Psychology 2035B-650 (Online)
Understanding Yourself and Others
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
This course examines ways in which recent research findings in psychology may be applied in the individual's life. Emphasis on psychology as an empirical science and on avenues of self- understanding and personal growth. Topics include: personality, stress and coping, person perception, interpersonal communication, friendship and love, sexuality, vocational development.
ANTIREQUISITE: Psychology 2050
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.
0.5 course
1.1 STUDENT TIME AND TECHNOLOGY EXPECTATIONS
This is a fully online course that will use Western University’s learning platform, OWL (Sakai) and other educational resources based on the needs of the course. This class is designed to be asynchronous, meaning we will not have a regular, mandatory time when the entire class must be online. However, you do need to make sure that you complete quizzes and discussion forum posts on the days noted in Section 6.0 and 7.0. Office hour appointments with the professors or T.A. will be conducted synchronously via Zoom.
To succeed in this course, it is very important to consistently stay up-to-date and current with your modules. You should plan on spending between 8 and 10 hours each week on this course. The bulk of your weekly workload will consist of reading the textbook and the posted online lecture content in each module. However, you should also be devoting time to participating in discussion activities when they arise.
This course will require the following technological capabilities throughout the term:
· Stable high-speed internet connection
· Microphone
· A quiet space to take part in synchronous meetings if needed
· Webcam is optional but strongly recommended
Virtual office hour appointments will be accessible via Zoom, a videoconferencing application that is supported by Western. Each student is expected to download the Zoom application onto their computers or phones (download from this web site: https://wts.uwo.ca/zoom/getting_started.html). For security and privacy reasons, students are required to access zoom videoconferencing sessions via their UWO logins (login access from this web site: https://westernuniversity.zoom.us/).
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Co-Instructor: Matthew Maxwell-Smith
Office: SSC 7440
Office Hours: By appointment only. Email: mmaxwel3@uwo.ca
Co-Instructor: Graeme Haynes
Office: SSC 7440
Office Hours: Fridays 9:30 – 11:30 A.M., by appointment via Zoom
Email: ghaynes@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Vanessa Sinclair
Office: SSC 7316
Office Hours: By appointment only. Email: vsincla2@uwo.ca
*Before e-mailing your professors or T.A., please read the list of Frequently Asked Questions (posted on OWL) to see if the answer to your question is there.*
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
Weiten, Dunn, & Hammer (2018)
Psychology applied to modern life (12th ed.)
Boston, MA: Cengage.
Be sure to purchase the 12th edition. You are NOT responsible for purchasing anything from the website.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course examines ways in which recent research findings in psychology may be applied in the individual's life. Emphasis on psychology as an empirical science and on avenues of self- understanding and personal growth. Topics include: personality, stress and coping, person perception, interpersonal communication, friendship and love, sexuality, vocational development.4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning Outcome Learning Activity Assessment
Depth and Breadth of Knowledge
~ identify major concepts and
theories (including examples) Assigned readings and supplementary slideshows Quizzes
5.0 EVALUATION
Student evaluation will be based on six quizzes and quality of participation in discussions.
Component % of final mark
Quizzes (6 x 15% each) 90%
Online Discussions 10%
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% 2100-2990 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
5.1 Quizzes:
Instead of midterms and final exams, there will be six quizzes during the semester. For the quizzes, you are responsible for material assigned in the textbook, as well as material covered in supplementary online lectures. Each quiz is non-cumulative in content.
Given the current pandemic situation, all quizzes will be written online. The quizzes will not be proctored, but it is expected that all students will complete them independently with no communication between classmates. Although you will have open access to your notes and the textbook, I advise you to study ahead of time to ensure you will be able to adequately answer all questions within the time allotted.
For each of the six quizzes, you will be given a 24-hour period of time within which to take the quiz. Each quiz will consist of 30 multiple choice and/or true/false questions, and you will have 35 minutes to complete the quiz from start to finish (plus additional time for students who have documented accommodations which allow for extra time). Your answers will be automatically submitted if the time has elapsed. Quizzes cannot be paused once started, or retaken for any reason. Each quiz is worth 15% of your final grade; quizzes will not be dropped from the course evaluation or reweighed under any circumstances. Students should test their internet connection before starting a quiz and use minimal bandwidth (i.e., have no other programs open) during their quiz.
