Psychology 2035A-650

Understanding Yourself & Others

If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.

 

WESTERN UNIVERSITY

LONDON CANADA

Department of Psychology

2021 - 2022

 

Psychology 2035A – Section 650

Understanding Yourself & Others

 

  • 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, and vocational development.

 

Eligibility to Enroll:

  • Prerequisites: Not Applicable
  • Anti-requisites*: Psychology 2050

*Anti-requisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. If you take a course that is an anti-requisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.

 

Lecture Hours: 3

Course Weight: 0.5 Credits

 

2.0   COURSE INFORMATION

 

Instructor: Sarah Babcock

Email: sbabcoc5@uwo.ca

Office Hours: TBD

Teaching Assistant: TBD

Email: TBD

Office Hours: TBD

 

 

Time and Location of Classes: Asynchronous

Delivery Method: Virtual.

This course is delivered online. To access material and complete activities, you will need access to:

  • The course MindTap website: TBD
  • The course OWL page: TBD

Given the online nature of this course, regular & reliable access to the internet, as well as purchasing the online textbook are required to be successful in this course. Additional textbook details can be found in Section 3.0. Instructions for how to access & sign up for MindTap will be provided in OWL.

 

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.

               

2.1 INSTRUCTOR COMMUNICATION APPROACH & POLICIES:  

My approach as an instructor is to have open, professional communication with students; I encourage you to ask questions and to reach out if you are unsure of expectations or how to complete a task.

  • Questions: Please use the Forums tab in OWL to post questions. I use this format as it ensures that questions are easily tracked and are answered in a timely manner. It also allows for all students of the class to benefit from the information provided. Direct emails to the TA and/or Instructor should be used only in situations that require confidentiality (accommodations, grades/marking feedback).
  • Email Policy: I check my email regularly and will respond to emails within 48 hours. Please include the course code (PSYCH 2035A) in all email subject lines. This enables me to track emails and ensure they are answered in a timely manner.
  • Appointments: Please contact me via email to arrange virtual meeting.

 

2.2 COURSE APPROACH AND INSTRUCTOR EXPECTATIONS

Classroom Community: The classroom (both physical and online) is intended to be a safe learning space, where respect for others is required. I am committed to including a range of perspectives in this course, so with your help I will strive to create an environment that encourages and respects different points of view.

Learning Activities: As a learner, you will be required to complete regular activities online. I include these activities because research evidence shows that engaging with, discussing, & thinking about the material you are learning in new ways promotes better learning and more successful retention of the material.

Technical Difficulties: If you find yourself unable to submit an assignment on time due to technical difficulties, a screenshot of your screen is required. Ensure that the error message or problem, as well as the date and time, are visible on the screen when you take the screenshot. You must send this screenshot via email to me in order to receive an extension for submission. Note: The best browsers for MindTap include Google Chrome and Firefox (avoid Internet Explorer & Safari). 

 

3.0   TEXTBOOK

 

Course Textbook: Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century (12th Edition)
Authors: Wayne Weiten; Dana S. Dunn; Elizabeth Yost Hammer

Version: Digital Platform (MindTap Courseware) | ISBN: 9781337112062

 

You can purchase this through the campus bookstore or directly through the textbook website.

The digital courseware (i.e., MindTap), which includes the eBook textbook is required and is an essential part of the course content. In addition to chapter readings, all your MindTap activities and quizzes will be completed through this site. Additional information regarding eBook format will be provided on OWL. However, just like in a paper version you can highlight, make notes, and keep track of your progress. The MindTap platform also offers adaptive practice material which modifies based on your learning and study support (flashcards & extra quizzes). If you feel you also need a hardcopy version, you can purchase this from Cengage. You might also consider looking to see if you can get a used copy; this is the same textbook edition used in previous classes.

Registering for MindTap: Detailed instructions for how to sign up and gain access to this course will be provided on the OWL course site. When you gain access to the course’s MindTap courseware, please ensure that you register using the same first & last name(s) that appear in the OWL site. If you do not, this may result in a delay in receiving your grades in OWL.

