PSY 111AR Introduction to Psychology

Scientific study of human behavior. Fundamental facts, theories, issues, concepts, and principles of psychology.

1. To develop a broad understanding of the many parts of psychology.

2. To understand the methods of gathering and evaluating relevant evidence.

3. To learn ways in which psychological knowledge may be applied to the problems and opportunities of life.

4. To develop skills in critical thinking by comparing and evaluating the major ideas, concepts, and theories in psychology.

5. To understand more of what it is to be human.

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Upon successfully completing this course, you should be able to

1. Recognize and cogently discuss major psychological principles.

2. Connect and explain the theories and evidence upon which major principles are based.

3. Identify the theorists and worldviews from which major principles arise.

4. Use psychological theory to analyse and explain examples of human behavior.

5. Communicate more clearly in writing.

6. Critically analyze and evaluate information and assess the relative validity of different sources of information.

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This is an R-course. If you are using this course to fulfill your integrative studies research requirement, you must:

1. Attend and complete all assignments in six scheduled library sessions.

2. Complete the research term paper.

If you have already met your R requirement through another course, you are not required to attend the library sessions again. Nonetheless, you still must complete the research term paper for this course.

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1.Participate. In addition to attending every class session, you will be expected to participate in the course in the following ways:

a. Class projects and issue/application papers, assigned irregularly through the semester.......................10%

b. Electronic discussion. I want you to have ongoing discussion by electronic means during the semester. The main channel is to be a shared folder set up in Outlook.

Electronic discussion may be used to continue class discussions after meeting times; to raise issues that have come up in your reading, conversations, or thinking; and to ask questions.

Each contribution should share examples or illustrations of psychological principles that you read in published articles.  Alternatively, you may summarize an article you have read, showing how it relates to a current course topic.  Please respond to postings by classmates with your comments, connections, and questions.

Contribute at least one principle prior to each of these dates: 5/17, 5/22, 5/24, 5/29, 6/1
Check the discussion folder at least twice per week.............................5%

c. Peer evaluation of a classmate's research and writing of the term paper, as explained in 4, below..................5%

a. In-class quizzes and writing assignments, unscheduled..................................5%

b. A 250-word reaction paper to a topic of your choice from each of 5 chapters in the textbook   To choose a topic, consider meaning, academic context, or societal implications that occur to you as you read.  Think of ramifications and possible arguments about what the text has said........................................5%

 
Submit each reaction paper by the date listed for reading each chapter in the calendar.

Examinations are essay format, and include terms and concepts to identify, define or explain. You may be asked questions about assigned electronic material as well as class content and assigned research. Your answers will be graded for presentation (English usage and organization) as well as content.

Friday, May 18......................................15%

Friday, May 25......................................15%

Friday, June 2, ......................................20%

4. Term paper ...............................................20%

a. Choose a topic that you want to understand. You may get ideas from the table of contents in the textbook. If you are  stuck, see me for suggestions. Please e-mail your topic to me by May 17.

b. Your topic, along with a paragraph describing what you hope to learn by writing this paper, and a working bibliography of at least 12 scholarly, primary sources must be submitted typed in APA format by May 21. Use your Research skills!

c. A first draft, with sources cited, is due by May 24. Before submitting the draft, have your peer reviewer:

• read it and circle all errors of grammar and spelling;
• on a peer review sheet, make written comments about organization, clarity of expression, and style.


Print a copy of the peer review sheet from the course website, and attach it to the front of your draft before giving it to your peer reviewer. You may also wish to consult the Essay Evaluation Sheet which I will return with your draft and my comments.

The peer reviewer's evaluation will be part of her participation grade for this course. Each peer reviewer should read only one student's draft, so that all class members may take part in the review process.
 

d. A final copy, in APA style with formal citations and an alphabetical reference list of at least 15 primary, scholarly sources, is due May 30. Again, before submitting your copy, have your peer reviewer proofread the final draft and circle all errors. In pencil, correct the errors before submitting your work. Have your peer reviewer sign the cover sheet.

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 Although not required, all students could benefit from reviewing the APA pamphlet, An Introduction to Library Research in Psychology. It is found on-line at http://www.apa.org/science/lib.html.

a) PsychWeb (http://www.gasou.edu/psychweb/psychweb.html)

b) American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org)

c) Whole Brain Atlas (http://www.med.harvard.edu:80/AANLIB/home.html)

d) The Stanford Prison experiment is described, with slides and video clips, on this site.

e) The American Psychological Society is dedicated to "giving away psychology in the public interest."

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A discussion group folder has been added to your e-mail account. It should show up in the left panel of your screen as a folder labeled IntroPsych01 under Public Folders.

Discussion folder:

• To find the posted discussion folder for the class, open Outlook.
• Then, go to the folder list on the left side of your screen.  (If it is missing, click the File menu and select Folder list.
• Scroll to the bottom of the folder list to find Public Folders, and click the plus sign.
• Click the plus signs beside each of the following, in order:
• All Public Folders...Academic...Classes...Young P.
• Click on IntroPsych01, and you are into the folder.  Please read the first message from me, and reply.
• To read any message in the folder, double-click it.
• To reply,  click the Post Reply button; type your message; and click the Post button.
• To post a new message rather than a reply, click on the folder. Then click New on the Outlook toolbar at the top of the page, type your message, and click Post.

Helpful hint: Click on IntroPsych01 and drag it up the folder list to Favorites, to eliminate most of the above searching steps in the future.  But don't drag it anywhere else.


Remember that items you post to the discussion group may be read by any member of the class, including the teacher. However, nobody else has access to your contributions.

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First posted 1 September, 1998. Last updated 15 May, 2001

Copyright Paul D. Young