You will access each quiz and submit your answers through the Tests and Quizzes tab on our OWL site. See Section 6 below for a list of the dates when each quiz will be held, and Section 7 for a list of topics that will be covered in each quiz.
Grades will be posted to the course web site as soon as possible after each quiz.
Missing a quiz
If you miss a quiz, you must either obtain documentation from an academic counsellor that supports your reason for accommodation, or, if you have any available, you may use a self-reported absence (SRA). Otherwise, you will automatically receive a zero for that missed quiz. If you are granted an accommodation, or use an SRA, notify Dr. Graeme Haynes within 24 hours of the end of the period covered by the accommodation or SRA to be placed on the makeup quiz list.
You will automatically be assigned to take the quiz you missed on the next Friday that a subsequent quiz is made available, and complete both (or more) quizzes on that day. Forgetting, unstable internet connections, or having multiple course commitments in the current week cannot be accepted as reasons for missing a quiz (see section 1.1).
If you write with Accessible Education and Accommodated Exams, please e-mail Dr. Graeme Haynes as soon as you can, or well before our first quiz is administered. To retain your privacy, you do NOT need to tell me the nature of your accommodation. However, you do need to let me know how your quizzes are administered (e.g., how much extra time you receive per hour) so I can ensure these protocols are implemented.
5.2 Discussions:
On the third week of class, students will be randomly assigned to a discussion group to participate in a total of two required online discussions on the course OWL site. Both discussions are worth 5% of the course grade each, 10% in total. A forum will become open on the day that its associated textbook chapter is introduced. The opening and closing date for each forum is listed in the Lecture Schedule (see section 7.0 of this course outline). You would need to contact your Academic Counsellor if you miss one or more posting and you are requesting academic accommodation for the missed posting(s) (see Section 9.0 of this course outline).
Students are required to post one original response and two replies to other students in their discussion group for each discussion. Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to respond to other students’ responses to your post. Receiving a good mark will require creative, insightful posts that show accurate knowledge of the course material, elaborate on information posted earlier in the discussion, and involve a meaningful dialogue with classmates.
Your forum post will be marked according to the following guidelines:
60% or less: inadequate post. Aspects of an inadequate post include: restating the question in your own words but not providing a clear answer to the question; posting information that is off-topic, incorrect, or irrelevant to the discussion; or providing no references or supporting experience.
61-70%: adequate post with superficial thought and preparation. Shallow contribution to the discussion (e.g., agrees or disagrees). The post does not enrich discussion; that is, it repeats but does not add substantive information to the discussion. There is use of personal experience, but no references to readings or to research.
71-80%: the post is factually correct but lacks full development of concept or thought. It elaborates on the question or on an existing post with further comment or observation. There is incorporation of some references from literature and from personal experience. The post contributes valuable information to discussion, with minor clarity errors.
81% or more: posts consistently demonstrate analysis of the question or of others’ posts. Information is factually correct. There is reflective and substantive contribution which advances meaningful discussion with clear and concise comments. References to literature, readings, and personal experience support comments.
More information about the content of each discussion will become open on the day that its associated textbook chapter is introduced.
Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that your discussion contributions are posted properly, on time, and in your assigned discussion group. Having written something that didn't get posted, for whatever reason, is not grounds for appealing a grade of zero for that discussion. Students cannot receive marks for posting outside of their own discussion group.
Please note: participation is a key element in this course, and some of the topics covered involve sensitive issues. Therefore, it is important that we foster and maintain an atmosphere of respect and civility. All class members have a role in creating this atmosphere by responding to comments with interest, and allowing all students to participate. When a student’s behaviour is not consistent with the above, one of the instructors will contact the student privately. Penalties may be applied to excessively rude or insensitive posts. If a student’s behaviour continues to be disrespectful, s/he will be removed from the discussion.
5.3 Bonus:
There will be opportunities to earn up to 2 extra percentage marks to count toward your overall course grade. The extra credit marks may be earned by participating in SONA research studies by researchers from the Department of Psychology at Western. Most of these studies are completed online, but some are being conducted in person.
