PSYCHOLOGY 100-2017 - 3 (Fall, 2017) Introduction to Psychology I - E100 (4215) (Evening Section) Russell Day Office: RCB 6240 Teaching Assistants (TAs) Office Hours: Office: RCB 5302 Mon. 15:00-16:00*; Tues. 13:00-14:00 Office Hours: TBA Wed. 15:00-16:00; Thurs. 15:30-16:20 or by appointment. *(except Oct. 9 th & Nov. 13 th ) Email: rday@sfu.ca Course Description: Psychology 100 introduces many of the major topics in the field of Psychology. After reviewing some history and the theoretical perspectives dominant in Psychology today in Unit 1, the focus will shift in Unit 2 to research methodology - answering the "How we study psychology" question. In Units 3 and 4 we will look at how genes and the environment interact, the biological bases of behaviour, and sensation/perception. In Units 5 and 6 we will explore learning and memory. In Units 7 and 8 we will examine consciousness, motivation and emotion. The systems examined in Psyc 100 provide the basic mechanisms necessary for complex human behaviour that is further influenced by personality, culture and social interaction - the focus of Psyc 102. Several themes, in addition to the major theoretical perspectives, will assist you in organizing the material for informed discussions of the basic concepts in Psychology. Contrasting themes included are biological abilities to biological limitations, structural elements to functional activities, nature and nurture, and conceptual typologies to reality. By the end of the course, you will be able to: a) discuss basic psychological theories and concepts, b) identify ethical research designs used to examine psychological questions (both relational and cause and effect questions), c) describe the complex interaction of genes and environment, d) explain basic brain and nervous system structures and functions, e) explain common sensory and perceptual processes, f) explain the basic elements of learning, including classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and modeling, g) remember memory systems and processes, h) explain normal states of consciousness (sleeping, dreaming) and the impact of altered states (hypnosis, drugs), i) feel the motivation to explain emotions, j) interpret scholarly research, and k) critically evaluate popular press information about psychological issues. Course Organization: The course has two classes a week in SSCC9001. Mondays & Wednesdays @ 16:30-17:50 (4:30-5:50pm) NOTE: Four In-Class Term Exams: Sept. 27, Oct. 23, Nov. 8 & Nov. 29 REQUIRED Text: Schacter, D. L., Gilbert, D. T., Wegner, D. M., & Nock, M. K. (2014). Psychology (3rd ed.). New York: Worth. (See the information here for your textbook options.) 1
REQUIRED: You need an (available from the SFU bookstore) to complete many course activities. You must register your by Sept. 20th. For this course, you must register your in Canvas. To register, please see the link in Canvas and enter your ID. Other Electronic Devices are NOT Required (nor are they beneficial for learning): The use of laptops, tablets, and smart phones in the classroom is a privilege that may be selectively or entirely withdrawn at any time. If you do bring them to class, please ensure that you have them set to mute or silent. Please sit in the back rows of the classroom if you must have your laptop or tablet screen open so your screen activities do not distract your classmates. Taking pictures or recording video in class is NOT permitted and you will be asked to leave. How you earn your grades (Subject to modification if necessary). As you complete course components, you will earn points up to a total of 300 points (300 = 100%). The four (4) two-part exams described below may contribute up to 204 points (68%) toward your total, the Quizzes may contribute up to 60 points (20%), the Term Assignment may contribute up to 18 points (6%), and the Research Participation Credit may contribute up to 18 points (6%). Obviously, components not completed cannot contribute any points to your total. (NOTE: See the Your Scores/Grades Explained link in Canvas for more details.) Textbook Quizzes (up to 60 points) During the course there will be seven quizzes held during lectures (for scheduled dates, see Tentative Schedule below the exact start time of each quiz will vary). During each of these quizzes you will be answering 10 multiple-choice questions using your. You are responsible for ensuring that you bring your to every class and that it has sufficient battery power. *One-time only, if you forget/lose your iclicker or the batteries fail, please see me at the beginning of class with your picture ID SFU ID, Driver s License, Passport. The quizzes include material from your textbook that is not discussed