Introduction to Psychology

March 31, 2016

Introduction to Psychology

Required Text: Feist, G. J. & Rosenberg, E. L. (2012). Psychology: Perspectives & connections (2nd eds). New
York, NY; McGraw-Hill. ISBN-10: 0-07-803520-1
Additional Resources: Additional readings to be assigned by the instructor.
Course Description: This course is a comprehensive survey of the major academic subdivisions within the field of
psychology. Special emphasis is placed on developing an introductory understanding of current
psychological terminology and reference studies.
Course Objectives:
A. Review and accurately evaluate research methodology and findings
B. Name and correctly define basic brain processes involved in sensation, perception, cognition,
memory, learning, and intelligence.
C. Identify and clearly describe human personality development and psychopathology, and the
empirically validated treatment of common mental disorders.
D. Describe effects of drugs, medications, sleep, and stress on psychological and physical health.
E. Evaluate and accurately predict the influence of emotion and motivation on his/her own behavior and
the behavior of others, including personal and social factors.
F. Examine cross-cultural consistencies in emotion, cognition, and behavior.
G. Accurately write one research paper demonstrating critical analysis based on current psychological
research.
TRANSFORMATIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES (a.k.a. UCO’s “Central Six” Tenants)
The University of Central Oklahoma has identified six transformative learning objectives that place
students at the center of their own active and reflective learning experiences. While any single class may
not touch on all six tenants, this course offers opportunities for students to become engaged in four of the
six tenants. It is the goal of the university, college, and department to support and foster transformative
learning in order for students to develop competencies for all six tenants in order to become productive,
creative, and ethically engaged citizens that are able to initiate action in leadershiproles.
1. Discipline Knowledge: students explore, discuss, and practice the techniques, conventions, and
processes that produce researched written arguments. (Course Objectives B & C)
3. Problem Solving (Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities)-students learn to analyze complex
arguments, to produce arguments informed by careful research, and to document sources following
academic conventions. (Course Objective A)
5. Global and Cultural Competency: students read and write arguments about global and cultural issues
and direct writing to diverse audiences. (Course Objective F)
6. Health and Wellness: students read arguments about, write arguments about, and discuss those
intellectual, emotional, and spiritual issues that give human existence vitality and meaning. (Course
Objectives D & E)
Course Procedures to be Followed:
The course will be taught via online lectures, discussions/activities, video, etc. The text provides a basis
for the course and additional information related to the text material will be givenonline.
Assessment Tools:
Discussion Questions (5 pts each / 75 pts total)
For this course I want you to state your thoughts concerning concepts discussed in your text. For each of
the chapters that I designate to cover in D2L I want you to provide your opinions as well as meaningfully
comment on at least one of your classmates. Two discussions (One original post and One responseto a
classmate) will be due for each chapter and will be due every Friday (See course schedule below). Your
comments will be graded on your ability to effectively applyconcepts discussed from the text and
creativity. All comments must be professionally written and, when appropriate, provide constructive
feedback. Students submitting comments determined to contain profanity or degrading/belittling other
students will not receive credit for their submission. Comments received after the due date will receive a
grade of 0. The lowest discussion grade will be dropped.
Cumulative Quizzes
Students will take seven, yes seven, quizzes during the semester covering approximately two chapters.
Each quiz is cumulative, meaning that concepts from earlier chapters will also be included on later
quizzes. There is a final comprehensive exam which can replace any one quiz worth 100 pts or multiple
quizzes equally 100.
Research Paper (50 pts)
Students will write a research paper where they critique statements or claims made in the popular media
(e.g., magazines, TV, radio, Internet). Once your paper topic has been approved, you will submit a 5
page research paper (Excluding title and reference page) critiquing the claims using at least three peerreviewed journals. Details of the term paper are located in the appendix. Some important dates are:
Research Paper Topic in D2L (5 pts) – Feb. 4th
Research Paper Draft in D2L (5 pts) – April 7th
Research Paper Final in D2L (40 pts) – April 21st
Assignments (50 pts)
There will be six homework assignments in D2L throughout the semester. See the course timeline for
specific due dates.
