Psychology 2030A-650
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.
1.0 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. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
0.5 course
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Ian R. Nicholson
Office and Phone Number: University Hospital C3-160V
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: inichols@uwo.ca
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western
http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Title: Abnormal Psychology (Canadian Edition)
Authors: Beidel, D.C., Bulik, C.M., Stanley M.A., & Taylor, S.
Year: 2018
etext: https://bookstore.uwo.ca/product/cebcodeid23666
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?" 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 exams) are based in the material in this edition of this text 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 book.
Relying on the wrong textbook is not considered grounds for accommodation for a midterm test or final examination.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
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.
4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
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LEARNING OUTCOMES |
ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT LEARNING OUTCOMES |
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES |
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Recognize the main symptoms of the range of psychological disorders |
Course Discussions Readings |
Course Participation Multiple-Choice Exams |
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Apply DSM-5 criteria to provide the most plausible diagnosis for a set of psychological symptoms |
Readings |
Multiple-Choice Exams |
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Differentiate between emotional/behavioural states that are diagnosable versus not diagnosable |
Course Discussions Readings
|
Course Participation Multiple-Choice Exams |
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Contrast current scientific theories (e.g., biological, psychological) on the etiology and treatment of psychological disorders |
Readings |
Multiple-Choice Exams |
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Identify various components of assessment (e.g., interviewing, administrating various tests, neuroimaging, and physical and behavioural examinations) |
Readings |
Multiple-Choice Exams |
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Describe and analyse the relation of psychological disorder diagnoses and treatments with social and political factors |
Course Discussions |
Course Participation |
5.0 EVALUATION
On-Line Course Participation (15% of final grade)
Starting each Monday morning, a new on-line Discussion Forum will be started for a new subject. Each Discussion Forum will last one week. To aid in these discussions, questions will be posted on-line during the next week. Readings from the text will be used as the basis for these discussions.
At the beginning of each Discussion Forum, additional relevant web site addresses will be given to students to review and include in the discussions as they see them as relevant.
For this course to work, students must "come to class". Students lose most of their grades in this requirement by not participating regularly. The course works best if it is thought of as a seminar/discussion group where students comment on the issues discussed, using material from the text and the web. If only one or two students come to the course regularly, then the course does not work for anyone. In order to ensure that the discussions remain current, weekly Discussion Forums will be closed after they have been open for one week.
**IMPORTANT** Course Participation Requirements: It is expected that students will actively participate in these on-line discussions. A minimum of participation by posting comments are expected on three (3) separate days that add into the Forum discussions are expected from each student each and every week of a weekly Discussion Forum.
For more information on the Course Participation, students should read the “FAQ on Course Discussion Forums” at the end of the syllabus.
***Please note that it is your responsibility to make sure that your discussion contributions are posted properly and on time. Having written something that didn't get posted, for whatever reason, is not grounds for appealing a grade of zero for that discussion. ***
Please Note: The on-line discussions will be open from 12:01am on 4 May 2020 until 11:59pm on 26 July 2020. All times are in London, Ontario. If you are taking the course in another time zone, you will need to make local adjustments to these times
First Midterm Test (30% of final grade) – 4-6 June 2020
Content of test: The first midterm test will consist of a maximum of one hundred twenty-five (125) multiple choice questions. They will reflect the material from chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 15. There will be approximately an equal number of questions from the each of these five (5) textbook chapters. The Test will be seventy (70) minutes long.
Administration of the test: The test will be provided online through the Qualtrics website. Specific information on how to access the test will be provided in the week before the test in the Announcements. The test will be available at 6pm Eastern Daylight Time on 4 June 2020 and will remain open until 6pm Eastern Daylight Time on 6 June 2020. Once begun, each student will have 70 minutes to complete the examination.
