Psychology 2030B 650
The Maladjusted Mind
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON CANADA
Department of Psychology
2022-2023
Psychology 2030B Section 650
The Maladjusted Mind
- CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
This course will survey various categories of maladjusted behaviour and consider different explanatory models and treatment strategies for the control of such behaviour. Theories of human adjustment and maladjustment will be reviewed.
Antirequisites: Psychology 2050, 2310A/B and 3310F/G
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. 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.
Prerequisite: Not Applicable
3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.5
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Ian R. Nicholson
Office and Phone Number: Victoria Hospital E1-611
Office Hours: By appointment through Zoom
Email: inichols@uwo.ca (Dr. Nicholson checks this e-mail every evening, not during the day)
Teaching Assistant:
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
Time and Location of Classes: Asynchronous
Delivery Method: Virtual
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness @Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
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 contact Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca or 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Title: Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach (Sixth Canadian etext Edition)
Authors: Barlow, D.H., Durand, V.M., Hofmann, S.G., & Lalumière, M.L.
Year: 2021
Please ensure you purchase the etext edition.
Every year I am asked by students such questions as "I have a copy of a book by the same name but with different authors, is that good enough?”, “I have a copy of an earlier edition, is that good enough?”, or "I have a copy of the American version of the text, is that good enough?".
To be honest, I don't know if it is "good enough". I am not familiar with these texts. I can tell you that the course (and the midterm tests/final exam) are based in the material in this edition of this textbook by these authors. I don't know if these other versions will prepare you for the midterm tests and final exam. My guess is that some of the material is the same and some is unique. I can't tell what part of the midterm tests and final exam, however, is unique to this specific version of this text compared to some other text or earlier version.
Sorry I can't be more help with these questions. I know texts are expensive so please be careful if buying a used textbook.
Relying on the wrong textbook is not considered grounds for accommodation for a midterm test or final examination.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES
The purpose of the course is to provide students with an overview of the major forms of psychopathology and their treatment. The course will begin with addressing some of the fundamental aspects of the foundations of any study of abnormal psychology including understanding the profession of psychology, ethics, psychological assessment, and diagnosis. It will then move into discussions of several different types of psychological disorders, including several that are related to physical functioning. We then conclude with a discussion of psychopathology across the lifespan. All issues will be presented from both a theoretical and a practical perspective.
|
LEARNING OUTCOMES |
ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT LEARNING OUTCOMES |
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES |
|
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge 1. Recognize the main symptoms of the range of psychological disorders 2. Identify various components of assessment (e.g., interviewing, administrating various tests, neuroimaging, physical and behavioural examinations) |
|
|
|
Knowledge of Methodologies
|
|
|
|
Application of Knowledge
|
|
|
|
Awareness of Limits of Knowledge
|
|
|
5.0 EVALUATION
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4.0 and are considered necessary for meeting these learning objectives.
Class Participation (7% of final grade)
For this course to work, students must "come to class". By “come to class”, it is meant that the students regular visit and participate in the OWL online course Forums. Students lose most of their grades in this requirement by not coming to class regularly. The course works best if it is thought of as a seminar/discussion group where students comment on the issues discussed, using material from the text and the web. If only a handful of students “come to class” regularly, then the course does not work for anyone.
Starting each Monday morning, a new on-line Forum will be started for a new subject. Each Forum will last one week (except for the week before Reading Week and the final week, see below). To aid in these discussions, questions will be posted on-line during the next week. At the beginning of each Forum, additional relevant web site addresses will be given to students to review and include in the discussions as they see them as relevant.
To ensure that the discussions remain current when students come to class, the weekly Forums will be closed after they have been open for one week.
The exception to this schedule is Week 6“Schizophrenia and Dissociative Disorders”. Week 6 is from 13 February 2023 until the end of the day on 17 February 2023. The three required examples of class participation, demonstrated through posted comments, are expected during that time. However, there will be an unpenalized extension that includes 18 February 2023 and 19 February 2023 for students who may require the additional time for their demonstration of their class participation by allowing for the posting of their comments on those days.
**IMPORTANT** Class Participation Requirements: It is expected that students will actively participate in these on-line discussions. To demonstrate their class participation, each student is expected to regularly participate in the course by posting comments a minimum of three (3) separate days that add into the Forum discussions each and every week of a weekly Forum. Participating in class on only one (1) day a week, no matter how many comments you make, how much time you spent on them, or how long those comments are, will only count as meeting one-third (1/3) of the class participation requirements for that week.
