Psychology 1000-002

Introduction to Psychology

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

1.0    CALENDAR DESCRIPTION

An introductory survey of the methods and findings of modern scientific psychology. The following topics will be covered: history and methodology, biological psychology, sensation and perception, learning and motivation, verbal and cognitive processes, developmental psychology, social psychology, individual differences (intelligence and personality), and clinical psychology.

 

Antirequisites: Psychology 1100E, the former Psychology 1200

 

Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.

 

3 lecture hours, 1.0 course


2.0    COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Dr. Laura Fazakas-deHoog                            

           

            Office and Phone Number: SSC 7302      519-472-8430  

            Office Hours: Wednesday evenings by appointment or after class                      

            Email: lfazakas@uwo.ca or llfazakas@hotmail.com                               

            Course Coordinator: Dr. Mike Atkinson    

 

            Teaching Assistants:

 

            Fall Only

            Isu Cho                                      icho6@uwo.ca

            Brendan Samuels                      bsamuel2@cmail.ca

          

           Winter Only 

           Susan Coltman                           scoltman@uwo.ca

       

 

            Both Fall and Winter

            Alexander McGregor                  amcgre8@uwo.ca

            Sudesna Chakraborty                schakr28@uwo.ca

            Haopei Yang                              hyang336@uwo.ca

            Chi Zian                                     zianchi@outlook.com  

                                                                         

            TA Office & Office Hours: To Be posted on OWL                      

                                               

           Time and Location of Classes: Mondays and Wednesdays  4:30-6:30 p.m.   NCB 101

COURSE WEBSITE

           

The course website is located at:  https://owl.uwo.ca/portal  

If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you.  Please visit:  http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.

3.0  TEXTBOOK

 

Passer, M.W., Smith, R.E., Atkinson, M.L., Mitchell, J. B., & Muir, D.W. (2017). Psychology: Frontiers    and Applications. Sixth Canadian Edition.  Toronto: McGraw Hill Ryerson

4.0    COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is an introductory level survey of the methods and findings of modern scientific psychology. The goal is to provide students with an overview of various topic domains within the realm of psychology. As such, students will be exposed to diverse theoretical viewpoints and various methods and procedures for the scientific investigation of psychological issues. Note: Modern psychology is scientific in nature. Consequently, we will spend a lot of time discussing science-related topics such as research design, research findings, neural functioning, sensory mechanisms, etc.


   4.1    STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Each chapter in the text covers a major interest area in psychology. By the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:

o Identify the major concepts, theories and topics in Psychology

o Distinguish between and identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of various theories in Psychology

o Apply concepts and theories from Psychology to everyday problems

o Interpret statistical information presented in tables or graphs

o Ask questions about topics in Psychology

o Apply DSM criteria to provide the most plausible diagnosis for a set of psychological problems

o Identify common research designs used in Psychology

 

Learning Outcomes, Activities, and Assessment

 

Learning Outcome

Learning Activity

Assessment

Identify major concepts, theories,& topics in Psychology

Reading and attendance at lectures

Multiple choice exams

Distinguish between & identify the

relative strengths & weaknesses of various theories of Psychology

Reading and attendance at lectures

Multiple choice exams

Apply theories & concepts from Psychology to everyday problems

Reading and attendance at lectures

Multiple choice exams

Ask questions about topics in Psychology

Develop powerpoint assignment

Quality of powerpoint assignment

Interpret statistical information presented in tables or graphs

 

Apply DSM criteria to provide the most plausible diagnosis for a set of psychological symptoms

 

Identify common research designs used in Psychology

Reading and attendance at lectures

 

Reading and attendance at lectures

 

 

Reading and attendance at lectures

 

 

Multiple choice exams

 

 

Multiple choice exams

 

 

 

Multiple choice exams

 

5.0     EVALUATION

October Midterm will consist of 75 multiple choice questions based on both the text

(Chapters 1-4 and Appendix A) and lecture material.  The October midterm is worth ………………. 20%

 

December Exam will consist of 75 multiple choice questions based on both the text

(Chapters 5-8) and lecture material. The December midterm is worth …………………..……………. 20%

 

March Midterm will consist of about 75 multiple choice questions based on both the text

(Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13) as well as lecture material. The March midterm is worth  ...…….…. 20%

 

The Final Exam will consist of 100 multiple choice questions based on material from the text

(chapters 14 -17) as well as the lecture material. The Final midterm is worth ……..…………………. 30%

 

Assignment Component is worth (Details will be posted on OWL) .................................................10%

 

___________________________________________________________________________

Assignment:

Students are expected to complete (an) assignment(s) worth 10%. Further details, deadlines, and grading criterion will be covered in lecture and posted on OWL.   ___________________________________________________________________________________

REQUIRED RESEARCH COMPONENT

 

In addition to the exams and the assignment, there is a research participation requirement. Please note that this is a Department of Psychology requirement and does not add marks to your grade. Failure to meet the research requirement will result in a loss of 10 points on your final grade.

 

To fulfil this research requirement, students must either

 

            (i) participate in 6 research studies in the department of Psychology (i.e., obtain 6 full research    credits). Instructions for this research component will be reviewed in the lectures.