 

 

4.0   COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course will provide an overview of the study of psychology and how it can be applied to our everyday lives, to better understand ourselves and others, and how we interact with the world around us.

 

LEARNING OUTCOME

LEARNING ACTIVITY

ASSESSMENT

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.

·         Define and describe the key concepts, principles, and overarching themes relevant to the science of psychology

·         Appraise psychological constructs by engaging in critical thought and commentary, using research evidence to support claims.

Quizzes

MindTap Activities

Discussion Posts

Chapter Quizzes

Discussion Post

Exams

Application of Knowledge.

·         Apply course concepts to real-world examples in the popular and social media, current events, etc.

·         Relate the principles and theories discussed to everyday situations

Chapter Quizzes

Discussion Post
Exams

Communication Skills.

·         Describe the themes relevant to the science of psychology

Discussion Post

Awareness of Limits of Knowledge.

·         Assess performance on assessments and reach out for assistance if/when needed.

 

Academic Autonomy

·         Identify instructor expectations, course structure, contact information, deadlines, and evaluation information.

·         Demonstrate accountability in your learning, by keeping up with material and completing tasks on time

Scavenger Hunt

 

 

5.0   EVALUATION

The course requirements, along with relative weightings in the determination of final grades, are:

  • Syllabus Scavenger Hunt (1%)
  • MindTap Activities (5%)
  • Chapter Quizzes (10%)
  • Discussion Post (20%)
  • Exams (64%)

 

5.1 SYLLABUS SCAVENGER HUNT (1%). You are required to complete this assignment so that you carefully read the syllabus and know the course expectations, how you will be evaluated, and where to go if you need support. This assignment will be posted and completed in OWL. By completing this task and earning a grade, this is your agreement with the instructor that you have read the syllabus and have understood the expectations and deadlines. Due: Sunday September 12th by 11PM.

 

5.2 MINDTAP ACTIVITIES (5%). You will be required to complete weekly activities on the MindTap platform. The purpose of these activities is to allow you to connect to the material you’re learning in new and interactive ways. Due: Sunday each week at 11PM.

 

5.3 CHAPTER QUIZZES (10%). You are required to complete weekly quizzes for each chapter. The purpose of this is to help keep you up to date on the course material and to provide you with the opportunity to get a sense of your understanding. There is 1 quiz per Chapter (14 total); however, only your highest 10 quiz scores will count towards your final grade. Due: Sunday each week at 11PM.

 

 

 

5.4 DISCUSSION POST (20%). Each week a discussion question will be posted relating to that

week’s topic. You will be assigned to post only once during the term; your assigned week will be

posted on OWL in the first week of class. Posts are due Thursdays (11PM) the week they are assigned.

*Please Note. While your experience in past courses might have been that Discussion

Posts are used for participatory grades, in this course, your post will be graded based on quality and detail of response. This task is used to assess a deeper level of understanding and application of course material and will be evaluated accordingly.

 

5.5. EXAMS (64%). There will be one midterm exam and one final exam for this course. The format of the exams will be primarily multiple choice; however, they may also contain some short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and/or matching type questions. Exams will be delivered online; the proctoring method will be determined by the department. The exam will be timed, delivered synchronously, and available for a window of time which will be specified.

  • Midterm Exam (30%): This will cover material from weeks 2-6 (Chapters 1-6).
  • Final Exam (34%): This will cover material from weeks 8-13 (Chapters 7-14).

Additional details for all assessments will be provided on the owl course site.

 

 

5.6 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK

 

Syllabus Scavenger Hunt. This assignment is due the first week of classes (Sunday Sept.12th) However, students will be given a one-week grace period to submit this task. After this point, additional accommodation requests or excuses for this missed task will not be accepted.

 

MindTap Activities. It is expected that all assigned weekly activities will be completed by Sunday at 11PM (EDT) for the assigned week. Because each activity is worth less than 1% of your final grade in the course and you may miss 4 chapter tasks without penalty, excuses, late submissions, nor Self-Reported Absences will not be accepted for this grade component. You will receive a score of 0 for any missing activities over and above the dropped items. If you require a longer-term accommodation for a health or wellness concern lasting more than a week, please seek official accommodation by submitting your documentation to the academic counseling office in your home faculty.