For more information on the Class Participation,
students should read the “Section 15.0 FAQ on Class Participation” at the end of the syllabus.
*** Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that
your class participation discussion contributions are posted properly and on time.
Having written something that didn't get posted, for whatever reason,
is not grounds for appealing a grade of zero for that missing class participation. ***
Please Note: The on-line discussions will be open from 12:01am on 9 January 2023 until 11:59pm on 19 February 2023 and then from 12:01am on 27 February 2023 until 11:59pm on 9 April 2023. All times are in London, Ontario. If you are taking the course in another time zone, you will need to make local adjustments to these times
First Midterm Test (31% of final grade) – 11 February 2023 @ 2:00pm (London)
Content of test: The first midterm test will consist of a maximum of one hundred (100) multiple choice questions. They will reflect the material from chapters 1, 3, 4, 8, and 17. There will be approximately an equal number of questions from the each of these five (5) textbook chapters. The test will be 120 minutes long.
Copying of test questions by any means or format (e.g., taking photos, copying questions to another document) is strictly prohibited and constitutes an academic offence.
Administration of the test: The test will be administered synchronously online through the Proctortrack tab on our OWL site. Tests are closed-book, and it is expected that all students will complete the exams independently with no communication between classmates. You will have 120 minutes to complete the test from start to finish (plus additional time for students who have documented accommodations which allow for extra time). The test will be non-linear, meaning you may return to earlier questions. Once you start, you cannot stop or pause.
The test will be proctored remotely and, by taking this course, you are consenting to the use of the proctoring software and acknowledge that you will be required to provide personal information (including some biometric data) and the session will be recorded. Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a device that meets the technical requirements for this service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca. See “Section 10 Policy on the Use of Exam Proctoring Software” for more information about exam monitoring/proctoring software. Students are reminded to ensure they complete the Protortrack onboarding in the weeks prior to their first use of software for the midterm test.
Unable to write a midterm test: The makeup test is scheduled for 7:00pm (London) on 15 February 2023. If you are unable to take a test as scheduled, you must obtain permission from your academic dean via your Academic Counsellor order to make up the test. See “Section 11 Policy on Accommodation for Illness or Other Absences” for information on seeking accommodations.
Please note the Western policy that instructors are not permitted to receive documentation directly from a student, whether in support of an application for medical grounds, or for other reasons. All documentation required for absences that are not covered by the absence reporting policy must be submitted to the Academic Counselling Office of a student’s home faculty. The current policy on student absences is available here. Information on accommodation appeals and medical certificates is available here.
Once the verification of your eligibility for a makeup test has been received from your Academic Counsellor, a student will be added to the list of those who will be provided access (after the first midterm test has been written) for a make-up test.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic Accommodation is a means of adjusting the academic activities associated with a course or program of study to permit students with disabilities to participate in those activities at the University and to fulfill the essential requirements of a course or program. Academic accommodations consider the individual’s limitations and what is reasonable in the context of the particular course or program and the essential requirements of the course or program.
Because of the individualized nature of accommodation, students and prospective students are encouraged to meet with a Student Accessibility Services counsellor to obtain information about specific accommodations and services that may be available to them. Students who require test accommodations should follow the instructions for obtaining such accommodations that are at: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/ssd/
For more information on the Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests, students should read the
“Section 16.0 FAQ on Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests” at the end of the syllabus.
Second Midterm Test (31% of final grade) – 18 March 2023 @ 2:00pm (London)
Content of test: The second midterm test will consist of a maximum of one hundred (100) multiple choice questions. They will reflect the material from chapters 5, 6, 7 (pages 198-209 only), 12, 14, and 18. There will be approximately an equal number of questions from the each of these textbook chapters (twenty (20) questions from chapters 5, 12, and 14; sixteen (16) questions from chapters 6 and 18; eight (8) questions from the portion of chapter 7 covered in the course). Students are NOT responsible on this test for material from earlier in the course (i.e., material covered in the earlier midterm test). The test will be 120 minutes long.
Copying of test questions by any means or format (e.g., taking photos, copying questions to another document) is strictly prohibited and constitutes an academic offence.
