PSY-001-2, Rogers, Fall 2017

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General Psychology PSY-001-2

Professor: Steve Rogers, Ph.D. Office: WH 337 Class Time: MWF 9:15–10:20am Office Hours: MWF 11:30- Location: WH106 12:30, F: 2-3pm, & by appt. Semester: Fall 2017 Phone: 805-565-6818 E-mail: strogers@westmont.edu

Goals for the Course This course will provide a survey of the principal areas of study that constitute scientific psychology. The goals of the course are:

Ø Knowing the critical theoretical perspectives and methods of psychology Ø Developing familiarity with the primary content areas in psychology, including

motivation and emotion; psychological disorders; psychotherapeutic methods; the essence of personality; behavioral neuroscience; sensation and perception; the nature of learning, thought, and intelligence; human development; and the nature of social perception and social influence

Ø Understanding scientific writing so that you can competently read psychological journal articles and develop familiarity writing according to the style of the American Psychological Association (APA)

Ø Beginning to conceptualize and explore how psychology can enter into dialogue with theology, the Christian faith, and your personal and professional journey, including your own particular major

GE Requirements Satisfied This course meets the GE requirements for Common Inquiries: Exploring the Life Sciences. ******************************************************************************************** Required Texts

• Gazzaniga, M. S., Heatherton, T. F., & Halpern, D. F. (2016). Psychological science (5th ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

• American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American psychological association (6th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.

Recommended Internet Resources http://www.westmont.edu/_academics/departments/psychology/psy001.html ******************************************************************************************** Reading assignments The reading assignments in the schedule form the basis of the lectures and discussions, so they

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are to be read prior to the date for which they are assigned. Examinations

There will be four (4) exams that cover information from the readings and lectures. They will be predominantly multiple-choice in format. The exams are not cumulative, except to the extent that the material is inherently cumulative. Writing Assignments There are two (2) writing assignments for this class. The goal of each is for you to learn the basic organization and editorial style (citing, quoting, bibliographic documentation) used in writing APA reports of original empirical research. For each, you will need to first choose a topic or issue in psychology that has personal interest for you. Then you will select and read an original, empirical research article on this topic published in a peer-reviewed psychology journal. You will need to find these articles using the PsychInfo database available through the Westmont library’s website. [To qualify as “empirical,” your article needs to describe an actual study or experiment, so it will include an introduction, methods, statistical analyses, and results. Expect to spend some significant time finding and reading articles until you find the “right” one (e.g., interesting, relatively uncomplicated). Many articles are available in full text format, but some articles will need to be obtained via interlibrary loan, which can take a week or two, so it will help to plan ahead.] After you have read each article, you will complete the Article Summary Worksheet provided on Canvas. To ensure a learning curve, the second worksheet will be graded more stringently and contribute to a greater percentage of your grade. Please submit both the original article and your worksheet in printed form and via email. This means that you will be emailing me a copy of your worksheet and .pdf version of your article, as well as printing and submitting both on the day they are due in class. Subject Pool Participation In order to gain experience understanding scientific methods, psychological phenomena, and the academic discipline of psychology, you are required to participate in a minimum of five (5) studies that are pre-approved by the psychology department. The first 2 must be completed by the end of week 8 of classes (Friday, October 20 by 5 pm) and the last 3 must be completed by the end of week 14 of classes (Friday, December 1 by 5 pm). If you fail to complete the research participation assignment by the assigned dates, you will be penalized by a reduction of 1% of your grade for each missing study. Please sign up for experiments as they become available. It will help to regularly check for experiments on the “Research Study Sign Up for PSY 001 Students” link at: http://www.westmont.edu/_academics/departments/psychology/subjectpool.html.

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Grading Criterion

Assignment Percent of Total 4 exams 80% (20% each) 2 Article Summary Worksheets 5% for the first

10% for the second Subject Pool Participation 5%

Each assignment will be scored on a scale of 0 to 100 and then weighted according to the percentages listed above. The final course grade will be assigned using cut-point scores of 90, 80, 70, and 60 for grades of A, B, C, and D, respectively. + and – scores will be assigned at the instructor’s discretion. Policies: Attendance: Students are responsible for knowing course material and announcements made

during normal class meetings. If you miss a class, get notes from one or two other students, compare those notes with readings, and (if necessary) schedule an appointment with me to answer specific questions. According to Westmont policy, students missing more than six unexcused absences during the course of a semester may be dropped from the class with an F. You are responsible for making up any work missed by excused or unexcused absences.

