Psychology 1002A 001-004 FW24
Psychology as a Natural Science
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Fall/Winter 2024
Psychology1002A Section 001, 002, 003, 004
Psychology as a Natural Science (revised Aug 28)
1 Calendar Description
An introductory survey of the methods and findings within modern scientific psychology. This course focuses on the biological aspects of human behaviour. The following topics will be covered: history and methodology, biological psychology, behavioural genetics, sensation and perception, learning, cognitive processes, and memory.
Antirequisites : Psychology 1000, Psychology 1000W/X, Psychology 1010A/B, Psychology 1100E.
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.
2 lecture hours; 1 lab hour, 0.5 course
Prerequisites: n/a
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 Course Information
Instructors :
Dr. Mike Atkinson: psyc1002@uwo.ca Office hours: TBA
Dr. John Campbell: psyc1002@uwo.ca Office hours: TBA
Learning Lab Coordinators:
Dr. Ingrid Johnsrude: psyc1002@uwo.ca Office hours: by appointment
Dr. Krista Macpherson: psyc1002@uwo.ca Office hours: by appointment
Lectures: In Person
Learning Labs: In Person
Teaching Assistants: TBA. see OWL site
There are a number of Graduate Teaching Assistants assigned to Psych 1002A. The graduate students have been part of the Department of Psychology from 1 to 6 years. Teaching assistants will run the Learning Labs.
Please feel free to address any questions about the lectures, the program, or psychology in general to them as well as to Dr. Atkinson & Dr. Campbell.
Any questions about the Learning Labs should be directed to the Teaching Assistants, Dr. Macpherson or Dr. Johnsrude.
Psych 1002 Course Site
The course website is located on OWL Brightspace https://westernu.brightspace.com/
Where you will find class information, study suggestions, links to other resources, etc. Please check it often.
Questions
Asking questions during lab or in lecture is an extremely important part of learning. I strongly encourage you to ask a question whenever you require clarification on an issue or have an observation to make yourself. If you wish to ask a question directly to either Dr. Mike or Dr. Campbell, please post your question to the “Questions and Office Hours” discussion in the Forums on the Psych 1002A Brightspace site. You can also talk with us during Office Hours in our physical offices. Note: Routine questions such as ―When is the exam? What chapters are covered for the exam? etc., may already be addressed on the FAQ portion of the course website.
All questions about the Learning Labs should be directed to Dr. Johnsrude or Dr. Macpherson.
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 contact Accessible Education at aew@uwo.ca
3 Course Materials
Required Text: Passer, M.W., Smith, R.E., Atkinson, M.L., & Mitchell, J.B., (2023).
Psychology: Frontiers and Applications. 8th Canadian Edition.
Toronto: McGraw Hill Ryerson.
Note: this text comes shrink-wrapped with a passkey for the CONNECT website.
This text is also available as an e-book
Also, it is important to purchase the 8th edition—it has content that is not available in earlier editions, and you will need the CONNECT code.
Recommended Text: Ellis, Toft & Dawson (2012). Becoming a Master Student . Nelson. This material will not be covered on exams, but may be useful to you for time management, note taking, etc.
4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
This course is an introductory level survey of the methods and findings related to the biological and methodological elements of modern scientific psychology. The goal is to provide students with an overview of various topic domains within this realm of psychology. As such, students will be exposed to diverse theoretical viewpoints and various methods and procedures for the scientific investigation of psychological issues.
Note: Modern psychology is scientific in nature. Consequently, we will spend a lot of time discussing science-related topics such as research design, neural functioning, sensory mechanisms, brain structure, etc.
Each chapter in the text covers a major interest area in psychology. By the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Knowledge Acquisition Identify major concepts, theories, and topics in Psychology |
Reading &watching lectures, + CONNECT & Learning Labs |
Multiple choice exam & participation |
|
Critical Thinking Distinguish between and identify the relative strengths and weaknesses of various theories in Psychology |
Reading & watching lectures, + CONNECT & Learning Labs |
Multiple choice exam & participation, quality of lab discussion posts |
|
Problem Solving; Inquiry and Analysis) Apply concepts and theories from Psychology to everyday problems |
Reading & watching lectures, + CONNECT & Learning Labs |
Multiple choice exam, participation, quality of lab discussion posts |
|
Communication Ask questions about topics in Psychology |
Online discussions & Learning Labs |
Quality of posted/answered questions & lab discussion |
|
Critical Thinking; Problem Solving Interpret statistical information presented in tables or graphs |
Reading & watching lectures, + CONNECT & Learning Labs |
Multiple choice exam, participation |
|
Knowledge Acquisition; Inquiry and Analysis Identify common research designs used in Psychology |
Reading & watching lectures, + CONNECT & Learning Labs |
Multiple choice exam, participation |
5.0 EVALUATION
There will THREE exams during the course, CONNECT work (the quizzes), learning lab participation and research credit participation.