Administration of the test: The test will be administered synchronously online through the Proctortrack tab on our OWL site. Tests are closed-book, and it is expected that all students will complete the exams independently with no communication between classmates. You will have 120 minutes to complete the test from start to finish (plus additional time for students who have documented accommodations which allow for extra time). The test will be non-linear, meaning you may return to earlier questions. Once you start, you cannot stop or pause.
The test will be proctored remotely and, by taking this course, you are consenting to the use of the proctoring software and acknowledge that you will be required to provide personal information (including some biometric data) and the session will be recorded. Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a device that meets the technical requirements for this service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca. See “Section 10 Policy on the Use of Exam Proctoring Software” for more information about exam monitoring/proctoring software.
Unable to write a midterm test: The makeup test is scheduled for 7:00pm (London) on 22 March 2023. If you are unable to take a test as scheduled, you must obtain permission from your academic dean via your Academic Counsellor order to make up the test. See “Section 11 Policy on Accommodation for Illness or Other Absences” for information on seeking accommodations.
Please note the Western policy that instructors are not permitted to receive documentation directly from a student, whether in support of an application for medical grounds, or for other reasons. All documentation required for absences that are not covered by the absence reporting policy must be submitted to the Academic Counselling Office of a student’s home faculty. The current policy on student absences is available here. Information on accommodation appeals and medical certificates is available here.
Once the verification of your eligibility for a makeup test has been received from your Academic Counsellor, a student will be added to the list of those who will be provided access (after the first midterm test has been written) for a make-up test.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic Accommodation is a means of adjusting the academic activities associated with a course or program of study to permit students with disabilities to participate in those activities at the University and to fulfill the essential requirements of a course or program. Academic accommodations consider the individual’s limitations and what is reasonable in the context of the particular course or program and the essential requirements of the course or program.
Because of the individualized nature of accommodation, students and prospective students are encouraged to meet with a Student Accessibility Services counsellor to obtain information about specific accommodations and services that may be available to them. Students who require test accommodations should follow the instructions for obtaining such accommodations that are at: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/ssd/
For more information on the Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests, students should read the
“Section 16.0 FAQ on Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests” at the end of the syllabus.
Final Exam (31% of final grade) – date/time to be determined by Registrar
Content of exam: The final exam will consist of a maximum of one hundred (100) multiple choice questions. They will reflect the material from chapters 9, 10, 13, 15, and 16. There will be approximately an equal number of questions from the each of these five (5) textbook chapters. Students are NOT responsible on this exam for material from earlier in the course (i.e., material covered in the two earlier midterm tests). The exam will be 120 minutes long.
Copying of exam questions by any means or format (e.g., taking photos, copying questions to another document) is strictly prohibited and constitutes an academic offence.
Administration of the exam: The exam will be administered synchronously online through the Procottrack tab on our OWL site. Exams are closed-book, and it is expected that all students will complete the exam independently with no communication between classmates. You will have 120 minutes to complete the exam from start to finish (plus additional time for students who have documented accommodations which allow for extra time). The exam will be non-linear, meaning you may return to earlier questions. Once you start, you cannot stop or pause.
The exam will be proctored remotely and, by taking this course, you are consenting to the use of the proctoring software and acknowledge that you will be required to provide personal information (including some biometric data) and the session will be recorded. Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a device that meets the technical requirements for this service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca. See “Section 10 Policy on the Use of Exam Proctoring Software” for more information about exam monitoring/proctoring software.
As a reminder, do not make plans for travel during the final exam period (13 April 2023 until 30 April 2023) until you know when your final exams will be.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic Accommodation is a means of adjusting the academic activities associated with a course or program of study to permit students with disabilities to participate in those activities at the University and to fulfill the essential requirements of a course or program. Academic accommodations take into account the individual’s limitations and what is reasonable in the context of the particular course or program and the essential requirements of the course or program.
Because of the individualized nature of accommodation, students and prospective students are encouraged to meet with a Student Accessibility Services counsellor to obtain information about specific accommodations and services that may be available to them. Students who require exam accommodations should follow the instructions for obtaining such accommodations that are at: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/ssd/
Exam conflicts: If you have a conflict, please contact your Academic Counsellor at your Home Faculty. Only then can arrangements be made for you to write your examination. The date for the makeup examination will be set after the Registrar sets the date for the final examination for this course.
