Psychology 3723G 001 FW24

Attitudes and Attitude Change

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

Winter 2025

 

Psychology 3723G   Section 001

 

Attitudes and Attitude Change

 

 

1     Calendar Description

 

This course will describe research and theory in social psychology relating to attitudes. Topics to be covered include dissonance, factors associated with effective persuasion, resistance to persuasion, advertising, religious attitudes, environmental attitudes, prejudice, and propaganda.

 

Antirequisite(s): Psychology 3721F/G, Psychology 3740F/G, the former Psychology 3710F/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(s): Both Psychology 2801F/G (or one of Health Sciences 2801A/B, Psychology 2840F/G, Psychology 2855F/G) and Psychology 2811A/B (or one of Biology 2244A/B, Economics 2122A/B, Economics 2222A/B, Geography 2210A/B, Health Sciences 3801A/B, MOS 2242A/B, Psychology 2830A/B, Psychology 2850A/B, Sociology 2205A/B, Statistical Sciences 2035, Statistical Sciences 2141A/B, Statistical Sciences 2143A/B, Statistical Sciences 2244A/B, Statistical Sciences 2858A/B, the former Social Work 2207A/B), or the former Psychology 2820E, or both the former Psychology 2800E and the former Psychology 2810.

 

Extra Information: 2 lecture hours, 1 tutorial hour.

 

Course Weight: 0.5

 

Note: 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.

https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/academics/timetables.html

 

 

2     Course Information

 

Instructor:                      Julie Aitken Schermer

Office & Phone:            SSC 4429, ext. 84699

Office Hours:                 By Appointment

Email:                               jharris@uwo.ca

 

Teaching Assistant:   [TA information]

Office:                               [TA information]

Office Hours:                 [TA information]

Email:                               [TA information]

 

Time and Location of Classes: inperson. See Student Timetable for details

 

Tutorials:        inperson. See Student Timetable for details

 

3     Course Materials

 

Maio, G.R., Haddock, G., & Verplanken, B. (2019). The psychology of attitudes & attitude change. Lonon, UK: SAGE Publications Ltd.

 

ISBN: 978-1-5264-2584-3 (pbk)

[available at the university bookstore, note, e-book options are also available]

 

4     Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

 

At the completion of this course, students should be able to understand and explain the basic theories of attitudes and attitude change.  In addition, and especially based on the essay component, students will have a solid understanding of how attitudes are researched.  Topics include attitude theories, behavior genetics of attitudes, and factors associated with the formation of attitudes and how attitudes influence human behaviour.

 

Lectures complement the textbook and will include new information.  Lecture notes are not posted; therefore, it is important for students to attend the lectures.

 

Discussion in the class is encouraged.  It is preferred that students ask their questions or give their opinions during the lectures and not after the lecture has ended.  Discussion points raised at the end of the lecture will be directed to the tutorials and/or the following lecture.

 

 

 

Learning Outcome

Learning Activity

Assessment

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.

  • Understand the theories behind attitudes
  • Describe how attitudes are influenced by behaviours and influence behaviour

Lecture, textbook, essay (research proposal), discussions

Exams, essay (research proposal), tutorials

Knowledge of Methodologies.

  • Explain how attitudes are assessed
  • Discern the possible weaknesses behind self-report and observational assessment

Lecture, textbook, essay (research proposal), discussions

Exams, essay (research proposal), tutorials

Application of Knowledge.

  • Propose how certain attitudes can be examined/researched

Lecture, textbook, essay (research proposal), discussions

Essay (research proposal), tutorials

Communication Skills.

  • Communicate clearly through writing or the research proposal as well as tutorial discussions about the assigned attitude topics

Essay (research proposal), discussions

Essay (research proposal), tutorials

Awareness of Limits of Knowledge.

  • Explain the limitations behind attitude research

Lecture, textbook, essay (research proposal), discussions

Essay (research proposal), tutorials

 

 

5.0  EVALUATION

The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4.0 and are considered necessary for meeting these learning objectives.

 

Please note that because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course.  The grade for your essay must be at least 50%

 

5.1 EXAMS

 

There will be two multiple choice exams in this course to ensure factual and concept knowledge and understanding.  The first exam, worth 25% of your grade, will take place in the class, will cover the first five chapters. The second will be cumulative and cover chapters 1 to 11, be worth 30% of your grade, and will take place during the April exam period.

