NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY The City University of New York School of Arts & Sciences Department of Social Science Course Outline Course code: PSY 2401 Course title: Social Psychology Class hours/credits: 3 class hours, 3 credits Prerequisite: PSY 1101 Pathways: Individual and Society Catalog Description: The basic psychological principles involved in the scientific study of individual behavior in social and group situations are examined. Emphasis is placed on understanding attitude formation and change, conformity, group interaction, leadership roles, altruism, aggression and prejudice. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce you to the fascinating (and occasionally disturbing) world of Social Psychology. According to your textbook, the term "Social Psychology" refers to a "branch of psychology that seeks a broad understanding of how human beings think, act and feel" in a social context. Essentially, social psychologists are concerned with how other people impact, in either real or imagined ways, our own everyday lives. This subfield of psychology looks at the ways people influence one another, at the ways people think about one another, at the ways we think about ourselves, and at the ways aspects of our personalities come to influence our actions around other people. Classes will consist of lecture, in-class activities, and between-class activities as well as answering any and all of your questions that arise in relation to Social Psychology. RECOMMENDED TEXTS*: Baumeister, R. F., & Bushman, B. J. (2010). Social Psychology and Human Nature (Brief Version). Belmont, CA: Thompson-Wadsworth. (Required). Association for Psychological Science (APS), Ruscher, J. & Hammer, E. Y. (2008). Current Directions in Social Psychology,. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. (Supplementary Text). Lesko, W. A. (2011). Readings in Social Psychology: General, Classic and Contemporary Selections (8 th Edition). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. (Supplementary Text). American Psychological Association (AP A). (2009). Publication Manual, Sixth Edition. (2009). Washington, D.C.: APA. (Supplementary Text).
*These are suggested texts; instructors may choose their own. LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT METHODS LEARNING OUTCOME 1). Develop an understanding of the major theories of social psychology, their strengths and weaknesses, and the relationships between them. 2). Define and apply key social psychology concepts, terms, and ideas 3). Identify psychologists who have made major contributions to an understanding of social psychology 4). Practically apply acquired insight of social psychology to one's own life. 5). Recognize and appreciate the individual differences and diversity among people from different genders, sexual orientations, races, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. 6). Explain research methodology and the ability to evaluate the merit of social psychological studies 7). Enhance student abilities to express ideas clearly in written and spoken form, and to think critically about your own and other's ideas. 8). Show the ability to use the language of the discipline with clarity and precision, and when appropriate apply the current edition of the AP A style to written communications. 9). Apply social psychological theories as tools for describing and explaining human group behavior. 10). Demonstrate ability to work effectively in a group setting ASSESSMENT METHOD* Weekly out-of-class writing assignments, midterm and final exam questions (MC, TF, matching, short answers, definitions) TF, matching, short answers, definitions) TF, matching, short answers, definitions) Performance on in-class discussions and debates, weekly out-of-class writing assignments, discrimination paper. In-class group activity, weekly out-ofclass writing assignments, discrimination paper. In-class active learning activity, review and discussion of personality based research articles. Performance on in-class discussions and debates, weekly out-of-class writing assignments Weekly out-of-class writing assignments, narrative analysis of biographical or autobiographical life stories Weekly out-of-class writing assignments, performance on in-class discussions and debates. In-class group activity; research skills; presentation skills; collegiality
GENERAL EDUCATION LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT METHODS General Education Leaming Outcomes for this class are based in part on guidelines published in 2013 by the American Psychological Association (APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major; http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/about/psymajorguidelines.pdf), and cover knowledge, skills, and values consistent with the science and application of psychology, as well as with a liberal arts education. LEARNING OUTCOME 1). KNOWLEDGE: Develop an understanding of social psychology concepts, topics and theories and be able to apply these ideas to both real world and personal problems. 2). SKILLS: Apply the scientific method, and accepted psychological research methodology (both quantitative and qualitative), to critically question, analyze and discuss social psychology problems and issues. Strengthen and refine ability to discuss social psychology concepts and personal thoughts in writing. 3). INTEGRATION: Apply the tools of the scientific method, and accepted psychological research methodology, to the understanding of other disciplines. 4). VALUES, ETHICS, AND RELATIONSHIPS: Develop an understanding of, and ability to apply, diverse perspectives to the understanding of social psychology issues; work creatively with others in group problem solving; develop a respect for diverse viewpoints; apply the skills and concepts covered in this course to the analysis of related issues and ideas across other disciplines both within, and outside of, the field of psychology. ASSESSMENT METHOD* Weekly out-of-class writing assignments, TF, matching, short answers, definitions, essays). In-class active learning activities, review and discussion of social psychology based research articles. Completion of a social psychology based research paper. Performance on in-class discussions and debates, weekly out-of-class writing assignments. In-class active learning activities, weekly out-of-class writing assignments, TF, matching, short answers, definitions, essays). * may vary slightly per instructor to suit their own needs