Unable to write or missed a final exam: If you cannot write an examination in the regular period, you may request from the Dean’s Office of your Academic Faculty the privilege of writing a special examination at a later date. This privilege is based on compassionate, medical, or religious grounds with the appropriate supporting documents. The makeup exam will be scheduled after the date/time for the Final Exam has been scheduled.
For more information on the Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests, students should read the
“16.0 FAQ on Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests” at the end of the syllabus.
5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK
A makeup test/exam will be scheduled for all students who miss the scheduled test/exam with appropriate documentation. Students who miss a test/exam without documentation will receive a grade of zero. Because all tests are non-cumulative, missing one test will NOT result in reweighting other academic requirements in the course.
Students who miss a posting for class participation, who do not have appropriate documentation (via Academic Counselling), will NOT receive credit for the posting. The only postings that "count" are those on the course website. I cannot accept emails with postings that you meant to post on the course Forums. If you are having problems posting on the Forums (or using any part of OWL), please contact the WTS Helpdesk. https://owlhelp.uwo.ca/contact_us/index.html
Every year, one or two students will swear that they thought they participated more in class than they did and don’t know why their posts are not there. Unfortunately, I can only give credit for class participation for students that is demonstrated through their posts that are on recorded the course website. It is your responsibility to ensure that your class participation is documented in OWL. If you can see them after you have posted them, then I can see them (they are not hidden from either your view or my view). Having written something that didn't get posted, for whatever reason, is not grounds for appealing a grade of zero for that missing class participation.
It is not possible to make up for missed discussion posts to demonstrate participation in the course after a week has concluded. That includes not being able to complete an “extra assignment” to make up for missed class participations. There are no such “extra assignments” in this course.
Students who do register for the course after it has begun will have their grades prorated according to the date that OWL records you first logging into the course. You will NOT be penalized for starting the course late and not being able to participate in the class discussions.
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines, which are as follows (see: https://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
Note that in the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
Policy on Grade Rounding: Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assessment within the course.
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
Class Participation: 7% of final grade
First Midterm Test (11 February 2023): 31% of final grade
Second Midterm Test (18 March 2023): 31% of final grade
Final Exam (date to be determined): 31% of final grade
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Week 1 – What is a Psychologist?
9 January 2023 – 15 January 2023
Chapter 1 - "Abnormal Psychology in Historical Context"
Chapter 17 - " Mental Health and the Law"
Week 2 – Research in Psychopathology
16 January 2023 – 22 January 2023
Chapter 4 - "Research Methods"
Week 3 – Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
23 January 2023 – 29 January 2023
Chapter 3 - "Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis"
Week 4 – Affective Disorders
30 January 2023 – 5 February 2023
Chapter 8 – “Mood”
Week 5 - Anxiety and Related Disorders
6 February 2023 – 12 February 2023 (first midterm test: 11 February 2023)
Chapter 5 - "Anxiety"
Chapter 6 – “Preoccupation and Obsession”
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders section (pages 172-183) ONLY
Week 6 – Schizophrenia and Dissociative Disorders
13 February 2023 – 19 February 2023
Chapter 7 – “Trauma and Dissociation”
Dissociative Disorders section (pages 198-208) ONLY
Chapter 14 – “Psychosis”
Week 7 – Disorders of Control
27 February 2023 – 5 March 2023
Chapter 12 – “Substance Use and Impulse Control”
Week 8 – Physical Health
6 March 2023 – 12 March 2023
Chapter 6 – “Preoccupation and Obsession”
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders (pages 161-172) ONLY
Chapter 18 – “Stress, Pain, and Health”
Week 9 – Disrupted Daily Living
13 March 2023 – 19 March 2023 (second midterm test: 18 March 2023)
Chapter 9 – “Eating”
Chapter 10 – “Sleeping”
Week 10 – Personality Disorders
20 March 2023 – 26 March 2023
Chapter 13 – “Personality”
Week 11 – Disorders and the Age Spectrum – Childhood
27 March 2023 – 2 April 2023
Chapter 15 – “Neurodevelopment”
Week 12 – Disorders and the Age Spectrum – Old Age
3 April 2023 – 9 April 2023
Chapter 16 – “Aging and Neurocognition”
8.0 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek (Ah-nish-in-a-bek), Haudenosaunee (Ho-den-no-show-nee), Lūnaapéewak (Len-ahpay-wuk), and Chonnonton (Chun-ongk-ton) Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.