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. If approval is made for a make up midterm test, your instructor will arrange your rewrite.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic accommodation consists of arrangements that allow a student with a disability a fair opportunity to engage in academic activities and fulfill essential course and program requirements. Accommodation does not remove essential requirements of a course or program. It does not fundamentally alter content of tests, standards for assigning grades, or requirements that students independently demonstrate their knowledge of course material. An accommodation is a response to unique challenges that a student faces given his or her disability and particular program requirements. 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 “FAQ on Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests” at the end of the syllabus.
Second Midterm Test (30% of final grade) – 2-4 July 2020
Administration of the test: The test will be provided online through the Qualtrics website. Specific information on how to access the test will be provided in the week before the test in the Announcements. The test will be available at 6pm Eastern Daylight Time on 2 July 2020 and will remain open until 6pm Eastern Daylight Time on 4 July 2020. Once begun, each student will have 70 minutes to complete the examination.
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. If approval is made for a make up midterm test, your instructor will arrange your rewrite.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic accommodation consists of arrangements that allow a student with a disability a fair opportunity to engage in academic activities and fulfill essential course and program requirements. Accommodation does not remove essential requirements of a course or program. It does not fundamentally alter content of tests, standards for assigning grades, or requirements that students independently demonstrate their knowledge of course material. An accommodation is a response to unique challenges that a student faces given his or her disability and particular program requirements. 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 “FAQ on Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests” at the end of the syllabus.
Final Exam (25% of final grade) - date 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, 11, 12, and 13. There will be approximately an equal number of questions from the each of these four (4) textbook chapters. 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 one (1) hour long.
Administration of the exam: The exam will be provided online through the Qualtrics website. Specific information on how to access the exam will be provided in the week before the exam in the Announcements. The exam will be available for two (2) days. Once begun, each student will have 60 minutes to complete the examination.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic accommodation consists of arrangements that allow a student with a disability a fair opportunity to engage in academic activities and fulfill essential course and program requirements. Accommodation does not remove essential requirements of a course or program. It does not fundamentally alter content of exams, standards for assigning grades, or requirements that students independently demonstrate their knowledge of course material. An accommodation is a response to unique challenges that a student faces given his or her disability and particular program requirements. 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/
For more information on the Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests, students should read the “FAQ on Midterm Tests, Final Exam, and Practice Tests” at the end of the syllabus.
Exam conflicts: If you have a conflict, please contact your Academic Counsellor at your Home Faculty so arrangements can be made for you to write your examination.
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. This privilege is based on compassionate, medical, or religious grounds with the appropriate supporting documents.
Students requiring academic accommodation: Academic accommodation consists of arrangements that allow a student with a disability a fair opportunity to engage in academic activities and fulfill essential course and program requirements. Accommodation does not remove essential requirements of a course or program. It does not fundamentally alter content of exams, standards for assigning grades, or requirements that students independently demonstrate their knowledge of course material. An accommodation is a response to unique challenges that a student faces given his or her disability and particular program requirements. Because of the individualized nature of accommodation, students and prospective students are encouraged to meet with an SAS 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/
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows Western's grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
On-Line Course Participation: 15% of final grade
First Midterm Exam (4-6 June 2020): 30% of final grade
Second Midterm Exam (2-4 July 2020): 30% of final grade
Final Exam (date to be determined): 25% of final grade
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Topic 1 – What is a Psychologist
4 May 2020 – 10 May 2020
Chapter 1 - "Abnormal Psychology: Historical and Modern Perspectives"
Chapter 15 - " Abnormal Psychology: Legal and Ethical Issues"