in class and some review material (discussed in class). You should have read all required material before attending class. Everything in the assigned textbook chapters, additional assigned readings, and material discussed in lecture is examinable during quizzes or exams. Each quiz is worth up to 10 points and your lowest quiz score will drop so that your best six quizzes may contribute a maximum of 60 points toward your total. There are no make-up quizzes. Term Assignment (up to 18 points) There is one assignment for this course. The assignment will be discussed in class, more details are specified in the Assignment Syllabus, and support resources will be found in Canvas. In brief, the assignment requires you to find two empirical articles that represent (i) a true experimental study of; and (ii) a non-experimental study of a specific topic within the scope of Psyc 100 (see the Assigned Topics link on the Assignments page in Canvas). In addition to finding the appropriate research articles, you will annotate copies of the printed articles, and submit the articles with an APA (American Psychological Association) formatted title page and reference page. You must submit a paper copy and an electronic copy of this assignment. 2
Research Participation (up to 18 points - 6%) Students enrolled in PSYC 100, 102 and 201 earn 6% of their course credits based on their involvement in psychological research. These credits may be earned by a combination of activities. The Research Participation System (RPS) will be explained in more detail in class please read all of the information at: http://www.sfu.ca/psychology/ugrad/research-participation.html. Exams: (Please refer to University Regulations regarding missed examinations.) The exact format of the exams will be described in more detail during class. Exams may contribute up to 204 points of your total. There are four (4), two-part term exams scheduled during class time. You will complete all FOUR exams unless extenuating circumstances prevent you from doing so. ONLY the 3 best of both Part I and Part II of the term exams contribute points toward your total. Several implications follow from this assessment design. 1. If you write all 4 of the exams, the points earned from the 3 best Part I and the 3 best Part II components may contribute up to 204 points toward your total. There is no Final Exam. 2. If you miss writing one of the term exams (illness, accidents, or other extenuating circumstances), you will submit appropriate documentation to Dr. Day (not your TA). 3. If you miss an exam and do not have extenuating circumstances, you must explain in writing (email to rday@sfu.ca) why you missed the exam and I will review your course performance to determine whether an N grade (incomplete) or another grade is appropriate. 4. If you have written only 3 term exams (with appropriate documentation for a missed exam) your 3 term exams may contribute up to 204 points toward your total. 5. There are no make-up term exams. 6. All published exam dates are non-negotiable (SFU Policy mandated changes excepted). The four closed-book term exams are planned as follows (subject to minor modifications): Term Exam # 1 (Wed., Sept. 27th., in class 80 min.): This exam will be based on the material from Unit 1 (Ch. 1) and Unit 2 (Ch. 2) of the course. Part I will have you answer 48 multiple-choice questions (one point each). Part II will have you answer one short essay-answer question based on course material. Essay answers have a maximum length of 350 words (up to 20 course points). Term Exam # 2 (Mon., Oct. 23rd., in class 80 min.): This exam will be based on the material from Unit 3 (Ch. 3) and Unit 4 (Ch. 4) of the course. Part I will have you answer 48 multiple-choice questions (one point each). Part II will have you answer a short essay-answer question based on one (of 2) assigned research articles. Essay answers have a maximum length of 350 words (up to 20 course points). Term Exam # 3 (Wed., Nov. 8th., in class 80 min.): This exam will be based on the material from Unit 5 (Ch. 7) and Unit 6 (Ch. 6) of the course. Part I will have you answer 48 multiple-choice questions (one point each). Part II will have you answer a short essay-answer question based on course material. Essay answers have a maximum length of 350 words (up to 20 course points). Term Exam # 4 (Wed., Nov. 29th., in class 80 min.): This exam will include 48 multiple-choice questions (one point each) from material in Unit 7 (Ch. 5) and Unit 8 (Ch. 8) of the course. Part II will have you answer 20 multiple-choice (MC) questions (one point each) that may integrate material from course Units 1 to 6 (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 & 7). 3