Grading Scale: (Approximate point totals – final grades assigned by percentages listed below)
1. Quizzes (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140)
pts. each, 4 exams)
560
2. Discussion Questions 75
3. Research paper 50
4. Assignments 50
Total Points 735
A Excellent (>90%)
B Good (>80%)
C Average (>70%)
D Poor (>60%)
F Failure (<60%)
Required Research Participation:
Five research participations or two 2-3-page papers (in APA style on an approved topic) is required in
each General Psychology # 1103 course. Instructions for the research paper are available upon request.
All experiments will be completed through Sona (http://uco.sona-systems.com/) an on-line program that
allows you to register your name, sign up for experiments when they are available, and receive credit for
participation. Instructions for Sona are available through D2L, or see your instructor for assistance. At
least two points must be completed before mid-term, or you will not be allowed to earn points for those
two participations. Failure to complete the required research participation will result in a penalty for the
final course grade. No penalty will be applied if you complete either the five research participations or
complete satisfactory summary papers by the due dates. The paper will be graded using a rubric to
measure accuracy and content. Do not miss any class for experiments. All Sona credits must be
accurately displayed on the Sona system by the last day of regular class BEFORE final exam week to
receive any credit. It is your responsibility to make sure that the sessions that you participate in are
appropriately credited to your Sona total before this deadline. The two 2-3-page papers must be
submitted to turnitin.com and a paper copy turned in to the professor before the last regular class session
(or earlier due date as per your professor or instructor) before final exam week in order to be considered
for credit. The university plagiarism policy will be enforced. The research assignment (participation in 5
research projects or writing two 2-3 page papers in APA style) is worth 50 total points.
IMPORTANT: If you fail to show up for a scheduled appointment or to show up on time, you will receive
zero credit for that experiment. It takes researchers time and effort to prepare for each session, and it is
unprofessional and it is unprofessional to simply not show up to an appointment you scheduled. After
receiving the zero credit for failure to show up to the experiment, participants will be not allowed to sign
up for that experiment at a future date.
Research Participation/Paper Grade Penalty to Overall Course Grade
5 receipts/A – No penalty 2 receipts/D – 9% course deduction
4 receipts/B – 3% course deduction 1 receipts/F – 12% course deduction
3 receipts/C – 6% course deduction 0 receipts/No papers – 15% course deduct
Student Responsibility
In terms of your responsibility for submitting required assignments/taking exams by their
deadlines, expect all assignments to be completed on time. The student is expected to read the
textbook and complete all activities assigned by the instructor.
Communication
I prefer email for most situations. Monday through Friday expect me to respond by within 48 hours. On
the week-end or when I am away from campus (i.e., at a conference), my response is irregular.
When corresponding by email, I will communicate with you using only your UCO email. You should
check your UCO email every day. Emails from other domains (yahoo, gmail, hotmail, etc.) will not receive
replies due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
UCOnnect:
UCOnnect is your way to access electronic information at UCO. Visit Max Chambers Library, manage
your accounts, and stay informed at http://uconnect.uco.edu. Your UCO email address is probably your
first initial and your last name, before “@uco.edu”, e.g., thancock7@uco.edu . Please check your email
often.
Additional Information:
Please see the following website: “http://broncho2.uco.edu/academicaffairs/StudentInfoSheet.pdf”
for information on the Americans with Disabilities Act Statement, Academic Integrity, important dates,
and other information.
Course Changes:
The course syllabus provides a general plan for this course. The professor reserves the right to make
changes to the syllabus, including changes to assignments, projects, case studies, examinations, etc.,
in order to accommodate the needs of the class as a whole and fulfill the goals of thecourse.
Tentative Course Schedule
Week Date Topic Reading/Assignment
Week 1 1/11-15 Where did Psychology come from?