Topic 2 – Research in Psychopathology
11 May 2020 – 17 May 2020
Chapter 2 - "Research Methods in Abnormal Psychology"
Topic 3 – Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
18 May 2020 – 24 May 2020
Chapter 3 - "Assessment and Diagnosis"
Topic 4 – Anxiety Disorders
25 May 2020 – 31 May 2020
Chapter 4 – “Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders”
Topic 5 - Affective Disorders
1 June 2020 – 7 June 2020
Chapter 6 - "Bipolar and Depressive Disorders"
Topic 6 – Schizophrenia and Dissociative Disorders
8 June 2020 – 14 June 2020
Chapter 5 – “Somatic Symptom, Dissociative, and Factitious Disorders” (pages 183-194 ONLY; section 5.4 to end of chapter)
Chapter 10 – “Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders”
Topic 7 – Physical Health
15 June 2020 – 21 June 2020
Chapter 5 – “Somatic Symptom, Dissociative, and Factitious Disorders” (pages 167-183 ONLY; beginning of chapter to the end of section 5.3)
Chapter 14 – “Health Psychology”
Topic 8 – Disrupted Daily Living
22 June 2020 – 28 June 2020
Chapter 7 – “Feeding and Eating Disorders”
Topic 9 – Disorders of Control
29 June 2020 – 5 July 2020
Chapter 9 – “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders”
Topic 10 – Personality Disorders
6 July 2020 – 12 July 2020
Chapter 11 – “Personality Disorders”
Topic 11 – Disorders and the Age Spectrum – Childhood
13 July 2020 – 19 July 2020
Chapter 12 – “Neurodevelopmental, Disruptive, Conduct, and Elimination Disorders”
Topic 12 – Disorders and the Age Spectrum – Old Age
20 July 2020 – 26 July 2020
Chapter 13 – “Aging and Neurocognitive Disorders”
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com http://www.turnitin.com
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
Students seeking academic consideration:
- are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;
- are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence
10.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2019-2020 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute lecture notes, wiki material, and other course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
- FAQ ON COURSE DISCUSSION FORUMS
Every year, students have emailed me questions about the Course Participation. To assist students, I have tried to collate many of the common questions here in a Frequently Asked Questions section.
Q: Can I make up previous Discussion Forums?
A: Participation grades are based on when students are able to start the course. Trying to "make up" on past discussions (including emailing me their posting after the deadline) would be similar to coming to a seminar on Week 3 of a course and wanting to talk about the topics from Week 1. It would do nothing to assist your grades if you were to do this.
Q: Where do I find the readings for the week?
A: The readings are listed for the week on the "Syllabus" section of the course.
Q: How should I conceptualize these discussions?
A: The weekly Discussion Forum should not be thought of as a "paper". They are not individually graded.
It should be thought of as participating in a discussion. It is best to think of it as similar to a seminar. You don't do a paper or two a week for a seminar course. However, when the professor throws out a question for discussion at the seminar, students respond to the question or to one another's responses. Then, to further the discussion, the lecturer will throw out another follow-up question that expands upon or slightly changes the earlier question and responses. Sometimes, when a discussion topic runs down, the professor then throws out a different question to touch on another aspect of the topic. In a seminar, the students should be listening to what the other students say and responding to both the question and one another. Also, as the course continues, the students get more comfortable in the discussions and they become more complex, more in-depth, and more self-sustaining as the students in the seminar learn to work with one another.
That is basically the model here with the exceptions being that you type, rather than speak, your responses/contributions and that you can come to the discussions whenever you want during the week.
Q: Do I have to stick to your question or can I add another that is relevant to the week. Sometimes I have nothing to add as I agree with everything said so far and I don’t want to only write “I agree”.
A: You are allowed to write about anything that is assigned for the week. It would be okay to talk about something else in the readings for that week or something from one of the web sites suggested by the textbook.
Q: Do I have to respond to ALL of your questions and comments?
A: No, you only need to make comments that add to the Discussion Forum on at least three (3) separate days during a week. (For example, one comment on a Tuesday, one comment on a Thursday, and one comment on a Saturday).
I will make a number of comments and start a variety of Topics in the week (I try to start four a week) to ensure that discussions keep going. I would NOT expect anyone to comment on them all.
Q: Can I post comments two or three times in one day?
A: You are allowed to post as often in one day as you would like.
However, your On-Line Course Participation grade is based on posting on three (3) days during the week of a Discussion Forum. If you only post on one day that week, irrespective on how many or how long the comments you post that day, you will only receive a third-credit for participation that week.