There are two online midterm exams (worth 15% each) and are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Nov.9, 2024, and an online final exam (worth 40%) will be scheduled during the final exam period (Dec. 9 – 22, 2023).
Each midterm exam will consist of 50 -75 multiple choice questions from the text, learning lab, and lecture materials. The final exam covers chapters 1 – 8 plus the Appendix and consists of 75 - 100 multiple choice questions from the text, learning lab, and lecture materials.
Exams will be written in the following manner: On the exam dates, you will be directed to log into Brightspace OWL. Once, you are in OWL, you will receive a randomized test from the test bank. Each student will receive a different exam. Each exam will be the same level of difficulty and covers the same chapters. Questions will be answered in a strict linear fashion. Once you move from question 1 to question 2, you cannot go back to question 1. So, you should answer each question as it appears.
In addition to the exams, you must complete a series of quizzes on the CONNECT site (one quiz per chapter). The total value for the quizzes is 4%.
There is a research participation requirement (see details on the Owl site). You will be asked to participate in 3 research hours during the term. Minimum of 1 hour must be an in-person study. Each hour is worth 2% toward your grade.
Weekly Learning Labs count for 20% of your grade.
You must attend at least 8 out of 10 labs offered from Sept 16th onwards (after the add/drop period has ended) to pass the course. (Your weekly lab time is called ‘tutorial’ in your timetable). You are strongly encouraged to attend the first lab, the week of Sept 9th-13th. This lab will cover some key concepts in the course, but will not be marked.
You are responsible for:
1) completing the preparatory work to the best of your ability and submitting it at least 12 hours before your lab section.
2) signing the attendance register every time you attend lab and participating actively in the lab. Note that you are expected to be ON TIME. If you are more than 5 minutes late, you may not be able to complete the lab and you will be marked absent for that lab.
3) posting your in-lab group work within 72 hours of the end of the lab. This will usually be a camera screen shot of your group white board. Everyone in your group will probably post the same thing, since it was a group project, but each of you needs to post this individually.
At the end of term, you will need to have participated in EIGHT of the ten marked labs (ie those on or after Sept 16th) to pass the course. That includes marks for prep work, attendance and final, in-lab group work, submission for all 8 labs. The attendance mark is particularly important — if you only have attendance marks for 7 labs and not 8 you will not pass the course, even if your final grade is a passing one.
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.
5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK
If you miss the final exam for a legitimate reason (legitimate reasons are those approved by academic counselling in your home faculty), you will be allowed to write a makeup. By Senate regulation, the make up for the final exam will be on the first Thursday following the start of second term classes (this year that will be Jan. 9, 2025). NOTE: in order to receive credit for this course, you must write the final exam.
Make-Up Exams: Tests must be written on the scheduled dates unless you have a legitimate excuse recognized by the university administration in your home faculty. Valid reasons include medical or compassionate reasons, documented internet access issues, and religious observances.
Academic Consideration for midterm#1 and final exam must be substantiated by submitting the proper documentation and self-attestation to your home faculty's academic counselling office, via the Student Absence Portal.
The makeup exam for midterm #1 will be Thursday, Oct 10 @ 5 pm.
Students who miss midterm #1 without documentation and an approved academic consideration will receive a grade of zero.
Academic Consideration for midterm#2 may be requested based on self-attestation only (i.e., an undocumented absence), via the Student Absence Portal. The makeup exam for midterm #2 will be Thursday, November 14 @ 5 pm.
Students who miss midterm #2 without a submitted request via the Student Absence Portal, will receive a grade of zero.
Learning Labs: You must participate in 8 out of 10 labs offered on or after Sept 16th in order to pass the course. There are no extra time accommodations, or academic consideration, or makeups for missed Labs. This is covered by the flexibility of the 12-hour pre-lab deadline and the 72-hour post lab deadline.
For this reason, please try very hard to attend every lab.
For CONNECT there is ample time to complete the quizzes. There will be a flexible deadline of an additional 72 hours.
Research credits MUST be completed by noon on Dec. 6, 2024. The participation pool will be closed on that date and NO late submissions will be accepted. As with CONNECT, there is ample time to complete the credit requirement.
5.1a. Policy on Appealing Learning Lab Grades
Learning Labs are graded in real time each week. Your grade is determined by the Learning Lab Facilitator, based on your participation and answers to questions. If you believe that a grade assigned for any given lab is not justified, you must address this with the facilitator within one week of the grade posting. It is not feasible for us to assess your lab performance after the course has ended.
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: https://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.
