PSY General Psychology Fall 2017, T/Th, 11:00 am 12:20 pm Room 300, English & Philosophy Building

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1 PSY 1300: General Psychology 1 PSY General Psychology Fall 2017, T/Th, 11:00 am 12:20 pm Room 300, English & Philosophy Building Instructor: Brittany Blanchard, MA Office: English & Philosophy 108 Phone: Address: brittany.blanchard@ttu.edu Office Hours: T/Th 8:30-9:30 a.m. or by appt. Textbook Cacioppo, J. T., & Freberg, L. A. (2017). Discovering Psychology: The Science of the Mind (Ed. 2). Cengage Learning. ISBN: This package will include a bound paper version of the required textbook and a 6-month access code to the Learning Management System (LMS) MindTap, a software which features an ebook and many study resources. It is available at the Texas Tech Bookstore or online at cengagebrain.com. Note. If you encounter any issues using MindTap, you should contact Cengage s Technical Support. There is a link on Blackboard under Course Materials where you can submit a case for technical assistance. You must have a case ID provided by this process to include in your e- mail before contacting me about technical issues. Course Description, Purpose, & Objectives This course satisfies the Texas Tech University core curriculum requirement in social and behavioral sciences. This course is designed to introduce many of the major topics and theories of psychology. Both historical perspectives and current research are included. Application of psychology to various aspects of everyday life, investigation of the impact of culture on psychological processes, and critical analysis of research will be emphasized. This course serves as a pre-requisite to most other Psychology courses offered through the department, which tend to offer a more in-depth analysis of specific topics introduced in this course. There are no pre-requisites for this course. Core-Curriculum Objectives and Assessments: The objective of the social and behavioral sciences in a core curriculum is to increase the student's knowledge of how social and behavioral scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events, and ideas. Such knowledge will better equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in addressing the issues facing humanity. Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to demonstrate the ability to assess critically claims about social issues, human behavior, and diversity in human experiences. Specifically, should be able to demonstrate: 1. Critical Thinking Skills: to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. Students will often be exposed to competing theories that attempt to explain the same behavior(s). Students will weigh evidence and consider alternatives when exposed to such conflicting viewpoints. Strategies to teach students to evaluate claims and weigh evidence will include didactic lecture introducing the basic research methods in psychology; modeling of critical questioning of claims and generation of alternative explanations; and activities and discussions, both inside and outside of class, that provide

2 PSY 1300: General Psychology 2 opportunities for students to practice these skills. Assessment of student learning for this objective will include using a set of short-answer questions developed by the course supervisor and the Psychology Department s Undergraduate Program Committee to assess these critical thinking skills; these items will be administered to students at the beginning and end of the semester. In addition, student learning will be assessed via participation in class discussions and activities, outside homework assignments, and graded exams. 2. Communication Skills: to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication. Students will express their opinions and critical analysis of the course topics in the form of class discussions, class activities, class presentations, written homework assignments, and by answering written exam questions. Students will also have the option to write about empirical research articles as an alternative course assignment. Course materials include a variety of multimedia content including photographs, data charts/graphs, videos, and interactive simulations to enhance students interpretation, comprehension, and integration of information across a variety of presentation modalities. Ongoing assessment of student learning of this objective will occur through the formative and evaluative assessments described above (class discussions and activities, outside homework assignments, and graded exams). 3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills: to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions. Students will learn how to calculate and interpret basic descriptive (mean, mode, median, standard deviation) and inferential (correlation, t-test) statistics. They will interpret the results of empirical studies in class, on homework assignments, on exams, and in empirical research articles. They will also learn about various research methodologies employed in psychology (experiments, case studies, surveys, etc.) and the situations in which each is most appropriate. Ongoing assessment of student learning of this objective will occur through the formative and evaluative assessments described above (class discussions and activities, outside homework assignments, and graded exams). Student learning of this objective will also be assessed using a set of short-answer questions developed by the course supervisor and the Psychology Department s Undergraduate Program Committee to assess methodological understanding; these items will be administered to students at the beginning and end of the semester. 4. Social Responsibility: to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. Many topics include information on how and why some relevant human behaviors differ by group while others are consistent across groups, which will provide students with important knowledge necessary to engage in diverse communities. More specifically, through didactic lecture and assigned readings, students will be exposed to research in multicultural and international contexts to increase their awareness and knowledge of the extent to which human behavior and experience is influenced by individual, group, and universal factors. Moreover, research on the enlightenment effect demonstrates that learning about basic research on issues such as pro-social behavior leads students to engage in more socially responsible behavior. Ongoing assessment of student learning of this objective will occur through formative and evaluative assessments of students contributions to class discussions and exam responses.