Q: Do I have to comment on three different questions or can I comment on three Conversations about one question. Can I comment three times in one Conversation about one question? Can I start with my own Conversation? Do I have to start my own Conversation or can I just comment in another Conversation?
A: Each week is its own Forum, such as Week 1 which is "What is a Psychologist". Within that, there are various questions that I will start such as in "Comparing Two Sites about Ontario Psychology". Within the question part of the Forum, students may start a variety of Conversations.
The placement of your comments does not matter. They can be in the same or different questions. They can be the same or different Conversations. You can start your own Conversation or comment on another Conversation. It does not matter.
What matters is the you make comments in these Discussions at least three (3) days per week.
Q: Can I add to a previous week's Discussion Forum?
A: Previous weeks' Discussion Forums will be closed at the end of the week. I would suggest that you try to keep up with current discussions and not focus on previous weeks.
Q: I did not register for the course until the second week and the first week’s Discussion Forums are closed. How do I respond or do I lose grades for being late to start the course.
A: While I would encourage you to read the review the material in the first week’s Discussion Forums, the Forum cannot be re-opened for just one person and I don’t accept postings by email. Your grade will be prorated according to the date you first logged into the course. You will not be penalized for starting the course late.
Q: I thought I posted my response but it did not show on the course web site. Can I just email it to you?
A: Unfortunately, the only postings that "count" are those on the course website. I cannot accept emails with postings that you meant to post on the course Discussion Forums. If you are having problems posting on the Forums (or using any part of OWL), please contact the WTS Helpdesk. https://owlhelp.uwo.ca/contact_us/index.html
Every year, I will have one or two students who will swear that they thought they commented more than they did and don’t know why their posts are not there. Unfortunately, I can only give credit for posts that are on the course website. It is your responsibility to ensure that the posts are there. If you can see them after you have posted them, then I can see them (they are not hidden from either your view or my view).
Q: How are each of my individual discussion postings graded?
A: Each discussion post is not individually graded. The grading for the discussions will be when the discussions for the course are complete - so, it will be one grade at the end of the discussion. Each specific discussion post is graded as pass/fail if they meet minimum standards.
You do not need to check with me to see if the content of your individual discussion posts are sufficient. Please be assured I will let you know if your posting does not meet standards. I have read over 50,000 discussion posts since starting to teach this course in the 1990s and can only remember less than 10 times when I had to contact a student about a specific post. So, don't expect to hear anything back on the quality of the content of your postings unless there is a problem with them.
There is no need to contact me to check on the content of a post if I have not contacted you about it.
Bottom line: If you don't hear anything, there is no problem with the content of a posting.
Q: How is the Course Participation graded?
A: It is based on making comments to add into the discussions (for example, a simple "I agree" would be insufficient - would you see it as "participating" in an in-person seminar class?). They are graded on having participated - they are not individually graded for content and style. I will contact you backchannel (via email) if I have any concerns that any specific comment is not sufficient for course purposes (see previous Q/A).
I do not calculate the grades until the end of term. However, you can calculate your own discussion grades.
- If you have commented on three or more separate days in a weekly Discussion Forum, you get full credit for the week.
- If you have commented on two separate days in a weekly Discussion Forum, you get two-thirds credit for the week.
- If you have commented on one day in a weekly Discussion Forum, you get one third credit for the week.
- If you have not commented on a weekly Discussion Forum, you get no credit.
Maximum number of credit would be 12 credits for 12 weeks of Discussion Forums. Since it is worth 15%, each week’s Discussion Forum is worth 1.25% of your final grade.
Grades are prorated for documented problems in starting the course in the first week (e.g., late registration) or prolonged absence documented by your academic counsellor or a self-reported absence.
Posting on only one day a week, no matter how many comments you make, how much time you spent on them, or how long those comments are, will only count as meeting one-third of the requirements for that week.
