INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY 301
SPRING 2010
GENERAL INFORMATION
Instructor: Juan Salinas
email: salinas@psy.utexas.edu
Office: 3.210 Seay (SEA) Psychology
Building, but come in by the door in the
graduate Office, Rm 3.214
Office Hours: MWF 11:00 am - noon, 2:00 –
3:00 pm or by appointment
Section: 43740
Time: MWF 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Classroom: University Teaching Center
(UTC), Rm 3.110
Section: 43755
Time: MWF 1:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.
Classroom: University Teaching Center
(UTC), Rm 2.102A
Teaching Assistants: TBA
email: TBA
Office: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
Teaching Assistant: TBA
email: TBA
Office: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
COURSE WEBSITE & EMAIL:
There's a rudimentary website for this class to provide announcements, course syllabus
and updates to the syllabus, lecture outlines and copies of the overheads. Log onto
http://HomePage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/Class/Psy301/Salinas/index.html
A note to the wise, if you print out the overheads for yourself, you don't HAVE to print
them out in color just because they're in color in class or on the web. Printing in color usually
costs extra and the information reads the same in black and white
You can email me to ask questions directly to me if you forgot while in class or were too
shy or I just didn't see you or I had to move on. I'll answer each person's question and if it's a
good one or several people ask the same one, I'll post it on the "Q&A" section of the class
webpage.
COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES:
This course is intended to introduce a wide range of topics in modern psychology in
particular and science in general. The course is also intended to provide you with a sufficient
general background for critically evaluating statements about human behavior as well as for
upper division courses in psychology.
This section of Psychology 301 will emphasize biological aspects of psychology, but not
to the exclusion of other perspectives. The lectures will focus on issues of human
development, behavioral genetics, personality theory, behavior disorders, social psychology,
language, memory and cognitive and sensory processes. The lectures will supplement the
textbook readings, not duplicate them. To the extent that that lectures cover text material, they
will do so to underline central issues and clarify difficult points. Introductory courses, by
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY 301
necessity, often treat complex issues in a simplified format. Therefore, conflicts may arise between the
contents of the lectures and the text. In such conflicts, the lecture content has priority.
Several of the individual lectures cover a great deal of information. In order to assist
students in preparation for lectures, notetaking and studying for exams, a general outline of
each lecture and images of the overheads presented in class, as well as a copy of this syllabus,
are available on the Psychology Department’s WWW HomePage server.
Contemporary psychology is a very broad and diverse area. By necessity, then, the
course will not be able to pursue many topics in great depth. If you develop an interest in a
particular area or topic in psychology, I encourage you to sign up for one of the more
specialized courses.
TESTS & GRADING:
Course grades will be assigned according to averages of four exams as follows: 100-92
= A, 91-90 = A-, 89-88 = B+, 87-82 = B, 81-80 = B-, 79-78 = C+, 77-72 = C, 71-70 = C-, 69-68 = D+
67-62 = D, 61-60 = D-, 59-below = F. There will be no grading on a curve. A grade of at least C
in Psychology 301 is required before enrollment in any other Psychology course. There will be
a total of five tests during this course: four in-class during the semester and the final exam.
The mid-semester exams are tentatively set for Wednesday, Feb. 10th, Monday, Mar. 8th
Wednesday, Mar. 31st and Wednesday, April 14th. The final exam time and location will be
announced later. The last scheduled class period prior to an exam will be used for review of test
material. The best 4 out of 5 exam grades will be used to determine the course grade. Exams will
begin AFTER all papers have been distributed and ALL exams must be turned in at the instructor’s
direction or the exam will not be accepted and will be treated as a missed exam. After the fourth midsemester exam, if you are satisfied with your grade average, you can elect to eliminate the final exam.
However, for purposes of course management, you MUST email me that you will not be taking the final
exam. If an exam during the semester is missed, then the final exam is obligatory. If two exams are
missed and only three exams are on record, then the average will still be calculated as if there were four
scores. The exams will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions covering the lectures. The material
covered on the exams will be non-overlapping. You will need a number 2 pencil for each exam.
BECAUSE ONLY 4 OUT OF 5 EXAMS DETERMINE THE COURSE GRADE, MAKE-UP
EXAMS WILL NOT BE ADMINISTERED. For students with disabilities, I am available to discuss
any appropriate academic accommodations that might be necessary for this course. Before course
accommodations are made, a student may be required to provide documentation to the Office of the
Dean of Students--Services for Students with Disabilities.
COMPORTMENT
Rude behavior such as talking, reading a newspaper, or other disruptive or distracting
behavior will not be tolerated in class.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY:
The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized
collaboration, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating
honestly in the learning process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to,
providing false or misleading information to receive a postponement or an extension on a test,
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY 301
quiz or other assignment. By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to these guidelines and
must adhere to them. ANY INCIDENTS OF SCOLASTIC DISHONESTY WILL BE REFERRED
TO THE DEAN OF STUDENTS’ OFFICE. For more information on scholastic dishonesty,
please visit the Student Judicial Services website at http://www.utexas.edu/depts/dos/sjs.