 

5.2 RESEARCH PROPOSAL ESSAY – 30% of Course Grade

 

You will be required to write a research proposal of approximately 2,500 words (including title page and references) designed to investigate NEWLY created attitude items. Students will:

  1. First determine an attitude object of choice (e.g., jellybeans, gun control, capital punishment, etc.)
  2. Search the literature for five studies which have discussed or assessed or measured the attitude object (if you cannot find five, you may have to choose a new attitude object – for example, jellybeans might not be a good idea).
  3. Generate eight NEW Likert-style items assessing attitudes towards the object (see textbook page 13 for example items) AND that will assess bidimensional attitudes towards the object (explained in the second class and based on text page 43).
  4. Explain (in your own words) how each item you created assesses the attitude object and how responses will be collected (i.e., what will be the anchors for the item responses and why, such as 1 = disagree strongly to 5 = agree completely, frowning face to smiling face, etc.).
  5. For the final section, propose how you would test your new scale by explaining how the five past studies examined the attitude object. Explain what you would do the same or differently to test your NEW items (e.g., new sample characteristics, new method of delivery, etc.)

 

All proposals MUST be double-spaced, left-justified text, and written in APA format.

 

Proposals are due in tutorials for the week of March 10-14 and the latest that the proposals can be submitted to your TA will be 11:59pm on Friday March 14.  Any proposals after that time will receive a 10% deduction per day, including weekend days.  NOTE: you can submit your proposal before March 10th.

 

Marks will be based on the quality of the writing, the clarity and accuracy of describing the articles, and the soundness of the research design and proposed analysis.

5.3 TUTORIAL PARTICIPATION

 

Participation in weekly tutorials is worth 15% of your course grade.  Participation grades are based on both quantity and quality (see table below). 

 

Marking rubric for tutorial participation:

 

Criterion

Exemplary (90%+)

Proficient

(75-89%)

Developing

(65-75%)

Unacceptable

(>65%)

Frequency of participation

Initiates discussions more than once for each tutorial

Initiates a discussion once in each tutorial

Initiates a discussion at least half of the tutorials

Does not initiate a discussion in the tutorials

Quality of comments

Comments are always insightful, constructive, and content-related

Comments are mostly insightful, constructive, and content-related

Comments are sometimes insightful, constructive, and content-related

Comments are uninformative and are not content-related

Listening and contributing

Listens attentively when others present their comments and build upon people’s remarks

Mostly listens attentively when others present their comments and typically builds upon people’s remarks

Sometimes listens attentively when others present their comments and infrequently builds upon people’s remarks

Does not listen to othes, does not pay attention, and does not add to the discussion.

 

 

 

5.1  POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK

 

There are NO make-up exams. 

 

For students with approved academic consideration for missing the midterm, the cumulative final exam will be worth 55% of the course grade.

PLEASE NOTE: Because this is an essay course, as per Senate Regulations, you must pass the essay component to pass the course. That is, the average mark for your written assignments must be at least 50%.

 

NOTE: This course is exempt from the Senate requirement that students receive assessment of their work accounting for at least 15% of their final grade at least three full days before the date of the deadline for withdrawal from a course without academic penalty.

 

The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines:  https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf

 

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

 

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.

 

6     Assessment/Evaluation Schedule

 

Tutorials                                                             Weekly

Exam 1                                                                               In class, Feb. 13

Research Proposal/Essay                                   At the latest on 11:59pm on Friday March 14

Final exam                                                          April exam period (April 7-30)

 

7     Class Schedule

 

January 9         Chapter 1 – What are attitudes and how are they measured?

January 16        Chapter 2 – The three witches of attitudes (content, structure, and function)

January 23        Chapter 3 – The influence of attitudes on information processing and behavior

January 30        Chapter 4 – How do attitudes influence behaviour?

February 6        Chapter 5 – Cognitive influences on attitudes

 

February 13 – EXAM 1 in class (chapters 1-5)

 

February 20 – Reading Week – no class

 

February 27      Chapter 6 – Affective influences on attitudes

March 6            Chapter 7 – Behavioral influences on attitudes

March 13          Chapter 8 – Basic principles in how attitudes are shaped

March 14 11:59pm last possible time to submit your research proposal to your TA

March 20          Chapter 9 – The internal world

March 27          Chapter 10 – The external world

April 3               Chapter 11 – An eye to the future

 

April 11-30       Final Exam Period     FINAL Exam (location will be announced; Chapters 1-11)

 

 

 

 

8     Academic Integrity

 

Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.

 

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.

 

Statement on Use of Electronic Devices

 

No electronic devices are allowed during tests and examinations.

 

Plagiarism Detection Software

 

All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism.  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.

 

Use of AI

 

The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.

 

Multiple Choice Exams

 

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.

 

9     Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education

 

View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.

 

Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.

If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information.  Email: aew@uwo.ca  Phone: 519 661-2147

 

10  Absence & Academic Consideration

 

View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link

 

Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html

 

Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.

 

Medical Absences

 

Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.

 

Nonmedical Absences

 

Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.

 

Religious Consideration

 

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.

 

11  Other Information

 

 

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.

 

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 in writing 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.

 

12  Land Acknowledgement

 

We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.