Because this course emphasizes the importance of psychological research, you would all benefit from participating in research studies. You may be able to see some of the principles that we discuss in class applied in research studies.
You may participate in any studies being conducted by researchers of Western’s Psychology Department. These are the same studies that first year students participate in as part of Psychology 1000. In order to participate you will be given an account for the Psychology Research Participation Pool that you can access via the SONA sign up system, and you may choose from any studies that you wish.
As a participant in the subject pool, you earn a certain number of credits for each study (i.e., studies may give each participant 0.5 credits, 1.0 credits, etc.). For our course, you will receive marks added to your overall course grade for each study in which you participate, to a maximum of 4.0 SONA credits / 2 percentage marks. 1.0 SONA credit will equal 0.5 percentage points. For example, if you earn a total of 75% for the quizzes and discussion forums, and also earn 2.0 SONA credits from participating in research studies, your final course grade will be 76%. The SONA system will track the studies and I will be given the information at the end of the term in order to adjust your grade. In order to receive these extra credits, you must obtain a minimum average grade of 50% on the quizzes and discussion forums.
The opportunity to earn bonus marks ends the last day of classes (Monday April 12).
To ensure fairness, please be aware that final grades in this course are based exclusively on students’ performance on the six quizzes, two discussion forums, and choosing to participate in the bonus option noted above. None of these components may be rewritten, nor will they be reweighted in calculating final grades. Grades will not be adjusted on the basis of need or a subjective evaluation of effort, and students will not be able to improve their marks by completing additional assignments.
Note: The psychology department has mandated that grades ending in 9 will not be rounded up this semester. This means that if you achieve a final grade of say, 79.3, your final grade will be 79, not 80, and the same goes for any other grade ending in 9.
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
Date % of final grade Material covered
Quiz 1 Fri. Jan. 22* 15% Weeks 1-2
Quiz 2 Fri. Feb. 5* 15% Weeks 3-4
Quiz 3 Fri. Feb. 26* 15% Weeks 5-6
Quiz 4 Fri. Mar. 12* 15% Weeks 7-8
Quiz 5 Fri. Mar. 26* 15% Weeks 9-10
Quiz 6 Fri. Apr. 9* 15% Weeks 11-12
*quiz available for a 24-hour period beginning at 12:00 AM Eastern Time, ending at 11:55 P.M. Eastern Time.
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
In this course we examine how psychology research findings may be applied in the individual's everyday life. Implicit in this purpose is using research insights to help students better understand themselves, and how to live happier, healthier lives. Thus, our topics are organized around the central theme of psychological adjustment.
Week Date Topic(s) to be covered Reading (s)
Part 1: The nature of Psychological Adjustment
1 Jan 11 Introduction Ch 1
2 Jan 18 Stress and Its Effects Ch 3
Jan 22 Quiz #1
3 Jan 25 Psychology and Physical Health Assignment to Discussion Groups Ch 5
4 Feb 1 Psychological Disorders Ch 14
Feb 5 Quiz #2
Part 2: Understanding the Self and the Predictors of Psychological Adjustment
5 Feb 8 Theories Of Personality Ch 2
The Self Ch 6
Discussion 1 due Feb 12 6:00pm EST
Feb 15-19 Reading Week
6 Feb 22 Social Thinking and Social Influence Ch 7
Feb 26 Quiz #3 Ch 7
7 March 1 Gender and Behaviour Ch 11
8 March 8 Careers and Work Ch 13
March 12 Quiz #4
Part 3: Ameliorating Stress and Improving Psychological Adjustment
9 March 15 Coping Processes Ch 4
Discussion 2 March 21 11:55pm EST Ch 4
10 March 22 Friendship and Love Ch 9
Marriage and Intimate Relationships Ch 10
March 26 Quiz #5
11 March 29 Development and Expression of Sexuality Ch 12
Interpersonal Communication Ch 8 (pp. 221-244)
12 April 5 Positive Psychology Ch 16 (pp. 456-475)
April 9 Quiz #6
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.
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
The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf
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
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:
- Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
- 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
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
- 2020-2021 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.