With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (e.g., First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation, as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research, and community service.
9.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence are described at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of 1 September 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offences. 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).
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
10.0 POLICY ON THE USE OF EXAM PROCTORING SOFTWARE
If a remote proctoring service is used, the service will require you to provide personal information (including some biometric data). The session will be recorded. In the event that in-person exams are unexpectedly cancelled, you may only be given notice of the use of a proctoring service a short time in advance. More information about remote proctoring is available in the Online Proctoring Guidelines. Please ensure you are familiar with any proctoring service’s technical requirements before the exam. Additional guidance is available at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/onlineproctorguidelines.pdf
* Please note that Zoom servers are located outside Canada. If you would prefer to use only your first name or a nickname to login to Zoom, please provide this information to the instructor in advance of the test or examination. See this link for technical requirements: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us
11.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
https://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to be eligible for Academic Consideration; or
- For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation to be approved for certain accommodation.
https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students seeking academic consideration:
- are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;
- must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hoursafter the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
12.0 Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown: IN-Person & Blended classes
In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence or any other event that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online, as determined by the course instructor.
13.0 STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE
In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:
- please “arrive” to class on time
- please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
- please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
- to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
- In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
- In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
- Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting
The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:
- If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
- Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
- Self-identify when speaking.
- Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).
General considerations of “netiquette”:
- Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
- Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
- Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
- Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.
Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.
14.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf
Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos, and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions: Some or all of the remote learning sessions for this course (if scheduled) may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers (name displayed on the screen). The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.
15.0 FAQ ON CLASS PARTICIPATION
Every year, students have emailed me questions about the Class Participation. To assist students, I have tried to collate many of the common questions here in this Frequently Asked Questions section.
Q: Can I make up previous week’s class participation in Forums?
A: Participation grades are based on when students can start the course. Trying to "make up" on past discussions (including emailing me their posting after the deadline) would be similar to coming to a seminar on Week 3 of a course and wanting to talk about the material from Week 1. It would do nothing to assist your grades if you were to do this.
There is also no possibility of completing an “extra assignment” for missed weeks’ class participation grades. The course does not have “extra assignments”.
Q: Where do I find the readings for the week’s Forum discussions?
A: The textbook readings are listed for the week on the "Syllabus" section of the course. Additional online resources are made available in that week’s Forum topic posts.
Q: How should I conceptualize these discussions?
A: The weekly Forum discussion postings should not be thought of as a "paper". They are not individually graded.
It should be thought of as participating in a class discussion. It is best to think of it as like a seminar. You don't do a paper or two a week for a seminar course. However, when the professor throws out a question for discussion at the seminar, students respond to the question or to one another's responses. Then, to further the discussion, the lecturer will throw out another follow-up question that expands upon or slightly changes the earlier question and responses. Sometimes, when a discussion topic runs down in class, the professor then throws out a different question to touch on another aspect of the topic. In a class seminar, the students should be listening to what the other students in the class say and responding to both the question and one another. Also, as the course continues, the students get more comfortable in the class and the discussions become more complex, more in-depth, and more self-sustaining as the students in the class learn to work with one another.
That is basically the model here with the exceptions being that you type, rather than speak, your responses/contributions and you can “come to class” whenever you want during the week.
Q: Do I have to stick to your question, or can I add another that is relevant to the week. Sometimes I have nothing to add as I agree with everything said so far and I don’t want to only write “I agree”.
A: When you come to class, you can write about anything that is assigned for the week. It would be okay to talk about something else in the readings for that week or something from one of the web sites suggested by the textbook.
Q: Do I have to respond to ALL your questions and comments?
A: No, you only need to make comments that add to the Forum discussions on at least three (3) separate days during a week. (For example, one comment in class on a Tuesday, one comment in class on a Thursday, and one comment in class on a Saturday).
I will start three (3) topics in the week to ensure that discussions keep going. I would NOT expect anyone to comment on them all. You can make all your comments, for example, on the first topic. That would be sufficient, as long as they are all submitted on at least three (3) different days.
Q: Can I post comments two or three times in one day?
A: You can post as often in one day as you would like.