Appropriate Documentation Absence from class may result in missed material and poorer grades. The Instructor and the Teaching Assistants are unable to provide individual tutoring for students who miss classes. 1. In case of illness, you need to submit the appropriate documentation, including a completed original of a Certificate of Illness with your request for accommodation. 2. In case of other extenuating circumstances (e.g., vehicle accidents, burglaries, family emergencies), you need to provide the appropriate documentation (e.g., police reports, copies of travel documents, etc.) with your request for accommodation. 3. In case of conflict with other academic events (e.g., field trips) or scheduled athletic events (e.g., out of town competitions), you are expected to contact the instructor to request accommodation. Your request must include an original letter from the course instructor or team coach, including departure and return dates and times, and should be submitted no less than three weeks before departure. In all cases, the earlier you can inform the Instructor of your request for accommodation, the greater the likelihood that some accommodation might be arranged (Note: retroactive requests for accommodation will not be considered without proper documentation). Final Letter Grades Total points earned are converted to a value out of 100%. Letter Grades are assigned only after all components of the course are complete. *The range of values listed here are anticipated values only; the actual values may vary, however, only in exceptional circumstances will the variability be greater than plus or minus 2.5%. The assignment of letter grades to your total score will be discussed in more detail in class. Approximate Percentage Ranges and Predicted Letter Grades* <50 50-57 58-61 62-65 66-70 71-75 76-79 80-83 84-87 88-91 92+ F D C- C C+ B- B B+ A- A A+ Note the following: Code of Academic Integrity and Good Conduct (www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html) Article: 1.3 All members of the University community share the responsibility for the academic standards and reputation of the University. Academic integrity is a cornerstone of the development and acquisition of knowledge. It is founded on principles of respect for knowledge, truth, scholarship and acting with honesty. Upholding academic integrity is a condition of continued membership in the university community. 1.4 Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. Principles and Procedures for Student Discipline (www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-02.html) Appendix 3, Article 7. If an Instructor finds that a student has engaged in academic dishonesty, the Instructor may, after consulting with the departmental Academic Integrity Advisor or Chair, impose one or more of the following penalties: (i.) give the student a warning; (ii.) require the student to redo the work, or to do supplementary work; (iii.) assign a low grade for the work; (iv.) assign a grade of F for the work. 4
TIPS: I will endeavor to be fully attentive to my role as instructor when I am teaching and in office hours. That means, barring illness, emergencies, or scheduled commitments (guest instructors will replace me for any of these events), I will be where I need to be to guide your learning. I do not grade attendance so your decision when to attend classes is solely your responsibility. However, most successful students learn that attending all classes and being prepared (reading assigned material before classes) will have direct benefits in terms of learning and grades. Classes are not simply a repeat of the material in the text my goal is to make the classes as interesting as possible as we learn some material that overlaps with the text and new material relevant to our daily lives. YOU are responsible for all the assigned reading. Classes can be that much more interesting for all of us if you read the text material before class. Please bring your to every class as we will use them for several activities. I will respond only to e-mail messages that include all the pertinent details; your name, student number, and the course you are taking (I respond to "xxx@sfu.ca" addresses only emails from some providers, e.g., hotmail, are filtered to trash to reduce spam). I am responsible for students in different contexts, so I need that basic information before I can give you an answer. I try to respond to most e-mails in a timely fashion, however, in the same way as it would be inappropriate for me to come to your home or workplace and insist that you study for this course when you wish to sleep or work, it is inappropriate for you to expect that I will drop everything to answer e-mails in less than 24 hours (48 hours on weekends). Respect for this e-mail policy is also expected in all your interactions with the Teaching Assistants assigned to the course. A note about the workload in this course. Like many introductory survey courses, Intro Psyc has a fairly heavy reading load. If you compare the number of days in the semester (approx. 