Psychology 1000-650
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.
Welcome to Psychology 1000! I have tried to make this online course every bit as successful as my on-campus course. Below you will find a course description, evaluation summary, lecture outline, and some study tips. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the outline right now. I look forward to talking to you in the lecture sections of Psych 1000 Distance Studies and wish you all the best for a great course!
Dr. Mike Atkinson
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, 1200
3 lecture hours
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.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Terry Biggs
Office: SSC 7440
e-mail: tbiggs@uwo.ca
NOTE: please use this email address to contact me—do not use the mailer in OWL itself.
Office Hours: By Appointment
Course Designer: Dr. Mike Atkinson
Room 6316, SSC
Tel: 661-2111, ext. 84644
e-mail: atkinson@uwo.ca
NOTE: please use this email address to contact me—do not use the mailer in OWL itself.
IMPORTANT:
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
Required Text: Passer, M.W., Smith, R.E., Atkinson, M.L., Mitchell, J.B., & Muir, D.W. (2014). Psychology: Frontiers and Applications. Fifth Canadian Edition. Toronto: McGraw Hill Ryerson.
Note: this text comes shrink-wrapped with a passkey for CONNECT and a copy of Ask Dr. Mike. BOTH OF THESE ARE REQUIRED.
Also, it is important to purchase the 5th edition—it has content that is not available in earlier editions.
Recommended: Fleet, J., Goodchild, F., & Zajchowski, R. (2006). Learning for success: Effective strategies for students (4th edition). Toronto: Thompson.
Recommended: Ellis, Toft & Dawson (2012). Becoming a Master Student. Nelson
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, neural functioning, sensory mechanisms, etc.
Each chapter in the text covers a major interest area in psychology. Following each chapter, students will be able to identify the major concepts and terminology for that topic area. In addition, when presented with a hypothetical problem or case, students will be able to assess and evaluate the problem and choose the best solution.
Psych 1000 Web Site
The main course website is located at http://owl.uwo.ca
Here you will find class information, study suggestions, links to other resources, etc. Please check it often.
Questions
Asking questions during lecture is an extremely important part of learning. I strongly encourage you to ask a question whenever you require clarification on an issue, or have an observation to make yourself. Please feel to email your questions to me (tbiggs@uwo.ca), or start a discussion on the forums CHAT section.
5.0 EVALUATION
There will TWO tests during the course. Term test 1 will consist of 100 multiple choice questions (Chapters 1 – 8 plus the Appendix ) and is worth 35%. Questions will be based on both the text and the online lecture material. The final exam (also worth 35%) covers Chapters 9 - 17 and will consist of 100 questions from both the text and online lecture material.
Note: All exams will consist of Multiple Choice questions.
In addition to the exams, there is a research requirement that involves reading & reviewing an original research paper in psychology. You must review one paper during the course. A link to the papers and instructions are posted on the website. You should write NO MORE than the maximum of 4 pages (i.e. 1000 words). You should use APA format in this review. Useful resources for this may be found at the following web site: http://www.psywww.com/resource/apacrib.htm
This review is worth 15%
There is also an online discussion requirement. You will be assigned to a group of about 25 students and twice during the course you must go online and generate both questions and answers about specific issues based on the Ask Dr. Mike book. There will be one required online discussion during the first half of the course, and one during the second. Each discussion is worth 5%. Specific dates for the discussion and the marking scheme will be posted on the Owl site.
Finally, you must complete the chapter quizzes on the CONNECT site. Each quiz will be open for a specific amount of time and may be attempted as many times as you like. Your highest grade will be counted. Overall the quizzes are worth 5%.
EVALUATION SUMMARY:
Term test 1: 35%, Final exam: 35%, Online Discussions: 10%, Research Review: 15%, CONNECT quizzes: 5%
Total 100%
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 the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/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
The first test (Midterm) will be during the December Examination period and the date will be set by the registrar. As soon as this date is finalized it will be posted in the Announcements section of the web site.
The Final Exam will be during the April exam period and the date will be set by the registrar. As soon as this date is finalized it will be posted in the Announcements section of the web site.
Research Review Paper: due Mar 24, 11:55 pm
Online Discussion 1: due Dec 9, 11:55 pm
Online Discussion 2: due April 5, 11:55 pm
Connect Quizzes Chapters 1 through 8: due Dec 9, 11:55 pm
Connect Quizzes Chapters 9 through 17: due April 5, 11:55 pm
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Topics will be covered in the following order. Approximate Reading dates are given so that you can keep up with the readings. Ideally, you should do the required readings before the topic is covered in the online lecture. Lectures are intended to highlight certain areas of each topic -- there is not enough time available to us to cover all the material. However, you are responsible for all the material in the text as well as that in the lectures. Please note that there is a fairly heavy reading load in this course (e.g., you will complete 8 chapters in the first semester). Thus, it is important for you to keep up with the readings.