Capstone Course Statement: This course fulfills the LAA/LAS Associate Capstone requirement, though it can also be taken for other requirements and electives. The City Tech LAA/LAS Associate Capstone is designed for students entering their second year in the program. LAA/LAS Associate Capstone courses are meant to prepare students to continue their studies in a bachelor's degree, third-year, or junior, level. In addition, Associate Capstone courses are meant to help students develop an awareness of the importance of knowledge, values and skills developed in general education courses; and to integrate this knowledge, these values and these skills into their advanced academic study and professional careers. Please ask the instructor if you have any questions about what the LAA/LAS Associate Capstone requirement entails. ASSIGNMENTS AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS*: A student's grade for this class will be broken down as follows: Class Attendance and Participation (100 points): 20% Weekly Short Writing Assignments (100 points): 20% Discrimination Paper (100 points): 20% Mid-term Examination (100 points): 20% Final Examination (100 points): 20% GRADING*: Class attendance and participation, weekly writing assignments, biographical narrative analysis, the midterm examination and the final examination are worth 100 points each and all add up to 500 total points. The number of points you earned will be divided by the total number of points you could have earned (500), thus computing the percentage that will determine your final grade as follows (grade breakdown based on City Tech guidelines published in the Student Handbook and the College Catalog): A = 93-100 C+ = 77-79.9 A- = 90-92.9 C = 70-76.9 B+ = 87-89.9 D = 60-69.9 B = 83-86.9 F = 59.9 and below B- = 80-82.9 *This is a guideline or sample that instructors may choose to select or adapt. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICTY STATEMENT: Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honest in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the college recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York
City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the college policy on academic integrity ay be found in the catalog. COLLEGE POLICY ON ABSENCE/LATENESS: A student may be absent without penalty for 10% of the number of scheduled class meetings during the semester as follows: Class Meets Allowable Absence 1 time/week 2 classes 2 times/week 3 classes 3 times/week 4 classes It is the responsibility of the instructor to keep accurate records of every student's attendance and to inform each class orally and in writing of the applicable attendance policy during the first two weeks of class meetings each semester. Excessive Absence If a student's class absences exceed the limit established for a given course or component, the instructor will alert the student that a grade of "WU" may be assigned. If a student remains officially registered for a course and never attends that course, a final grade of "*WN" will be assigned. If the student withdraws officially from the course, he/she will be assigned a grade in accordance with the existing withdrawal policy of the College. Appeals A student wishing to appeal the excessive absence status and the impending grade should request a meeting with the chairperson of the department in which the course is offered. The chairperson will consult with the instructor to render a decision. A student wishing to appeal a "WU" grade may do so through the Committee on Course and Standards. Lateness It is the responsibility of the instructor to keep a record of lateness and to inform each class orally and in writing of the lateness policy during the first two weeks of class meetings of each semester. SEQUENCE OF TOPICS AND TIME ALLOCATIONS*: The following is for a class that meets once per week, 2.5 hours per class, 15 class sessions per semester. Sequence of topics and time allocations should be adjusted accordingly for classes that meet two to three times per week. TOPIC TIME ALLOCATION Introductions and Housekeeping Class #1
What is Social Psychology? History of Social Psychology Class #2 Research Methods in Social Psychology Class #3 Culture and Nature Class #4 The Self and Identity Theory Class #5 Behavior Control: The Self in Action Class #6 Social Cognition Class #7 Midterm Examination - Class #8 Covering Material from Class #1 through Class #7 Groups Class #9 Prejudice, Stereotypes and Discrimination Class #10 Attitudes, Beliefs and Consistency Class #11 Human Obedience Class #12 Social Influence and Persuasion Class #13 Prosocial versus Antisocial Behavior Class #14 Final Examination - Class #15 Covering Material from Class #9 through Class #14 *The time allocated for each major subject in the course outline includes time spent in lecturing, discussion reviews for exams, reviews of exam results, recording attendance, instruction in writing papers, and instructions in how to carry out research. The time allocations are to serve as approximations and are not to be rigidly adhered to. The Social Science faculty recognize that there are many valid educational reasons why deviation from the approximations would be ideal. These include but are not limited to, student interest and recent developments in the field. Reviewed/revised by: Eric M. Rodriguez, Ph.D., April 2012, December 2015 Howard Sisco, Ph.D., September 2006 May Chen, Ph.D., fall 2009