in developing more effective study habits.  More information regarding the CTL is available by calling 348-8854 to make a tutorial appointment or at http://www.ctl.ua.edu/default.asp.  
2. The University of Alabama Writing Center:  Obtain assistance with writing assignments.  You can find more information on their available services by calling 348-5049 or at www.as.ua.edu/writingcenter.
3. Avoiding Plagiarism: http://sja.ucdavis.edu/files/plagiarism.pdf.
4. College Survival Skills Website: Contains useful information for freshmen adjusting to college life.  http://www.ctl.ua.edu/CTLStudyAids/Infofreshmen/InfoForFreshmen.asp.
5. Counseling Center Website: Information on confidential counseling offered by UA. Students go to the center for help with a variety of emotional health issues, including stress, depression, anxiety, homesickness, and relationship concerns. Personal development talks and programs often focus on stress reduction techniques, test anxiety, and conflict management. Further information available by calling 205-348-3863 or visiting http://www.sa.ua.edu/Counseling/.
6. Psychology as a major and/or career: This website provides a short overview of psychology and its major subfields, reviews the degree requirements for pursuing various careers within psychology, describes the range of jobs psychologists do, and provides resources for students.   http://www.apa.org/topics/psychologycareer.html. 
7. The University of Alabama Library Website: Under the Resources section you will find links to Electronic Journals and Databases. The Electronic Journals link will direct you to a search engine designed to find several scientific journals that may help supplement your research for your writing assignment. The Databases link will direct you to search through scientific Psychology databases to find additional articles. You may find the database, PsycINFO, the most helpful. http://www.lib.ua.edu/

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Class Guidelines

• Cell Phones: Please keep your cell phone and/or any device that makes noise off during class and refrain from texting.
• Tardiness: It is disrespectful to come in late to class.  It disturbs not only the instructor but also your fellow classmates.  Please do not come late to class.  In the event that it is unavoidable, please enter in the back door of the classroom and sit in the back to minimize distraction. 
• Class Time: Class is in session from 12:30pm to 1:45pm. I will not lecture past 1:45pm, so I ask you not to begin packing up your belongings until I am finished lecturing. It is highly distracting when students pack up materials prior to class time being over. I will make every effort to stop class at 1:45pm.  IF I happen to lecture over, please let me know immediately.  I do not feel it is fair to keep students past the allotted class time. 
• Eating/Drinking: I do not mind if students eat or drink during class as long as it is not disturbing to other students.
• Importance of Syllabus/Website: Prior to turning in assignments or preparing for exams, I would recommend reviewing your syllabus and/or the website.  Many of your questions can be answered here.
• Laptops: If you want to bring your laptop to class for the purpose of taking notes please clear it with me first. If I notice you are using the laptop for any purpose other than taking notes, I will ask you not to bring it back.
• Social Networking Sites: Professionalism, in part, entails maintaining fairness, equity, and impartiality in the instructor-student relationship. Social networking sites can blur this relationship. Therefore, I will not accept "Friend requests" or respond to messages sent via any online social networking sites. 
• R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Finally, please be respectful of your fellow students.  Some of the topics we will discuss in class may be sensitive or controversial.  Keep this in mind when you are sharing your opinions, and be considerate of others when they are sharing theirs.

 

1. Extra Credit: There will be an opportunity to earn up to 5 extra credit points for the second and third exams and they will be posted on the website under “Extra Credit.” These points will be added to your exam grade and must be completed before the exam is taken. These opportunities will be presented to the entire class throughout the semester so that all students will have the same opportunity to earn extra credit.  These extra credit opportunities will be short 2-3 page papers dealing with material supplementary to the course (see the website for more information).  They will be worth 5 points each and will be graded as follows: 1 = minimal effort; 3 = moderate effort/adequate work; and 5 = good, thoughtful work and effort
2. In-class Exercises (10%): Throughout the semester, you will have the opportunity to participate in in-class exercises such as writing assignments, group activities, class discussions and demonstrations, and quizzes designed to supplement the assigned topic or previous topics. These exercises will not be announced ahead of time, and there will be no make-up opportunities. To receive full credit for this portion of your grade, you must be present and fully participate in 10 of 13 in-class exercises.  By “fully participate”, I mean that you were prepared for the exercise and gave thoughtful responses. Each exercise is worth 10 points toward your final grade and it will be graded on a pass/fail basis.  If you complete more than 10 in-class exercises, the extras will count as bonus points toward your final score. 
3.  

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

• Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
• Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and students (sign up at myBama)
• Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
• Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
• Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA 7. WVUA 7 Storm Watch provides a free service you can subscribe to that allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa via e-mail, pager or cell phone. Check http://www.wvua7.com/stormwatch.html for details.