Fall 2009
Syllabus
PSY 301H
Introductory Psychology: Honors
(Unique No. 43915)
Room: Seay 2.108
Time: T-TH 2:00-3:15
Instructor: C. J. Holahan
Office hours: T-TH 3:15-4:00, W 2:30-4:00; and by appointment
Office: Seay 3.202
E-mail: holahan@psy.utexas.edu
TA: Amy Roberson
Office hours: M-W 9:00-10:30; and by appointment
Office: Seay 2.122
E-mail: amyroberson@mail.utexas.edu
Overview of Class:
This is a broad survey course that covers the scope of psychology as a science. Topics encompass: the
nature of psychology, adaptive functioning, individual differences and social behavior, development and
learning, and mind and brain. Students will write and substantially revise a paper based on scientific
sources and write a paper applying these scientific findings to a case study. Objectives include learning
about research findings across the breadth of psychology, learning to understand a particular
psychological topic in depth, and learning to integrate knowledge across diverse areas of psychology.
Texts:
Psychology: Themes and Variations (8th edition) by Wayne Weiten
Forty Studies That Changed Psychology (6th edition) by Roger Hock
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Basis for Evaluation:
I. Four Tests (30% of grade): Each test will have 40 multiple-choice questions. Half of the test
questions will be based on class lectures and half will be based on the Weiten text. You are expected to
take all of the tests; however, your lowest test will be dropped. Using your three highest tests, each test
question is worth 1/4 point in the final course grade. There will be no make-up tests.
First Test
Second Test
Third Test
Fourth Test
Tuesday, September 22nd
Thursday, October 15th
Tuesday, November 17th
Thursday, December 3rd
II. Three Papers (50% of grade):
First Paper
Second Paper
Third Paper
Due Thursday, October 1st (20% of grade)
Due Tuesday, October 20th (10% of grade)
Due Tuesday, November 10th (20% of grade)
The first paper is a literature review based broadly on any of the topic areas covered in Forty
Studies That Changed Psychology. Your paper should pose a question, integrate and critique
research findings relevant to your question, and reach a conclusion. Be creative—a topic that is
fun for you will make it easier to write an exciting and interesting paper. The first paper should
be approximately 6 double-spaced pages with a minimum of 4 references. At least 2 references
must be empirical studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Additional references
may be from books, anthology chapters, or review articles that review empirical studies in the
topic area and that are written by researchers who are authorities in the field.
The second paper is a substantial rewrite of the first paper based on feedback you receive on your
first paper. Like your first paper, the second paper should be approximately 6 double-spaced
pages.
The third paper is an application of your topic in the context of a case history. The case history
may be an interview by you of an individual who has dealt personally with your topic.
Alternatively, the case history may come from biography, autobiography, literature, or even the
mass media. The third paper should be approximately 6 double-spaced pages. To insure the
complete freedom of individuals in agreeing to be interviewed, no person under eighteen may be
interviewed and no person in a confining environment, such as a nursing home or prison, may be
interviewed. Also, to respect the privacy of interviewees, all personally identifying material
should be concealed.
III. Final Exam (20% of grade): The final exam is essay format and involves integrative questions
covering the assigned chapters in Hock's Forty Studies That Changed Psychology. The final exam is at
the UT scheduled time on Saturday, December 12th, from 7:00 PM–10:00 PM (no exceptions).
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Course Grade:
The course grade (possible 100 points) will be computed as the total of:
(a) your three highest test scores (summed and divided by 4),
(b) the three papers, and
(c) the final exam.
Cut-offs for the course grade are:
A = 92 and above
A- = 90 to 91 and above
B+ = 88 to 89
B = 82-87
B- = 80-81
C+ = 78-79
C = 72-77
C- = 70-71
D+ = 68-69
D = 62-67
D- = 60-61
F = 59 and below
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend all classes. However, attendance is not part of the grade.