D2L Module 1
Feist – Ch. 1
Due: Jan. 15: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 1
Week 2 1/19-22 How is research conducted?
D2L Module 2
Feist – Ch.2
Due: Jan. 22; D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 2;
Assignment #1; Quiz 1
Week 3 1/25-29 How Does Biology Influence Behavior?
D2L Module 3
Feist – Ch.3
Due: Jan. 29: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 3;
Assignment #2
Week 4 2/1-5 How Do We Sense and Perceive Our World?
D2L Module 4
Feist – Ch.4
Due: Feb. 4: Research Paper
Topic
Due: Feb. 5: D2L – Respond to
Discussion Question 4; Quiz 2
Week 5 2/8-12 Lifespan Development
D2L Module 11
Feist – Ch.5
Due: Feb. 12: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 5;
Assignment #3
Week 6 2/15-19 Consciousness: Wide Awake, in a Daze, or
Dreaming?
D2L Module 5
Feist – Ch. 6
Due: Feb. 19: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 6; Quiz
3
Week 7 2/22-26 How Do We Learn?
D2L Module 6
Feist – Ch.8
Due: Feb. 26: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 7;
Assignment #4
Week 8 2/29-3/4 How Does Memory Function?
D2L Module 7
Feist – Ch.7
Due: Mar. 4: D2L – Respond to
Discussion Question 8; Quiz 4
Week 9 3/7-11 Cognition, Language, and Intelligence: How
Do We Think?
D2L Module 9
Feist – Ch.9 & 10
Due: Mar. 11: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 9
Week 10 3/14-18 Spring Break – No Class
Week 11 3/21-25 Motivation and Emotion
D2L Module 10
Feist – Ch.11
Due: Mar. 25: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 10;
Quiz 5
Week 12 3/28-4/1 Stress & Health
D2L Module 11
Feist – Ch. 12
Due: Apr. 1: D2L – Respond to
Discussion Question 11
Week 13 4/4-8 How Do We Understand and Interact with
Others?
D2L Module 12
Feist – Ch.14
Due: Apr. 7: Research Paper
Draft
Due: Apr. 8: D2L – Respond to
Discussion Question 12; Quiz 6
Week 14 4/11-15 What is Personality, and How Do We Measure
It?
D2L Module 13
Feist – Ch.13
Due: Apr. 15: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 13;
Assignment #5
Week 15 4/18-22 What are Psychological Disorders, and how can
we understand them?
D2L Module 14
Feist – Ch.15
Due: Apr. 21: Research Paper
Due: Apr. 22: D2L – Respond to
Discussion Question 14;
Assignment #6
Week 16 4/25-29 Understanding therapy
D2L Module 15
Feist – Ch. 16
Due: Apr. 29: D2L – Respond
to Discussion Question 15;
Quiz 7
Final 4/28-5/1 Final Exam
RESEARCH PAPER
EXAMPLE & REQUIREMENTS
Students will write a research paper where they critique statements or claims made in the popular media (e.g.,
magazines, TV, radio, Internet).
For example, here is an example of such a claim from the John Tesh radio show –
http://www.tesh.com/story/cc/13/id/22891
Once your topic is approved by your instructor, you will submit a 5 page research paper (Excluding title and reference
page) providing the URL link, brief discussion of the article’s claims, and a critique of the claims using at least each of the
three journals (not internet websites).
For the example above I would look up articles from journals studying how men communicate, women communicate, how
they communicate with each other, and possibly how hormones alter the way we think.
If you need help with formatting I recommend going to the Purdue Owl webpage
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ ) for assistance. The paper should be a minimum of 5 double-spaced,
12 point font, one inch margins.
Some important dates are:
Research Paper Topic in D2L (5 pts) – Feb. 4th
Research Paper Draft in D2L (5 pts) – April 7th
Research Paper Final in D2L (40 pts) – April 21st
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