Readings Schedule: The schedule below indicates the approximate times that you should have begun and completed the assigned readings.
Topic Chapter Recommended date for Readings
Introduction 1 & 2 + Appendix Sept10 - 19
& Methodology
Biological Foundations 3 Sept 20 – Oct 3
Genes & Behaviour 4 Oct 4 – 17
Sensation & Perception 5 Oct 18 - 31
Consciousness 6 Nov 1 - 14
Learning 7 Nov 15 - 28
Memory 8 Nov 20 – Dec 9
Online Discussion 1 and Connect Quizzes chapters 1 through 8: due Dec 9
Mid-term TEST (35%) 1 - 8 , + Appendix - Xmas exam period Dec 11- 22
Language & Thought 9 Jan 3 - 13
Intelligence 10 Jan 14 - 24
Motivation & Emotion 11 Jan 25 – Feb 3
Development 12 Feb 4 - 14
Social Psychology 13 Feb 15 - 24
Stress 15 Feb 25 – Mar 5
Personality 14 Mar 6 - 15
Disorders 16 Mar 16 - 25
RESEARCH REVIEW PAPER: due Mar24 11:55 pm
Treatment 17 Mar 26 – April 6
Online Discussion 2 & Connect Quizzes chaps 9 through 17: due April 5, 11:55 pm
Final Exam (35%) 9 - 17 April Exam period 9 – 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
The University of Western Ontario’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2015/pg117.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
- 2015 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.
LEARNING INFORMATION EFFICIENTLY
1. You will be expected to know the assigned chapters VERY WELL!
Many of the multiple-choice questions in this course are based on material from the chapters that is not explicitly covered in lecture. To be able to answer these questions correctly you will need to know and understand each of the concepts and processes described in the assigned chapters. This a major learning task and many students run into difficulties because they do not know how to handle this learning task efficiently.
2. Just reading the assigned chapters is NOT enough!
For most people the process of reading something, or even re-reading it, does not mean that they remember it. This is especially true for "heavy" course content such as that found in the psychology text. If you wish to learn the material from the text efficiently, you will need to approach it in a different manner.
3. Learn the text chapters using ACTIVE reading/learning strategies.
Strategies recommended for efficient learning of text material can be divided into three types: pre-reading, reading for comprehension, and post-reading.
a. Pre-reading. Learn the headings and subheadings.
Instead of diving immediately into reading the chapter, spend a few minutes learning the headings and subheadings. The headings and subheadings tell you the important ideas that will be covered in the chapter. In the text they are laid out for you on the first few pages of the book in the table of contents. Look at these headings and subheadings, think how they have been ordered, try reciting them from memory, and then write them out on a separate sheet of paper.
b. Reading for comprehension. Read a few pages and THEN summarize.
Don't try to read most of the chapter in one sitting. It is much easier to learn the material in small chunks. Read a few pages carefully and THEN make a summary of the important points. Continue doing this until you have summarized about 10 pages - then take a break. You can summarize by highlighting sparingly AND making marginal notes, or by making separate written notes.
Note that much of the information in psychology comes in the form of arguments. Here are some the important kinds of information that are crucial to knowing and understanding an argument: i) definitions of new terms, ii) essential explanations of the specific argument, iii) examples, iv) results of studies.
If you make separate summary notes, try using point form and keywords. This has 2 advantages: the notes are made more quickly and they are easier to read. As you record key terms and definitions ALWAYS relate them to the arguments of which they are a part.
c. Post-reading. Test yourself.
After actively reading 10 or more pages in the manner described above, try reciting (i.e., recalling from memory) all the important points under each heading and subheading that you have studied. This will reinforce the ideas you know and identify those that you need to review. Doing the study guide questions and relevant old exam questions after you have finished the entire chapter can also be very helpful.
4.For more information regarding learning strategies:
Read relevant sections of the self-help book, Learning for Success: Effective Strategies for Students, written for students by Western's Learning Skills Counsellors. It is also available from D.B. Weldon Library or the University Bookstore.)
Chapter 4 presents many useful ideas on ways to select and remember important information and chapter 6 of this book looks at a variety of strategies for learning from textbooks. Other chapters in the book deal with important learning issues such as preparing for and writing exams, time management, learning from lectures, etc...
Students interested in exploring time management issues in more depth can examine the self-help book Power Over Time: Student Success with Time Management also written by Western's Learning Skills Counsellors. It too is available from D.B. Weldon Library or the University Bookstore.
Use the Learning Skills Services at the Student Development Centre in Room 210 UCC. A range of services are offered to help you improve your general learning skills including workshops on textbook reading, multiple- choice strategies for Psychology 1000, and individual counselling.