3 PSY 1300: General Psychology 3 TTU Student Learning Objectives: 1. Identify and critique alternative explanations for claims about social issues and human behavior. By the end of this course, students will have been exposed to different theories, ideas, and empirical findings about the causes and effects of human behavior and experiences as they relate both to individuals and to groups. Importantly, they will have been exposed to various theories about human behavior that have been proposed and falsified through decades of psychology theory and research, providing them with a better understanding of the critical-thinking process that researchers and theorists engage in while investigating human behavior. They will also engage in their own critical thinking about current theories and empirical findings as part of their in-class lessons and activities, as part of homework assignments, and on exams. Student learning of this objective will be assessed in part using a set of short-answer questions developed by the course supervisor and the Psychology Department s Undergraduate Program Committee to assess these critical thinking skills; these items will be administered to students at the beginning and end of the semester. In addition, student learning will be assessed via participation in class discussions and activities, homework assignments, and graded exams. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of the appropriate and ethical methods, technologies, and data that social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition. Students will learn about various research methodologies employed in psychology (experiments, case studies, surveys, etc.) and the situations in which each is most appropriate. They will also learn the basics of data analysis and the logic behind scientific research. Ethics in research are also covered, including institutional review boards (IRBs) and historical examples of past research situations that are no longer considered ethical and why (e.g., the Stanford prison study or Milgram s obedience research). Students will also have the option to participate in research as a research participant, which provides a handson experience to help them understand how psychology research is conducted. Student learning of this objective will be assessed using a set of short-answer questions developed by the course supervisor and the Psychology Department s Undergraduate Program Committee to assess methodological understanding; these items will be administered to students at the beginning and end of the semester. In addition, student learning will be assessed via participation in class discussions and activities, outside homework assignments, and graded exams. College-Level Competency Objectives: 1. Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to: demonstrate the ability to assess critically claims about social issues and human behavior in human experiences. Students who complete PSY 1300 will have been exposed to different theories, ideas, and empirical findings about the causes and effects of human behavior and experiences. They will have been exposed to various theories about human behavior that have been proposed and falsified through decades of psychology theory and research and engage in their own critical thinking about current theories and empirical findings as part of their in-class lessons and activities, as part of homework assignments, and on exams. In addition, students will learn how and why some human behaviors are consistent despite culture, gender, or economic differences while others differ by group. Student learning of this objective will be assessed using a set of short-answer questions developed by the course supervisor and the Psychology Department s Undergraduate Program Committee to assess these critical thinking skills; these items will be administered to first-year and graduating students to assess the extent to which students acquire these skills across their undergraduate curriculum.

4 PSY 1300: General Psychology 4 Course-Specific Objectives and Assessments: This course is designed to increase your knowledge of how social and behavioral scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events and ideas. Such knowledge will better equip you to understand yourself, others, and the roles you play in addressing the issues facing humanity. By the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the major facts and theories from experimental, cognitive, biological, developmental, social, and applied psychology (e.g., know the difference between operant and classical conditioning). Achievement of this outcome will be assessed through in-class performance, exams, and quizzes. 2. Apply this knowledge to events and situations in their everyday life (e.g., how to use operant conditioning to train a cat). Achievement of this outcome will be assessed through in-class discussion, activities, and exams. 3. Be able to critically analyze and critique alternative explanations for claims about social issues and human behavior (e.g., explain the link between ice cream sales and violent crime). Achievement of this outcome will be assessed through in-class discussions, activities, and exams. 4. Understand that psychology is a science and that psychologists utilize the scientific method to obtain information and knowledge about behavior and thought. Achievement of this outcome will be assessed through exposure to primary research either as a participant or by reading and summarizing empirical articles, quizzes, exams, and in-class activities/discussions. Course Requirements and Final-Grade Calculation Exams (Final 5 th Exam optional)... 40% of final grade 2....In-Class and Online Activities... 24% of final grade Weekly Online Quizzes... 20% of final grade Research Experience... 15% of final grade Course Assessment... 1% of final grade Grading System for Final Grades After I calculate your final numerical grade based on the weighting system above, I will convert it to a letter grade based on the chart below: 100% - 90% A 89% - 80% B 79% - 70% C 69% - 60% D 59% and below F *I will provide a grade calculator on Blackboard so that you can calculate your grades. Exams (40% of Final Grade) There are technically five exams throughout the semester, four during the semester and one during the scheduled final exam time. However, only your four highest exam grades will count toward your final grade. Thus, if you are satisfied with your grade at the end of the semester, you are exempt from the final. That s right NO FINAL. Exams will consist of primarily multiple-choice questions and will cover material from the assigned readings and lecture. Exams will typically include only new material covered since the previous exam. However, some topics build on older topics, so knowledge of previously covered material may be necessary to answer some exam questions.