TEXTBOOK:
Schacter, Gilbert and Wegner. Psychology (2008). 1st ed., Worth Publishers.
Is NO LONGER REQUIRED. It is only suggested. It has been replaced by readings on the class
webpage.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
If a student has academic problems in this class (or in other classes for that matter) that
persist despite help from the Instructor or the T.A., students are encouraged to turn to the
Learning Skills Center in Jester Center for help. The Learning Skills Center offers a variety of
counseling and tutorial services, either free or for a low, low, fee such as: tutoring, test-taking
skills, study skills and writing classes. To learn more about their services and how they can
help you, contact them at 471-3614 or visit their web site at
http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc.
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH REQUIREMENT:
There is a mandatory research requirement in the Department of Psychology intended
to impart Psychology 301 students with a familiarity and appreciation of the aims, methods,
problems and results of psychological research. There are two options: the Research Paper or
Experiment Participation. A student can choose either option to fulfill the mandatory research
requirement. The details of the procedures for both options can be found in the handout
entitled "THE PSYCHOLOGY 301 RESEARCH REQUIREMENT" that will be handed out on
one of the first days of class or can be obtained in the Psychology Undergraduate Office in
Room 2.218 of the Seay Psychology Building. Failure to complete the research requirement at
the end of the semester by either not turning in a research paper or not completing the
required number of 5 experimental credit hours will result in an incomplete grade for the
course. The grade will be released when the requirement is fulfilled. If the requirement is left
unfulfilled by the end of the next long semester (in this case, Fall 2010) the incomplete will
automatically revert to an F.
It is important to note that the research requirement DOES NOT influence the
calculation of the course grade. The research requirement is only a condition of the release of
the course grade. Extra credit CANNOT be obtained by writing research papers or
participating in experiments. The course grade is based on exam performance ONLY.
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY 301
Su
M
January
Week 1
18
Week 2
25
COURSE SCHEDULE
Tu
W
MLK DAY
27
Week 4
8
Evolution & Genetics
(cont’d.)
Week 5
*15
*3
Research methodology
(cont’d.)
Last day to add; 12th class
day.
10
Exam 1
5
17
19
Brain and behavior
(cont’d.)
Week 6
Week 8
Week 11
*29
31
Spring
Break
Learning &
Behavior/Memory
(cont’d)
12
17
Spring Break
Mental Disorders
(cont’d.)
Spring
Break
19
Spring Break
April
7
2
Language and thought
Ch 7
9
Consciousness
Ch 8
Motivation & Emotion
Ch 10
12
Motivation & Emotion
(cont’d)
14
19
21
Sensation & Perception
Ch 4
28
Biological Basis of
Behavior Disorders
(cont’d)
23
Sensation & Perception
(cont’d)
30
Human Development;
Ch 11
5
7
Personality; (cont’d)
26
Biological Basis of
Behavior Disorders
3
Human Development
(cont’d.)
Spring
Break
Treatment (cont’d.)
Exam 3
Intelligence;
Ch 9
Spring
Break
26
Treatment
Ch 14
Treatment (cont’d.)
Q drop deadline
Week 16
5
Mental Disorders
Ch 13
24
Week 15
Learning &
Behavior/Memory
(cont’d)
10
22
Mental Disorders (cont’d.)
5
26
Learning &
Behavior/Memory (cont’d)
Week 10
Spring Break
Week 14
Brain and behavior
(cont’d.)
3
March 1
Learning &
Behavior/Memory
Ch 5 (cont’d)
8
Exam 2
15
Spring Break
Week 13
Brain and behavior
Ch 3
Learning &
Behavior/Memory
Ch 6
Week 9
Spring Break
Week 12
12
24
Brain and behavior
(cont’d.)
Week 7
Evolution & Genetics
Ch. 3, pp 104-107
Brain and behavior
(cont’d.)
22
Sa
29
Research methodology
Ch 2
Introduction to
Psychological Science
(cont’d.)
February 1
Research methodology;
(cont’d.)
F
*22
End of Free Add/Drops
Introduction to
Psychological Science
(cont’d.)
Syllabus & General
Information
Introduction to
Psychological Science
Ch 1
Introduction to
Psychological Science
(cont’d.)
Week 3
Th
20
16
Exam 4
Human Development
(cont’d.)
Personality
Ch 12
May
Human Development
(cont’d.)
*You can add/drop freely through the 12th class day (1/23. After that you can only drop until 2/15. After that
you can drop but you must bring me a drop form through 3/29 After that, it's a major hassle (for you) and
you can only drop for substantiated non-academic reasons.
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY 301