Psychology 1002A 650 SU25
Psychology as a Natural Science
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
Summer 2025
Psychology 1002A Section 650
Psychology as a Natural Science
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, sensation and perception, learning and motivation, and verbal and cognitive processes.
Antirequisites: Psychology 1000, Psychology 1000W/X, Psychology 1010A/B, Psychology 1100E.Prerequisite(s): N/A
2 lecture hours; 1 tutorial hours; Course Weight: 0.5
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2 Course Information
Instructor: Dr. Krista Macpherson
Office & Phone: SSC 7230
Office Hours: By Appointment
Email: kmacphe6@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Asynchronous
For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.
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. $69-$153
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.
|
Learning Outcome |
Learning Activity |
Assessment |
|
Knowledge Acquisition Identify major concepts, theories, and topics in Psychology |
Reading & watching lectures, & 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, & 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, & 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, & Learning Labs |
Multiple choice exam, participation |
|
Knowledge Acquisition; Inquiry and Analysis Identify common research designs used in Psychology |
Reading & watching lectures, & Learning Labs |
Multiple choice exam, participation |
5 Evaluation
The following are the dates and materials assigned for each of the designated assessments.
Date % of final grade Material covered
Midterm May 20 40% Weeks 1 & 2 (plus Learning Lab content)
Final Exam TBA 45% Weeks 4-6 (plus Learning Lab content)
Labs Best 4 of 5 15% Posted Weekly to Brightspace
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives
Policy on Missing Coursework
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
There will be TWO exams during the course and learning lab participation and lab assignments. The midterm exam (worth 40%) is scheduled for May 19th. The final exam (worth 45%) will be scheduled during the final exam period. The lab component will be worth the remaining (15%).
The midterm exam covers chapters 1-4 and will consist of 80-85 multiple choice questions from both the text, lectures and learning labs. Other question formats (ex: fill in the blank, matching, short answer) may also be used, and you will be informed of this prior to the exam. Learning labs will consist of a participation mark and a report for 5 labs worth 3% each. More details will be posted in Brightspace. The final exam covers chapters 5-8, and will use the same format as the midterm.
7 Class Schedule
(Tentative and subject to change—you will be notified via Brightspace of any changes)
|
Week |
Date |
Topic(s) to be covered |
Reading (s) |
Lab Topic (See Brightspace for Content) |
|
1 |
May 6 |
History of Psychology; Research Methods |
Chapters 1 & 2 |
Operational Definitions |
|
2 |
May 13 |
Brain & Nervous System; Genetics & Evolution |
Chapters 3 & 4 |
The Great Debate |
|
3 |
May 20 |
Midterm Exam (40%) 7pm-8:30pm (Online) |
N/A |
N/A |
|
4 |
May 27 |
Sensation & Perception |
Chapter 5 |
Measuring Sensation |
|
5 |
June 3 |
Consciousness; Learning |
Chapters 6 & 7 |
Optical Illusions |
|
6 |
June 10 |
Memory |
Chapter 8
|
Approaches to the Study of Memory |
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.
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.
AI Policy for Psychology:
Responsible use of AI is allowed in Psychology. This includes using AI for brainstorming, improving grammar, or doing preliminary/background research on a topic.
AI is not to be used in place of critical thinking.
The misuse of AI undermines the academic values of this course. Relying on AI to create full drafts or fabricate sources is prohibited. You are ultimately responsible for any work submitted, so it is highly advised that you critically review your Generative AI output before incorporating this information into your assignments.
If you use AI, you must clearly explain its role in your work. All written assignments will require an AI Usage Statement, in which you will indicate what tools you have used, what you have used them for, and (broadly) how you have modified this information. Assignments without an AI Usage Statement will not be accepted.
Violations of this policy will be handled according to Western’s scholastic offense policies.
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.
Personal Response Systems (“Clickers”)
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system, data collected 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.
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
Academic Considerations: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html
11 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
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.