However, your On-Line Class Participation grade is based by demonstrating that you are coming to class by posting on three (3) days during the week of a Forum. If you only post on one (1) day that week, irrespective on how many or how long the comments you post that day, you will only receive one third (1/3) of the credit for class participation that week.
Q: Do I have to comment on three different questions or can I comment on three conversations about one question. Can I comment three times in one conversation about one question? Can I start with my own conversation? Do I have to start my own conversation, or can I just comment in another conversation?
A: Each week is its own Forum, such as Week 1 which is "What is a Psychologist". Within that Forum, there are various questions that I will start throughout the week, such as in "Comparing Two Sites about Ontario Psychology". Within the question part of the Forum, students may start or participate in a variety of conversations.
The placement of your comments does not matter. They can be in the same or different questions. They can be the same or different conversations. You can start your own conversation or comment on another conversation. It does not matter. There are not any secret rules for posting.
There are NO secret or hidden or complicated rules for demonstrating your class participation.
The only rule is that you make comments in these Forums at least three (3) days per week that demonstrate that you have “attended” and fully participated in the class that week.
For example, this student commented on the same Forum on three days that week. Because they added comments on three separate days, they received full marks for the week (3/3). That fact that all three were on the same Forum Topic is irrelevant to the grade they received.
Q: Other courses require that at least one (1) posting be an original comment. Some require at least two (2) comments be original posting. I can’t find that rule in your material. What is the amount that must be an original comment versus a comment on someone else’s post.
A: You can’t find the rule because there is no such rule in this course. Just because someone else requires it in a Psychology course does not mean that all Psychology courses must have that type of rule. As I indicated in the previous Answer:
The placement of your comments does not matter. They can be in the same or different questions. They can be the same or different conversations. You can start your own conversation or comment on another conversation. It does not matter. There are not any secret rules for posting.
There are NO secret or hidden or complicated rules for demonstrating your class participation.
The only rule is that you make comments in these Forums at least three (3) days per week that demonstrate that you have “attended” and fully participated in the class that week.
Q: Other Psychology courses require that there be at least one day between postings. Is that a requirement for this course as well?
A: No such requirement in this course. As long as the comments are made on three (3) different days, than that is sufficient. They can be made on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday if you want. They can be made on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday if you want. They can be made on Monday, Thursday, and Friday if you want. They can be made on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday if you want. (I won’t write them all out as there are 35 possible permutations of 3 of days in a week). Which three (3) days does not matter, as long as it is three (3) different days in the week of the Forum.
Q: Can I add to a previous week's Forum?
A: Previous weeks' Forums will be closed for further posting at the end of the week. I would suggest that you try to keep up with current discussions and not focus on the previous weeks of the course.
Q: I did not register for the course until the second week and the first week’s Forums are closed. How do I respond, or do I lose grades for being late to start the course?
A: While I would encourage you to review the material in the first week’s Forum topics, the Forum cannot be re-opened for just one person and I don’t accept postings by email. Your grade will be prorated according to the date that OWL records you first logging into the course. You will not be penalized for starting the course late.
Q: I thought I posted my response, but it did not show on the course website. Can I just email it to you?
A: Unfortunately, the only postings that "count" are those on the course website. I cannot accept emails with postings that you meant to post on the course Forums. If you are having problems posting on the Forums (or using any part of OWL), please contact the WTS Helpdesk. https://owlhelp.uwo.ca/contact_us/index.html
Every year, one or two students will swear that they thought they participated more in class than they did and don’t know why their posts are not there. Unfortunately, I can only give credit for class participation for students that is demonstrated through their posts that are on recorded the course website. It is your responsibility to ensure that your class participation is documented in OWL. If you can see them after you have posted them, then I can see them (they are not hidden from either your view or my view).
Q: How are each of my individual discussion postings graded?
A: The discussion posts are not individually graded. The grading for your class participation will be when the course is complete - so, it will be one grade at the end of the course. Each specific discussion post is graded as pass/fail if they meet minimum standards for your class participation.
You do not need to check with me to see if the contents of your individual discussion posts are sufficient to demonstrate your participation. Please be assured I will let you know if your posting does not meet standards. I have read tens of thousands discussion posts since starting to teach this course in the 1990s and can only remember less than a dozen times when I had to contact a student about a specific post. So, don't expect to hear anything back on the quality of your class participation unless there is a problem with them.