Research Requirement:
Students enrolled in PSY 301 must fulfill a research requirement consisting of either participation in
psychological research studies as a subject or writing a paper on psychological research, in addition to
class work. This requirement will be explained on the first day of classes and a research packet will be
distributed. If you do not complete the research requirement by Wednesday, November 25th, you will
receive an incomplete for the course. The research requirement will not be used in determining your
grade in the course; however, you will not receive a final course grade until the research requirement is
completed.
Students with Disabilities
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations
for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Division of Diversity
and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259.
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Assigned Readings from Weiten's Psychology for Four Tests
For the First Test
Chapters 1
Chapters 2
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Evolution of Psychology
Research in Psychology
Stress, Coping, and Health
Psychological Disorders
For the Second Test
Chapter 15
Chapter 12
Chapter 5
Chapter 16
Treatment
Personality
Consciousness
Social Behavior
For the Third Test
Chapter 11
Chapter 9
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Human Development
Intelligence
Learning
Memory
For the Fourth Test
Chapter 8
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 10
Language and Thought
Biological Bases of Behavior
Sensation and Perception
Motivation and Emotion
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Assigned Readings from Hock's Forty Studies for Final Exam
Stress, Coping, and Health
Holmes & Rahe (p. 175)
Friedman & Rosenman (p. 210)
Psychological Disorders
Bouchard et al. (p. 19)
Treatment
Seligman (p. 242)*
Wolpe (p. 264)*
Personality
Rotter (p. 192)*
Triandis et al. (p. 217)
Consciousness
Aserinsky & Kleitman; Dement (p. 42)
Hobson & McCarley (p. 49)
Social Behavior
Zimbardo (p. 287)
Darley & Latane (p. 300)*
Milgram (p. 308)*
Human Development
Frantz p. 36)*
Piaget (p. 134)
Kohlberg (p. 143)
Intelligence
Rosenthal (p. 93)
Gardner (p. 100)
Learning
Pavlov (p. 65)*
Skinner (p. 78)*
Bandura (p. 85)*
Memory
Loftus (p. 117)
Biological Bases of Behavior
Gazzaniga (p. 1)
Rosenzweig et al. (p. 11)
Bold text = on final exam
Asterisk = highly recommended but not on final exam
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Integrative Course Schedule
Date
Lecture Topic*/Assignment
Required Reading
Aug. 27
Evolution of Psychology
Weiten Chapter 1
Sept. 1
Research in Psychology
Weiten Chapter 2
Sept. 3
Research in Psychology
Weiten Chapter 2
Sept. 8
Stress, Coping, and Health
Weiten Chapter 13
Sept. 10
Stress, Coping, and Health
Weiten Chapter 13
Sept. 15
Psychological Disorders
Weiten Chapter 14
Sept. 17
Psychological Disorders
Weiten Chapter 14
Sept. 22
Test 1
Sept. 24
Treatment
Weiten Chapter 15
Sept. 29
Treatment
Weiten Chapter 15
Oct. 1
Personality (Paper 1 due)
Weiten Chapter 12
Oct. 6
Consciousness
Weiten Chapter 5
Oct. 8
Consciousness/ Social Behavior
Weiten Chapters 5 & 16
Oct. 13
Social Behavior
Weiten Chapter 16
Oct. 15
Test 2
Oct. 20
Human Development (Paper 2 due)
Weiten Chapter 11
Oct. 22
Intelligence
Weiten Chapter 9
Oct. 27
Intelligence
Weiten Chapter 9
Oct. 29
Learning
Weiten Chapter 6
Nov. 3
Memory
Weiten Chapter 7
Nov. 5
Memory
Weiten Chapter 7
Nov. 10
Test 3
Nov. 12
Language and Thought
Weiten Chapter 8
Nov. 17
Biol Bases of Behav (Paper 3 due)
Weiten Chapter 3
Nov. 19
Biol Bases of Behav
Weiten Chapter 3
Nov. 24
Sensation and Perception
Weiten Chapter 4
Dec. 1
Motivation and Emotion
Weiten Chapter 10
Dec. 3
Test 4
Dec. 12
Final Exam
Hock chapters in bold
*Dates for lecture topics may be readjusted slightly to enhance class learning.