 

Chapter Quizzes. It is expected that quizzes be completed by Sunday at 11PM (EDT). Because each quiz is worth only 1% of your final grade and because you may forego 4 quizzes without penalty, excuses, late submissions, nor Self-Reported Absences will not be accepted for this grade component. You will receive a score of 0 for any missing quizzes over and above the dropped items. If you require a longer-term accommodation for a health or wellness concern lasting more than a week, please seek official accommodation by submitting documentation to the academic counseling office in your home faculty.

 

Discussion Post. It is expected that the Discussion Post will be submitted by the assigned deadline. Posts will be docked for lateness at 5% per day, including weekends, and will not be accepted beyond the Sunday of the week they are posted. However, should you choose, submitting an SRA (self-reported absence) will extend your deadline by exactly 48 hours with no penalty, at which point your work will be due. If you receive academic accommodations of a longer duration from your faculty, you may be re-assigned to one of the remaining posts during the term.

 

Midterm & Final Exams. Students who miss the scheduled midterm or Registrar-scheduled final exam with official accommodation (i.e., approved documentation from faculty academic counselling office) will be given an opportunity to write a makeup exam. The makeup exam may adhere to a modified format from the original exam.

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. 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.

 

Policy on Grade Adjustments (Assignments): If you receive a grade that you do not understand or would like additional feedback on, you are welcome to reach out to the course TA via email to get individual feedback. If after this feedback you feel the grade is unfair and wish to have it reviewed by the instructor please be advised that you will be required to do an analysis of your own work based on the rubric first. If you submit a grade review request, there is no guarantee that it will result in a grade increase or will not result in a grade decrease.

 

6.0   ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE

 

ASSESSMENT

WORTH

DATE/TIME

RELEVANT MATERIAL

Scavenger Hunt

1%

Sunday Sept. 12th

Course Outline

MindTap Activities

5%

Weekly (Due Sundays by 11PM)

Weekly Chapter(s)

Quizzes

10%

Weekly (Due Sundays by 11PM)

Weekly Chapter(s)

Discussion Post

20%

Once per term (Thursday by 11PM)

Weeks 2-6, 8, 10-13

Midterm Exam

30%

Week of October 18th
Exact Date/Time TBA

All material from Weeks 2-6

Final Exam

34%

TBA (Dec. 10-21)

All material from weeks 8-13

 

Submission deadlines & timezone. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is the timezone in London, ON. That means that if you are in a different timezone, you'll need to adjust your deadline time accordingly to ensure you don't miss the due date. For example, for the Sunday 11PM deadline:

  • If you are in Vancouver, where it is PDT, the submission deadline will be 8:00PM.
  • If you are in Calgary, where it is MDT, the submission deadline will be 9:00PM.

 

 

7.0   CLASS SCHEDULE

 

WEEK

WEEK OF

TOPIC

READINGS

1

Sept. 6

N/A

Review Syllabus & MindTap Orientation

2

Sept. 13

Introduction:
Adjusting to Modern Life

Chapter 1

3

Sept. 20

Personality

Chapter 2

4

Sept. 27

The Self

Chapter 6

5

Oct. 4

Stress Effects & Coping

Chapters 3 & 4

6

Oct. 11

Psychology and Physical Health

Chapter 5

7

Oct. 18

MIDTERM

8

Oct. 25

Social Thinking + Influence & Interpersonal Communication

Chapters 7 & 8

9

Nov. 1

FALL READING WEEK | NO NEW MATERIAL

10

Nov. 8

Friendship and Love & Marriage and the Family

Chapters 9 & 10

11

Nov. 15

Development and Expression of Sexuality & Gender + Behaviour

Chapters 12 & 11

12

Nov. 22

Psychological Disorders

Chapter 14

13

Nov. 29

Careers and Work

Chapter 13

14

Dec. 6

No new material: Exam Review

N/A

FINAL EXAM: DATE & TIME SCHEDULED BY REGISTRAR – EXAM PERIOD DECEMBER 10TH - 21ST

 

 

 

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:

  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 must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline in order 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 hoursafter 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.