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.

4 lecture hours, 1.0 course

2.0    COURSE INFORMATION

            Instructor: Dr. Laura Fazakas-deHoog                            

           

            Office and Phone Number: SSC 7302      519-317-7025  

            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

            Jeffrey Reid                                                                  jreid256@uwo.ca

            Zhou Li                                                                                     zli2455@uwo.ca

            

            Winter only

            Ashwin Harimohan                                             aharimoh@uwo.ca

 

            Both Fall and Winter

            Katie Benitah                                                                 kbenitah@uwo.ca

            Malvika D’Costa                                                            mdcosta4@uwo.ca

            Joseph Nidel                                                                 jnidel@uwo.ca

                                                                         

            Office & Office Hours: To Be posted on OWL               

                                               

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

Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western

http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ 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 wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.

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.  

PART 1 due Friday November 15, 2019

PART 2 due Friday February 07, 2020 _________________________________________________________________________________

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  ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE

OCTOBER EXAM                Saturday October 26, 2018 from 9-11 a.m.

 

DECEMBER EXAM             During December examination period - TBA (December 8-19, 2019)

 

MARCH EXAM                    Saturday March 07, 2019 from 3-5 p.m.

 

FINAL EXAM                       During the final examination period in April - TBA (April 6-26, 2020)

 

7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

LECTURE                                 CHAPTER                     TOPIC                              

 

Mon. Sept. 09                          1                                  Introduction

Wed. Sept. 11                           1                                  History of Psychology

Mon. Sept. 16                           2/Appendix                   Methodology/Data Analysis/Statistics

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

Mon. Sept. 23                           3                                  Brain/Nervous System/Neurophysiology

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

Mon. Sept. 30                           3                                  Brain/Nervous System/Neurophysiology

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

Mon. Oct. 07                             4                                  Genetics & Evolution

Wed. Oct. 09                             4                                  Genetics & Evolution

 

Mon. Oct. 14                             No Class                      Thanksgiving              

 

Wed. Oct. 16                            5                                  Sensation/Perception

Mon. Oct. 21                             5                                  Sensation/Perception   

Wed. Oct. 23                             5                                  Sensation/Perception   

 

SATURDAY  OCTOBER 26                                            OCTOBER EXAM         

                                   

Mon. Oct. 28                             5                                  Sensation/Perception   

Wed. Oct. 30                             6                                  Consciousness

 

Mon. Nov. 04 - Fri. Nov. 08       No Classes                   Reading Week

 

Mon. Nov. 11                            6                                  Consciousness

Wed. Nov. 07                            6                                  Consciousness

Mon. Nov. 12                            7                                  Learning           

Wed. Nov. 14                            7                                  Learning

Mon. Nov. 19                            8                                  Memory

Wed. Nov. 21                            8                                  Memory

Mon. Nov. 26                            8                                  Memory

Wed. Nov. 28                            8                                  Memory

Mon. Dec. 03                            -                                   Study/Review

Wed. Dec. 05                            -                                   Study/Review

TBA December 8-19, 2019                                       DECEMBER EXAM      

 

Mon. Jan. 07                             9                                 Language & Thinking    

Wed. Jan. 09                             9                                 Language & Thinking

Mon. Jan. 14                             10                                Intelligence

Wed. Jan. 16                             10                                Intelligence

Mon. Jan. 21                               11                              Motivation & Emotion   

Wed. Jan. 23                             11                                Motivation & Emotion

Mon. Jan. 28                             12                                 Development (Prenatal/child Development)

Wed. Jan. 30                             12                                 Development (Prenatal/child Development)

Mon. Feb. 04                           12                                 Development (Adolesecence/Adulthood)

Wed. Feb. 06                            12                                 Development (Adolesecence/Adulthood)

Mon. Feb. 11                           13                                 Behavior in a Social Context

Wed. Feb. 13                            13                                 Behavior in a Social Context

 

Feb. 18 - Feb. 22                       -                                   NO CLASSES (SPRING READING WEEK)

 

Mon. Feb. 25                            13                                 Behavior in a Social Context

Wed. Feb. 27                            13                                 Behavior in a Social Context
Mon. Mar. 04                             14                                 Personality

Wed. Mar. 06                            14                                 Personality

SATURDAY MARCH 09                                     MARCH EXAM     

 

Mon. Mar. 11                             16                                 Psychological Disorders

Wed. Mar. 13                            16                                 Psychological Disorders

Mon. Mar. 18                             16                                 Psychological Disorders

Wed. Mar. 20                            17                                 Psychological Treatment

Mon. Mar. 25                             17                                 Psychological Treatment

Wed. Mar. 27                            15                                 Stress Health Coping

Mon. Apr. 01                             15                                 Stress Health Coping

Wed. Apr. 03                             -                                  Study/Review

Mon. Apr. 08                             -                                  Study/Review

                                                                                                                                                         

FINAL EXAM    (Date TBA April 6-26, 2020)

 

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

Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.


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

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:

  1. Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
  2. For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;

For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order 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 in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html

 

Students seeking academic consideration:

  • are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;  
  • are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;

must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence

9.0    POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS

Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12

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
- 2019-2020 Calendar References

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

Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, 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 lecture notes, wiki material, and other course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.