5 PSY 1300: General Psychology 5 If you must miss a scheduled exam, let me know at least one week in advance and provide sufficient documentation excusing your absence. We will then coordinate to schedule a make-up exam time. If you cannot take the exam for some unforeseeable reason (e.g., car trouble, illness), notify me immediately. Make-up exams without sufficient documentation excusing the absence will only be given at my discretion. In-Class and Online Activities (24% of Final Grade) Graded, unscheduled in-class activities will occur throughout the semester. These activities are pass/fail. If you miss a lecture for any reason, you will be responsible for all material covered and any announcements made in your absence. Some materials may be available online through the Blackboard course page. I encourage you to actively participate in-class discussions/activities and to share your relevant comments, questions, and ideas. It is my expectation that you will behave as an adult and that your behavior at all times will be respectful of your classmates, yourself, and me. Language that is disrespectful based on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender, religion, ability, class, or size will not be tolerated. Online activities will vary but will typically involve watching a relevant video (e.g., TEDTalks) and writing a reaction or taking a brief, 5-question quiz to prove you watched the video. Only students with documented, excused absences will be allowed to make up in-class activities. Otherwise, inclass and online makeup assignments will be provided at my discretion. Although I do not formally take attendance, we will have in-class activities most days. If you will miss or missed a class, let me know as soon as possible. Students who consistently do not attend lectures will be dropped from the course, in accordance with university policy. Weekly Online Quizzes (20% of Final Grade) For each chapter we cover, a quiz will be available online via Mindtap (Cengage) on Blackboard. These quizzes cover the next chapter s material and are meant to ensure that you read the chapter before coming to class and assist you in learning the material. Your top 10 quiz scores will be used to calculate your final grade. Because quizzes are up for multiple days, only students with a documented, excused absence of multiple days will be allowed to make up quizzes. Otherwise, the missed quiz will be counted as a zero, but may be dropped, depending on your other quiz scores. Research Experience (15% of Final Grade) As you will learn in this class, psychology is a science, which means it relies on research using the scientific method to gain new knowledge. Given how important research is to psychology, you are required to gain experience with and exposure to psychological research. You have two options for fulfilling this requirement: the research participation option or the research paper option. Both options are designed to help you: learn how and why research with humans is conducted learn how the results are used to help understand human behavior see the variety of problems that can be studied with scientific methods Details about how to participate and other requirements are included in a separate handout. Course Supervisor & Course Assessment (1% of Final Grade) The faculty supervisor for Psychology 1300 is Dr. Zachary Hohman. He may be reached by at zachary.hohman@ttu.edu or by phone at (806) with questions or concerns about this course. Please indicate your name, your instructor s name, and the section number when contacting Dr. Hohman. You will be contacted near the end of the semester by the course supervisor to complete a brief (less than 10 minutes) online survey about your experience in PSY 1300 this semester. This survey is part of the Department of Psychology s regular assessments of its

6 PSY 1300: General Psychology 6 courses and because PSY 1300 is a University core course will also contain questions pertaining to the University s accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Completing this assessment is worth 1% of your final grade in the course. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT As stated in the Texas Tech University Statement of Academic Integrity, Texas Tech promotes an ethical standard that does not condone academic misconduct and strives to instill values that uphold academic integrity.... Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, and any other activity that a student may participate in that prevents an honest representation of his or her academic performance.... Cheating and plagiarism are the most common forms of academic misconduct and are defined, in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct from the Student Affairs Handbook (Part IX, Section B.19). It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with Texas Tech's Code of Student Conduct, and policies on academic integrity and academic misconduct. These materials can be found in the Student Affairs Handbook, Part IX, and at the following web site: If it is determined that you cheated or plagiarized in this class, you will receive a 0 on that exam/paper and you will be referred to the office of student conduct. RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS A student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day without penalty within a reasonable time after the absence. STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor s office hours. Please note: instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, please contact Student Disability Services in West Hall or call Note The content of this course and syllabus is subject to change at the need and discretion of the instructor. Students will be notified in class and by of any changes to the syllabus and receive new copies of the revised syllabus.

7 PSY 1300: General Psychology 7 Course Schedule Please read the assigned chapter listed before coming to class each day. Day Date Chapter Topic T 8/29 Introduction / Syllabus Tr 8/31 1 The Science of Mind / Psychology at TTU T 9/5 2 The Measure of Mind Tr 9/7 2 The Measure of Mind T 9/12 4 The Biological Mind Tr 9/14 4 The Biological Mind T 9/19 Exam 1 Tr 9/21 5 The Perceiving Mind T 9/26 6 The Aware Mind Tr 9/28 7 The Developing Mind T 10/3 7 The Developing Mind Tr 10/5 12 The Individual Mind T 10/10 12 The Individual Mind Tr 10/12 Exam 2 T 10/17 8 The Adaptive Mind Tr 10/19 8 The Adaptive Mind T 10/24 9 The Knowing Mind Tr 10/26 9 The Knowing Mind T 10/31 10 The Thinking Mind Tr 11/2 10 The Thinking Mind T 11/7 Exam 3 Tr 11/9 13 The Connected Mind T 11/14 13 The Connected Mind Tr 11/16 14 The Troubled Mind T 11/21 14/15 The Troubled Mind/Healing the Troubled Mind Tr 11/23 NO CLASS: Thanksgiving T 11/28 14/15 The Troubled Mind/Healing the Troubled Mind Tr 11/30 Exam 4 T 12/5 Review for Final F 12/8 Final Exam: 1:30 pm 4:00 pm

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