Psychology 2030A-001
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.
- 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
Email: inichols@uwo.ca (Dr. Nicholson checks this e-mail every evening, not during the day)
Teaching Assistant: to be determined
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
Time and Location of Classes: Mondays, 7pm-10pm SSC 2050
Delivery Method: In-person
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 wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 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.
The etext is available for purchase at: https://bookstore.uwo.ca/textbook-search?campus=UWO&term=N2021&courses%5B0%5D=650_UW/PSY2030A
The hardcopy, paper version of the textbook does not include Chapter 18.
If you have difficulty locating Chapter 18 online, here is some additional advice from the test publisher:
Chapter 18 can be found online, on the student companion site here:
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 tests/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 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.
|
|
|
|
Knowledge of Methodologies.
|
|
|
|
Application of Knowledge.
|
|
|
|
Awareness of Limits of Knowledge.
|
|
|
Lectures are intended to complement the material in the textbook, not duplicate it, often to expand on material in the textbook. Thus, I will present some material that is not in the book and will be tested on the exams. Class attendance will significantly increase how much you get out of this course. I will try to post the lecture slides prior to each lecture to allow you to organize your notes. I do not have formal “lecture notes” that will be shared with students.
Please put your phones in “silent mode” or “airplane mode” when you arrive to class. Devoting class time to non-academic activities such as watching videos or listening to music is disruptive and creates a negative impression of the students engaging in such activities. On a practical level, students often think they can “multitask” by attempting to engage in more than one activity at once (e.g., listening to a lecture and watching videos on their laptop). However, psychology research has repeatedly demonstrated that what happens is that you don’t pay attention to streams of information at once but, instead, are switching your attention between tasks. This strategy usually means that overall attention is lower as it takes the brain time to refocus attention.
5.0 EVALUATION
Class Participation (7% of final grade)
For this course to work, students must come to class.
Each class period (starting in week 2 but excluding weeks 5 and 9 – see schedule below), I will take attendance using the required MindTap App at a random point during the lecture.
The app uses geo-location technology so, unless you are a very good hacker, you must be present in class to receive credit for that day. I will also post poll and quiz questions that will count toward your participation mark for a given day.
To receive credit for a day, you must respond to the attendance form and at least two (2) of the additional items. These additional items you will also answer/respond to using MindTap.
There are a total of nine (9) weeks in which I will take attendance. To receive 100% of the attendance mark, you must attend/participate during at least eight (8) of these class periods (updated in the OWL Gradebook every 2-3 weeks).
This means that if you forget your connected device or miss class once or twice, you do not need to worry. Because you may skip the participation component of the class occasionally without penalty and because each missed class is worth less than 1% of the total grade, I will not accept any accommodations or excuses for absences.
First Midterm Test (31% of final grade) – 4 October 2021
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, 8, and 17 and the lectures (including videos) from September 13, September 20, and September 27. The exam will be two (2) hours long.
Unable to write a midterm test: Students who are unable to write a scheduled midterm test must inform their instructor and provide proper documentation to their academic counsellor.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic Accommodation is a means of adjusting the academic activities associated with a course or program of study in order 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 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
“15.0 FAQ on Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests” at the end of the syllabus.
Second Midterm Test (31% of final grade) – 15 November 2021
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), 14, and 18 and the lectures (including videos) from October 18, October 25, and November 8. Students are NOT responsible on this exam for material from earlier in the course (i.e., material covered in the earlier midterm test). The exam will be two (2) hours long.
Unable to write a midterm test: Students who are unable to write a scheduled midterm test must inform their instructor and provide proper documentation to their academic counsellor.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic Accommodation is a means of adjusting the academic activities associated with a course or program of study in order 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 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
“15.0 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, 15, and 16 and the lectures (including videos) from November 22, November 29, and December 6. 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 two (2) hours long.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic Accommodation is a means of adjusting the academic activities associated with a course or program of study in order 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.
For more information on the Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests, students should read the
“15.0 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 mark of zero.
Because you may skip the class participation component of the class occasionally without penalty and because each missed class is worth less than 1% of the total grade, I will not accept any accommodations or excuses for absences.
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: 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
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 (e.g., marks of 84 and 89 will NOT be bumped up to 85 and 90). 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 (4 October 2021): 31% of final grade
Second Midterm Test (15 November 2021): 31% of final grade
Final Exam (date to be determined): 31% of final grade
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Week 1 – What is a Psychologist
13 September 2021
Chapter 1 - "Abnormal Psychology in Historical Context"
Chapter 17 - " Mental Health and the Law"
Week 2 – Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
20 September 2021
Chapter 3 - "Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis"
Week 3 – Affective Disorders
27 September 2021
Chapter 8 – “Mood”
Week 4 – First Midterm Test (31%)
4 October 2021
Thanksgiving – no class
11 October 2021
Week 5 - Anxiety and Related Disorders
18 October 2021
Chapter 5 - "Anxiety"
Chapter 6 – “Preoccupation and Obsession”
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders section (pages 172-183 ONLY)
Week 6 – Schizophrenia and Dissociative Disorders
25 October 2021
Chapter 7 – “Trauma and Dissociation”
Dissociative Disorders section (pages 198-209 ONLY)
Chapter 14 – “Psychosis”
Fall Reading Week – no class
1 November 2021
Week 7 – Behavioural Medicine
8 November 2021
Chapter 6 – “Preoccupation and Obsession”
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders section (pages 161-172 ONLY)
Chapter 18 – “Stress, Pain, and Health”
Week 8 – Second Midterm Test (31%)
15 November 2021
Week 9 – Disorders of Control
22 November 2021
Chapter 9 – “Eating”
Chapter 12 – “Substance Use and Impulse Control”
Week 10 – Disorders and the Age Spectrum – Childhood
29 November 2021
Chapter 15 – “Neurodevelopment”
Week 11 – Disorders and the Age Spectrum – Old Age
6 December 2021
Chapter 16 – “Aging and Neurocognition”
8.0 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples, 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: 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 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
When examinations and tests cannot be given in person (e.g., in courses coded as Distance Studies; in the event of a lockdown order), they may be conducted using either a monitoring platform such as Zoom or a remote proctoring service, such as Proctorio. If Zoom is used for exam invigilation, you will be required to keep your camera on for the entire session, hold up your student card for identification purposes, and share your screen with the invigilator if asked to do so at any time during the exam. The exam session using Zoom will not be recorded. *
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. The instructor will alert you to the use of this software as close as possible to the start of the term, however, in the event that in-person exams are unexpectedly canceled, 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:
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
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) 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 to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline to be valid. It 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
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: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: 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
- 2021-2022 Calendar References
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 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 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.
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 a combination of the slides from the lectures as well as slides supplied by the textbook publisher. 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 and lectures, not the slides.
Q: On which test or exam are Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 7 (first half), Chapter 10, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13?
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 term, those chapters are not included.
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.