Digital Etiquette: This is hopefully self-evident, but you should turn off your cellphone and/or other

electronic devices before you enter the classroom. If you bring a laptop to class, it should only be used for taking notes pertinent to the class discussion and lecture. If you check your email, play Call of Duty, text your friends, manage your Instagram account, or work on assignments for other classes, you will be asked to put your laptop away. Such activities not only distract you, but they also distract those around or behind you.

Late work: Assignments other than exams are due at the beginning of lecture on the day

specified in the attached schedule. Assignments turned in after these times incur a 10% per day penalty.

Academic Integrity: All students are expected to subscribe to the highest ideals of academic integrity.

Any form of academic dishonesty will be dealt with as severely as allowed by the college, most likely a grade of F in the course and recommendation of dismissal from the college. “Academic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, and falsification.

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Plagiarism: You are responsible for knowing the entire Westmont College Plagiarism Policy,

which is available at: http://www.westmont.edu/_offices/provost/plagiarism/academic_integrity_policy.html

Academic Accommodations:

Students who have been diagnosed with a disability (chronic medical, learning, physical, or psychological) are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) as early as possible to discuss appropriate accommodations for this course. Formal accommodations will only be granted for students whose disabilities have been verified by ODS. For more information, contact Sheri Noble, Director of Disability Services (565-6186, snoble@westmont.edu ) or visit the website http://www.westmont.edu/_offices/disability ). ODS is located in Voskuyl Library rooms 310A and 311.

Confidentiality:

Due to the possibility that confidential material may emerge within class sessions, it is essential that we be ethical in our treatment of others and uphold the highest principles of confidentiality. Respect the trust of your classmates by maintaining strict confidentiality of all discussions occurring within the class.

Take your Professor to Lunch:

One of the things I value the most is the opportunity to develop relationships with students. The classroom environment does not always allow for more personalized attention or one-on-one exchanges, but I am always open to getting together for coffee or lunch. Feel free to take advantage of the Take Your Professor to Lunch passes that the Office of Campus Life makes available.

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Tentative Schedule for Lectures, Assignments, and Exams Date Topic Reading Assignments Exams/Projects 8/28 Course review 8/30 The Science of Psychology Chapter 1 9/1 Research Methodology Chapter 2 9/4 9/6 Biology & Behavior Chapter 3 9/8

9/11 9/13 Consciousness Chapter 4 9/15 9/18 Exam 1: Chapters 1-4 9/20 Sensation & Perception Chapter 5 9/22 9/25 Learning Chapter 6 9/27 9/29 10/2 Memory Chapter 7 10/4 10/6 Exam 2: Chapters 5-7

10/9-10 Fall Holiday 10/11 Thinking, Language, & Intelligence Chapter 8 10/13 Article Summary 10/16 10/18 Human Development Chapter 9 10/20 First 2 Research Studies 10/23 10/25 Emotion & Motivation Chapter 10 10/27 10/30 Health & Well-Being Chapter 11 11/1 11/3 11/6 Exam 3: Chapters 8-11 11/8 Social Psychology Chapter 12

11/10 11/13 11/15 Personality Chapter 13 11/17 11/20

11/22-24 Thanksgiving Holiday 11/27 Psychological Disorders Chapter 14 11/29 Article Summary 12/1 Last 3 Research Studies 12/4 Treatment of Psychological Disorders Chapter 15 12/6 12/8

Finals 12/14, 8-10:00am Exam 4: Chapters 12-15

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Course  Learning  Outcomes    1. Students  will  demonstrate  an  understanding  of  the  critical  theoretical  perspectives  and  

methods  of  psychology,  as  well  as  familiarity  with  the  primary  content  areas  in  psychology.  

 Assessment:    Exams  

 Relative  to  Program  Learning  Outcome:    Knowledge  Base  Our  students  will  be  able  to  articulate  both  (a)  the  structure  of  the  academic  discipline  of  psychology  and  (b)  the  key  elements  of  content  within  a  wide  variety  of  areas  within  psychology,  integrating  them  with  each  other.  

 2. Students  will  competently  read  psychological  journal  articles  and  develop  familiarity  

writing  according  to  APA  style.    Assessment:    Two  writing  assignments    Relative  to  Program  Learning  Outcome:    Written  and  Oral  Communication.  Students  will  be  able  to  write  and  speak  in  genres  appropriate  to  the  academic  discipline  of  psychology.