There is no need to contact me to check on the content of a post if I have not contacted you about it.
Bottom line: If you don't hear anything, there is no problem with the posting on OWL reflecting your class participation.
Q: I know we have a week to participate in class three (3) times by posting our comments on OWL but when exactly does the "week" begin and end? Are the Forums supposed to be from Sunday to Saturday?
A: Typically, Forums open for class participation early in the morning. A "week" is from 12:01 am on that morning until 11:59pm seven (7) days later (please see 7.0 Course Schedule for more details)
All times are in London, Ontario. If you are taking the course in another time zone, you will need to make local adjustments to these times.
Q: Is there any way to make up for missed discussion posts to demonstrate my participation in the class? Could I do an extra assignment?
A: I am sorry, but that is not possible. To keep it fair for all the students in the course, I need to adhere to the rules set in the syllabus for grading. If there are exceptional circumstances, please discuss these with your Academic Counsellor and I will work with the Academic Counsellor to ensure that you are not penalized for such occurrences. There are no “extra assignments” available for this course.
Q: How is my Class Participation graded?
A: It is based on making comments to add into the discussions (for example, a simple "I agree" would be insufficient - would you see it as "participating" in an in-person seminar class?). They are graded on having participated - they are not individually graded for content and style. I will contact you backchannel (via email) if I have any concerns that any specific comment is not sufficient for course purposes (see previous Q/A).
I do not calculate the grades until the end of term. However, you can calculate your own class participation grades.
- If you have participated in class by commenting on three (3) or more separate days in a weekly Forum, you get full class participation credit for that week.
- If you have participated in class by commenting on two (2) separate days in a weekly Forum, you get two-thirds (2/3) of the class participation credit for that week.
- If you have participated in class by commenting on one (1) day in a weekly Forum, you get one-third (1/3) of the class participation credit for that week.
- If you have not demonstrated your participation in the class by not commenting during the Forum that week, you get no credit for that week.
Maximum number of credits would be twelve (12) credits for twelve (12) weeks of fully participating in the weekly class Forums. Since class participation is worth 7% of the final grade, each week’s Forum is worth 0.58% of your final grade. Grades are prorated for documented problems in starting the course in the first (1st) week (e.g., late registration) or prolonged absence documented by your Academic Counsellor or a self-reported absence.
Participating in class on only one (1) day a week, no matter how many comments you make, how much time you spent on them, or how long those comments are, will only count as meeting one-third (1/3) of the class participation requirements for that week.
This is an example of a student who participated three times in one day, on three different Forum Topics. In this example, the student received a 1/3 for the week.
In this example, the student would receive a grade of 2/3, as they added comments on two days that week, even though there were three comments in total for the week.
Bottom line: It is about regularly “coming to the class” (i.e., regularly visiting and posting on the course Forum) at least three (3) days every week and participating.
16.0 FAQ ON MIDTERM TESTS, FINAL EXAMS, AND PRACTICE TESTS
This section of the syllabus is based on frequently asked questions I have gotten over the years about the midterm tests, final exam, and the practice tests.
Q: I don't see anything on the syllabus about the practice tests. How do they affect my grade?
A: The online practice tests are, just as their names suggest, for practice only. You do not need to do them. They are simply there to help you prepare for the tests and final exam. They are written to be in the style and level of detail necessary for the tests and final exam.
Many people do these practice tests, but many don't, and that's OK. However, an analysis we have done on student grades has demonstrated that students who do them, on average, have higher grades on the tests.
Q: I am looking for the practice tests but don’t see them posted.
A: To try and make certain that the questions match the level of detail of the actual tests, we develop the practice tests after developing the actual tests. So, they are often not available until the weekend before the actual test.
Q: Do I need to know names (or dates, numbers, material in the boxes, etc.) for the midterm tests and final exam?
A: Every year, I am asked some variant of this question about the midterm tests and final exam. My response is that I don't answer these questions. Unfortunately, over the many years I have taught this course I have tried to answer such questions and routinely have run into problems. I have tried in different ways and, with each way, I find myself causing problems for myself and, more importantly, for the students.
I think the better question, that really underlies a lot of these questions, is "What level of detail do I need to know to best study for the midterm tests or final exam?".