           

            OR

 

            (ii) Complete a written one page review of 6 different research articles in the area of                     Psychology. Packages of articles and related questions may be obtained from: 

            Daniella Chirila (SSC 7416) 519-661-2111 (x84690) or from the research participation website.

 

NOTE: It is also possible to combine participation and article review (e.g., do 5 studies and review 1 article).

 

ALSO NOTE: a maximum of 2 of the research credits may be earned through online research studies.


Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:


70%     1000-level and 2000-level courses
72%     2190-2990 level courses
75%     3000-level courses
80%     4000-level courses
   
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf ):

A+  90-100      One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A    80-89        Superior work that is clearly above average
B    70-79        Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C    60-69        Competent work, meeting requirements
D    50-59        Fair work, minimally acceptable
F    below 50    Fail



6.0  TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE

OCTOBER EXAM               Saturday October 28, 2017 from 9-11 a.m.

 

DECEMBER EXAM            During December examination period in December (December 10-21) - TBA

 

MARCH EXAM                   Saturday March 10, 2018 from 3-5 p.m.

 

       FINAL EXAM                        During the final examination period in April (April 14-30) - TBA


7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

LECTURE                                 CHAPTER                     TOPIC                              

 

Mon. Sept. 11                           1                                  Introduction

Wed. Sept. 13                           1                                  History of Psychology

Mon. Sept. 18                           2/Appendix                   Methodology/Data Analysis/Statistics

Wed. Sept. 20                           2/Appendix                   Methodology/Data Analysis/Statistics

Mon. Sept. 25                           3                                  Brain/Nervous System/Neurophysiology

Wed. Sept. 27                           3                                  Brain/Nervous System/Neurophysiology

Mon. Oct. 02                             3                                  Brain/Nervous System/Neurophysiology

Wed. Oct. 04                             3                                  Brain/Nervous System/Neurophysiology

 

Oct. 09 -13                               -                                   NO CLASSES (FALL READING WEEK)

 

Mon. Oct. 16                             4                                  Genetics & Evolution

Wed. Oct. 18                             4                                  Genetics & Evolution

Mon. Oct. 23                             5                                  Sensation/Perception

Wed. Oct. 25                            5                                  Sensation/Perception

 

SATURDAY  OCTOBER 28                                            OCTOBER EXAM         

                                   

Mon. Oct. 30                             5                                  Sensation/Perception   

Wed. Nov.01                             6                                  Consciousness

Mon. Nov. 06                            6                                  Consciousness

Wed. Nov. 08                            6                                  Consciousness

Mon. Nov. 13                            7                                  Learning           

Wed. Nov. 15                            7                                  Learning

Mon. Nov. 20                            8                                  Memory

Wed. Nov. 22                            8                                  Memory

Mon. Nov. 27                            8                                  Memory

Wed. Nov. 29                            8                                  Memory

Mon. Dec. 04                            -                                   Study/Review

Wed. Dec. 06                            -                                   Study/Review

TBA (December 10-21)                                              DECEMBER EXAM      

 

Mon. Jan. 08                             9                                 Language & Thinking    

Wed. Jan. 10                             9                                 Language & Thinking

Mon. Jan. 15                             10                                Intelligence

Wed. Jan. 17                             10                                Intelligence

Mon. Jan. 22                               11                              Motivation & Emotion   

Wed. Jan. 24                             11                                Motivation & Emotion

Mon. Jan. 29                             12                                 Development (Prenatal/child Development)

Wed. Jan. 31                             12                                 Development (Prenatal/child Development)

Mon. Feb. 05                           12                                 Development (Adolesecence/Adulthood)

Wed. Feb. 07                            12                                 Development (Adolesecence/Adulthood)

Mon. Feb. 12                           13                                 Behavior in a Social Context

Wed. Feb. 14                            13                                 Behavior in a Social Context

 

Feb. 19 - Feb. 23                       -                                   NO CLASSES (SPRING READING WEEK)

 

Mon. Feb. 26                            13                                 Behavior in a Social Context

Wed. Feb. 28                            13                                 Behavior in a Social Context
Mon. Mar. 05                             14                                 Personality

Wed. Mar. 07                            14                                 Personality

SATURDAY MARCH 10                                     MARCH EXAM     

 

Mon. Mar. 12                             16                                 Psychological Disorders

Wed. Mar. 14                            16                                 Psychological Disorders

Mon. Mar. 19                             16                                 Psychological Disorders

Wed. Mar. 21                            17                                 Psychological Treatment

Mon. Mar. 26                             17                                 Psychological Treatment

Wed. Mar. 28                            15                                 Stress Health Coping

Mon. Apr. 02                             15                                 Stress Health Coping

Wed. Apr. 04                             -                                  Study/Review

Mon. Apr. 09                             -                                  Study/Review

Wed. Apr. 11                             -                                  Study/Review

 

                                                                                                                                   

FINAL EXAM    (Date TBA: April 14-30)


8.0     STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES

Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link:  http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf

As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com

Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.



9.0    POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2017/pg954.html 

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html


10.0        OTHER INFORMATION

Office of the Registrar web site:  http://registrar.uwo.ca

Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca

Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:

    http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html

- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2017 Calendar References

No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.