Bottom line: It is about regularly coming to the course at least three days every week and participating.
Q: I know we have a week to post our comments on OWL but when exactly does the "week" end? Are the Discussion Forums supposed to be from Sunday to Saturday?
A: Typically, Discussion Forum topics open early Monday morning. A "week" is from 12:01 am on that Monday morning until 11:59pm on the next Sunday night (please see 7.0 Course Schedule for more details)
All times are in London, Ontario. If you are taking the course in another time zone, you will need to make local adjustments to these times.
Q: Is there any way to make up for missed discussion posts?
A: I am sorry, but that is not possible. In order to keep it fair for all the students in the course, I need to adhere to the rules set in the syllabus for grading. If there are exceptional circumstances, please discuss these with your Academic Counsellor and I will work with the Academic Counsellor to ensure that you are not penalized for such occurrences.
12: 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 them but many don't, and that's OK.
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.
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 an extra tool to use in organizing the information. You should NOT consider them sufficient for studying.
Q: How long before my midterm tests or final exam are graded?
A: Just wanted to give you a heads up on the grading pattern for this course. I learned many years ago and that is, no matter how good a question may look and read to me, that doesn't mean that you will interpret it the way I meant it. As a result, it may not be a good question and needs to be pulled from the midterm test or final exam. Sometimes, I may have to rescore it and give two possible answers to the midterm test or final exam.
I have sat on committees for two exams that are classified as "high stakes". What that basically means is that if someone fails the exam, they don't get to do something. Driver's license would be considered "high stakes" as you either pass or fail and your ability to drive is determined by the result. All health professions, including Psychology, have such exams across the US and Canada. One thing I have learned from sitting on those committees is that, no matter how much time and effort a dozen expert psychologists spend in reviewing and revising a multiple-choice question, it may be confusing to people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-stakes_testing
One exam for example, the EPPP, is a 225-question licensure exam but only 175 questions count. Sprinkled throughout that exam are another 50 questions that are being "trialled" to see if they work and are not officially scored. Many of these do not "work" statistically and are put aside to be destroyed or rewritten to be trialled again later. For those that do work, they are put into a working question bank that a future version of the exam will then choose from. Because of the potential for the exam to be brought to court by someone denied a license to practice because they thought the exam was unfair (and that does happen in the US), the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards have to ensure that all questions are fair.
That being said, I need as many responses as possible to review each question to see if it works (i.e., is fair). That does not mean I will remove hard questions. A question can be hard but fair. However, questions that are unfair - whether hard or easy - will be removed from the midterm tests or final exam.
I can see that potential unfairness only by reviewing the item-level statistics of each question individually. I won't bore you with the details of the statistical methods but, needless to say, I have picked up a few rules over the years in my other work. I apply many of those to this course.
Out of 125 questions, I usually find 2-4 (or more) that are just too biased to be included in a midterm tests or final exam. I either revise their scoring or I remove them before I calculate the grade.
That will take a few days as well. Only after that is done can the midterm tests or final exam be finally scored and the grades posted.
Q: On what exam is Chapter 8?
A: It is not on the exam. Due to the length of the course, we can't cover everything in the course. When I first started teaching, I tried to work in all of the chapters, but it became more disjointed and difficult for students. I have narrowed the course down and, this year, this chapter is not included.
Q: The week of the midterm test, we are discussing Chapter X. The syllabus does not list Chapter X as being on the test. Does that mean there is an error in the syllabus and Chapter X is on the test?
A: It is not on the test. Since the material on Chapter X has not yet been fully covered by the week’s discussion by all the students in the course, it has not been included on the test. Material is only on a midterm when it has been fully reviewed in the course.
Q: The practice questions seem easier than the real questions on the midterm tests and exams. There were questions on the tests/exams that were not reflected in the practice test 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. I have encountered this on the other exams I have mentioned above. 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 test questions are similar in breadth and depth of knowledge required as the actual midterm tests and the final examination.