6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule
Midterm exam 1 15%. Saturday Oct. 5, 2024, Covers Chapters 1 – 3 plus Appendix
Midterm exam 2 15%. Saturday Nov. 9, 2024. Covers Chapters 4 – 6
Final exam 40%. Christmas exam period (Dec. 9 – 22, 2024). Covers Chapters 1 -8, plus Appendix
CONNECT quizzes. 2%. Chapters 1 – 4 due Oct. 23, 2024
2%. Chapters 5 – 8 dues Dec. 6, 2024
Learning Labs 20%. Graded weekly
Research studies 6%. MUST BE COMPLETED BY DEC. 6, 2024
Total 100%
NOTE: in order to pass the course, you MUST write the final exam and complete 8 out of 10 Learning Labs offered on or after Sept 16th.
7 Class Schedule
Topics will be covered in the following order during the year. Approximate lecture dates are given so that you can keep up with the readings and video lectures. Learning Labs are synched to the Lecture topics. We will post a link on OWL to the appropriate Learning Lab each week. Lectures are intended to highlight certain areas of each topic -- there is not enough time available to us to cover all the material. However, you are responsible for all the material in the text.
Please note that there is a fairly heavy reading load in this course -- we cover approximately one chapter every week and half. Thus, it is important for you to keep up with the readings
Week Lecture content Instructor. Learning Lab
Sept. 5. No class No Labs
Sept. 9. Intro and Chapter 1 MA Intro and Making
Constructs Measurable
Sept.16. Chapter 2 Methods MA Design a Study
Sept. 23. Chapter 3-neurons MA Build a Brain
Sept. 30. Chapter 3-the brain MA No Labs
NOTE: for section 001, there are no classes on Sept. 30 (Truth and Reconciliation Day). We will either post a video or live stream another section.
OCT. 5. MIDTERM 1
Oct. 7. Chapter 4 Genetics JC The Great Debate
Oct. 14. Fall break No Labs
Oct. 21. Chapter 5 Sensation JC Measuring Sensation
Oct. 28. Chapter 5 Perception JC Optical Illusions
Nov. 4. Chapter 6. Consciousness JC Don’t Spill Your Drink
NOV. 9. MIDTERM 2
Nov. 11 Chapter 7 Learning 1 JC Theory of Mind
Nov. 18. Chapter 7 Learning 2 JC Learning
Nov. 25. Chapter 8 Memory 1 JC Discovering Memory
Dec. 2. Chapter 8 Memory 2 JC Discovering Memory
Final exam. in the Christmas exam period Dec. 9 – 22, 2024
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
Electronic devices of any kind (smart phones, smart watches, laptops, tablets, etc.) are not permitted to be used during exams. If you have an activated electronic device during an exam, this will be considered an academic offense.
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.
Exam Proctoring Software
Tests and examinations for online courses may be conducted using a remote proctoring service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote
Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca.
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
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
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.
13.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
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.
LEARNING INFORMATION EFFICIENTLY
You will be expected to know the assigned chapters VERY WELL!
Many of the multiple-choice questions in this course are based on material from the chapters that is not explicitly covered in lecture. To be able to answer these questions correctly you will need to know and understand each of the concepts and processes described in the assigned chapters.
This a major learning task and many students run into difficulties because they do not know how to handle this learning task efficiently.
Just reading the assigned chapters is NOT enough!
For most people the process of reading something, or even re-reading it, does not mean that they remember it. This is especially true for "heavy" course content such as that found in the
psychology text. If you wish to learn the material from the text efficiently, you will need to approach it in a different manner.
Learn the text chapters using ACTIVE reading/ learning strategies.
Strategies recommended for efficient learning of text material can be divided into three types: pre- reading, reading for comprehension, and post-reading.
- Pre-reading . Learn the headings and subheadings.
Instead of diving immediately into reading the chapter, spend a few minutes learning the headings and subheadings. The headings and subheadings tell you the important ideas that will be covered in the chapter. In the text they are laid out for you on the first few pages of the book in the table of contents. Look at these headings and subheadings, think how they have been ordered, try reciting them from memory, and then write them out on a separate sheet of paper.
- Reading for comprehension . Read a few pages and THEN summarize.
Don't try to read most of the chapter in one sitting. It is much easier to learn the material in small chunks. Read a few pages carefully and THEN make a summary of the important points. Continue doing this until you have summarized about 10 pages - then take a break. You can summarize by highlighting sparingly AND making marginal notes, or by making separate written notes.
Note that much of the information in psychology comes in the form of arguments. Here are some the important kinds of information that are crucial to knowing and understanding an argument: i) definitions of new terms, ii) essential explanations of the specific argument, iii) examples, iv) results of studies.
If you make separate summary notes, try using point form and keywords. This has 2 advantages: the notes are made more quickly and they are easier to read. As you record key terms and definitions ALWAYS relate them to the arguments of which they are a part.
- Post- reading . Test yourself.
After actively reading 10 or more pages in the manner described above, try reciting (i.e., recalling from memory) all the important points under each heading and subheading that you have studied. This will reinforce the ideas you know and identify those that you need to review. Doing the study guide questions and relevant old exam questions after you have finished the entire chapter can also be very helpful.