The best way I have found to answer this question is not to answer directly but, instead, direct people to the practice tests. The questions on those practice tests are similar in the level of detail that you are expected to answer.
Interestingly, when writing questions about a test, the question can look as if you “need to know” something that is simply put in the question that helps the test-taker recall the material but is not “needed” to know. There is a related, interesting issue when writing questions. For those who write test questions, it is referred to as “teaching in the stem”. If you give more information in the stem, some students will benefit from the added direction that the additional information provides. Other students, however, will be slowed because they must read more that they don’t need to answer the question.
For example, I could write a question as:
“Nicholson and Nicholson’s (2015) research on twin pairs with dyslexia has shown that genetic factors make up:”
or I could say:
“Research on twin pairs with dyslexia has shown that genetic factors make up:”
or I could say:
“Genetic factors for dyslexia make up:”
All three of these examples are looking for the exact same information. However, they vary in the amount of additional context that is provided and may make the question easier to answer (although they make it longer to read). In this instance, you don’t need to know Nicholson and Nicholson’s 2015 research study, you only need to know the amount that dyslexia is determined by genetic factors. But, if you do know the Nicholson and Nicholson study, the question might be easier for you. Also, the first version of the question is about three times longer than the last version, so would take three times longer to read. That is one of the challenges in writing multiple-choice questions. The longer the question, the more time it takes to read – but, the longer the question, the more information is there to help you answer the question.
Sorry I can't be more direct in my responses. I realize that it is likely disappointing to those wanting more specific direction.
Q: Do I just need to know the slides for the midterm tests or final exam?
A: The slides that are posted are there to support your learning. They are an extra tool for you to use in organizing the information and support your learning the material in the textbook.
You should NOT consider them to be sufficient for studying. The test questions are based on the material in the textbook, not the slides.
Q: On which test or exam are Chapter 2, Chapter 7 (first half), and Chapter 11?
A: They are not on either of the tests or on the final exam. Due to the length of the course, we can't cover everything from the textbook. When I first started teaching this course, I tried to work in all of the chapters in the textbook, but it became more disjointed and difficult for students. I have narrowed the course down over the years and, this year, those chapters are not included.
Q: I can’t see Chapter 5 on the first midterm test. But we are studying Chapter 5 the week of the midterm so, it must be on the first midterm test, right. There must be an error on the syllabus, right? (or substitute Chapters 9 and 10 and the second midterm in these questions).
A: The syllabus is correct. Chapter 5 is on the second midterm test, not the first midterm test. Chapters 9 and 10 are on the final exam, not the second midterm test.
The reason is that students are still studying Chapter 5 at the time of the first midterm (and, later Chapters 9 and 10 at the time of the second midterm). Many students in the course, since it is Distance Learning course, are working full time and spend much of the weekend working on the course. It would be unfair to test someone on a Chapter in the textbook when many students have not had time to review it yet because we are still working on it in class. I only cover material on the tests that we have finished reviewing. Thus, even though we are in the middle of working on a Chapter when the test occurs, that Chapter will be on the next test, not this one.
Q: The practice questions seem easier than the real questions on the midterm tests and exams. There were questions on the midterm tests/final exam that were not reflected in the practice content. Is that fair?
A: Believe it or not, this is common across almost all tests and exams. Even when practice questions are based on unused test questions (so are expected to the same as the actual questions) or if they are old questions from earlier tests, they will often *appear* easier. There is something about taking the practice questions that is less pressure and, apparently, causes the questions to appear easier. Also, while the practice questions were chosen to give students an idea of the depth of knowledge required, they can’t cover all of the content the questions on the midterm tests and final exam will cover (if that were the case, we would just be assessing your ability to memorize practice questions). I promise, the practice questions are chosen to be similar in breadth and depth of knowledge required as the actual midterm tests and the final examination.
Q: I am not doing as well on the tests as I normally do on tests and don’t think they reflect the work I am capable of doing. Can I do an extra assignment to better demonstrate what I am capable of and raise my grade?
A: I am sorry, but that is not possible. To keep it fair for all the students in the course, I need to adhere to the rules set in the syllabus for grading. If there are exceptional circumstances, please discuss these with your Academic Counsellor and I will work with the Academic Counsellor to ensure that you are not penalized for such occurrences. There are no “extra assignments” available for this course.