13 weeks x 5 days per week = 65 days) with the number of pages you will need to read (text = 350, assigned articles, plus Canvas resources), it becomes clear that you will need to read 5+ pages every single day to keep up. In the same way as it would be impossible to eat 40 kg. of potatoes or rice in one meal (what a stomachache!), it is nearly impossible to get any benefit from trying to read 100 pages just before an exam (what a headache!). Plan your workload so that you have scheduled reading times for each of your courses at least on a weekly basis Good Luck! WHO AM I? I completed my Ph.D. in Social/Developmental Psychology at SFU after a checkered academic history. I found high school to be a great place to socialize and meet people, but did not begin university until I was 30 years of age. During the four years I spent at the University of Victoria for my BA, I changed programs several times before completing a double degree in Psychology and Sociology. After two winters at the University of Guelph, where I completed my MA in Personality Psychology, I returned to B.C. for the wonderful climate and my family. In addition to my responsibilities in the Psychology department, I am also interested in Educational Development (improving teaching and learning at the post-secondary level) and conduct a variety of workshops and other programs at SFU and other universities and colleges across Canada (e.g., Instructional Skills Workshops for Teaching Assistants, Instructors, and Faculty). When not at SFU, I might be travelling (academic conferences, conducting workshops, or just for fun), doing home renovations, and enjoying life. I have had over 40 mailing addresses in Canada and Europe, so I am always interested in where people have been or places they have called home. My Irish wife taught high-school English and French for 32 years in Vancouver and we both like to travel when we have a chance (ask me about our latest trip outside of class time!). For the most part, when I am in my office (RCB 6240) with the door open, you are welcome to drop in and ask a question, tell me something, or simply introduce yourself. Welcome to the course. 5
Tentative Schedule (Psyc 100E) (This schedule is subject to change and additional readings will be assigned.) Unit Date: Schacter et al., Ch. # Topics & Activities 1 06/09/17 1 Intro Psyc Overview, Syllabus, Assignment Outline. 1 11/09/17 1 Psychology: History of, Theories in, and Science of. 2 13/09/17 2 Ethical Research, Research Methods: non-experimental. 2 18/09/17 2 Research Methods: Experimental. 2 20/09/17 2 Research Methods: Statistics. (iclicker Practice) 2 25/09/17 2 Review Units #1 & #2, iclicker Quiz # 1* (Ch. 1 & 2). 27/09/17 Exam Term Exam # 1 (Units 1 & 2, Schacter et al., Ch: 1 & 2) 3 02/10/17 3 Biological Hardware: Neurons. Nervous Systems. 3 04/10/17 3 Endocrine System. Brain: Location, Structure, Function. 09/10/17 Thanksgiving Day No classes 3 11/10/17 3 Genes, Environment, Heritability. iclicker Quiz # 2* (Ch. 3) 4 16/10/17 4 Sensation to Perception Sensory Processes. 4 18/10/17 4 Perception & Illusions. iclicker Quiz # 3* (Ch. 4). 23/10/17 Exam Term Exam # 2 (Units 3 & 4, Schacter et al., Ch: 3 & 4). 5 25/10/17 7 Learning Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning. 5 30/10/17 7 Punishment, Social Learning. iclicker Quiz # 4* (Ch. 7). 6 01/11/17 6 Memory Processes. (Assignment due - 16:30) 6 06/11/17 6 Memory Errors & Biases. iclicker Quiz # 5* (Ch. 6). 08/11/17 Exam Term Exam # 3 (Units 5 & 6, Schacter et al., Ch: 7 & 6). 13/11/17 In lieu of Remembrance Day No classes 7 15/11/17 5 Consciousness, Sleeping & Dreaming. 7 20/11/17 5 Altered States of Consciousness. iclicker Quiz # 6* (Ch. 5). 8 22/11/17 8 Motivation Hunger, Sex & Emotion. 8 27/11/17 8 Emotion Theories & Environment. iclicker Quiz # 7* (Ch. 8). 29/11/17 Exam Term Exam # 4 (Units 7 & 8, Schacter et al., Ch: 5 & 8). 04/12/17 Course Wrap-up, return assignments (16:50-17:20), etc. *** 04/12/17 All Research Participation MUST BE COMPLETED by 23:59 Today! *** *The quizzes are planned for the last 25 minutes of class time, but may begin earlier. Russell Day, 2017 It is not the policy of the Psychology Department to record Undergraduate Course Lectures. The privilege of having access to the recorded lectures may be withdrawn at any time. 6