Psychology 101 General Psychology, Section 01
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South Dakota State University
Summer 2012 Semester, Ten week session, May 29-August 3
Credits: 3
Instructor: Dr. Brady J. Phelps
Office: Scobey Hall 352 phone# 688-6105
E-Mail: All email pertaining to Psy 101 is requested to be kept within D2L
Email for other business: Brady.Phelps@sdstate.edu
Office Hours: I will generally be on-line and or in Scobey Hall 352 from noon until
2:30 M-Th. I will check in on the course on M-Th evenings and again on Sunday
evenings. If my schedule changes due to travel, I will make you aware of changes to my
availability.
All activities are on-line inside D2L.
Course Description: This course is an introduction survey of the field of psychology with
consideration of the biological bases of behavior, sensory and perceptual processes, learning and memory,
human growth and development, social behavior and normal and abnormal behavior.
Prerequisites:
Admission to SDSU or another South Dakota regental university
Technology Skills: an SDSU, USD, NSU, etc., e-mail account; access to a computer with
Internet and a printer for some work, and some Internet experience (please see me if
you do not feel comfortable searching or using the Internet). Some minimum computer
skills such as logging into a website by entering specifically requested information, using
email, opening files and taking tests on-line will be expected of all students.
Required Text:
Kalat, J. W. (2011). Introduction to Psychology, 9th edition. Wadsworth-Cengage
On-line components available via the SDSU D2L portal: https://d2l.sdbor.edu/index.asp
Go here for lecture notes, quizzes and communication with the instructor. The only way to
obtain most of the information covered in class is to attend class. You are responsible for
everything in class, regardless of your attendance
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Even though this is an on-line course, South Dakota State University has an
attendance policy, including on-line courses.
You are expected to log in on the first day of class. See the HomePage of Psy
101 in D2L, under SDSU Getting Started (left side of the homepage) for
complete information.
This course is a 3-credit class, so it is expected that you will be involved appropriately with
respect to your on-line time. For each single credit, you would be spending 3 hours of work
EACH CLASS- one hour in class and 2 hours of reading and studying outside of class. For a
face-to-face 3-credit class, you should be reading, studying, and completing the assignments
outside of class for about 8-9 hours per week. Since there are no actual class meetings, you will be
VERY busy on-line with very challenging material. You will not be doing less work in this class, you will be
doing a great deal of work in this class
The numbers cited above are for the average student with average reading speed to get a
“C” grade. You will be expected to be prepared for quizzes and discussions, viewing videos,
etc..
This course fulfills the Psychology Department’s requirement for the introductory-level Psychology class
required of all Psychology Majors.
and
This course fulfills 3 of the 12 credits for the College of Arts and Science’s Social Science requirement.
and
This course fulfills 4 of the 3 credits for the SDSU Institutional Graduation Requirements (IGR) Goal #3:
Social Responsibility / Cultural and Aesthetic Awareness
Students will demonstrate social responsibility or cultural and aesthetic awareness to foster individual
responsibility and creativity.
Option 1: Social Responsibility
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO):As a result of taking this course, students will:
SLO #1. Demonstrate an appreciation of the different ways in which people express their understanding
of the human condition;
SLO #2. Understand their responsibilities and choices as related to behavioral, cultural, and/or
institutional contexts;
SLO #3. Demonstrate their knowledge of the structures and possibilities of the human community;
or (cannot be used for both IGR and SGE)
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This course fulfills 3 of the 6 credits (2 disciplines needed) for the System General Education
Requirements (SGR) Goal #3: Social Sciences / Diversity
Goal #3: Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the human community through
study of the social sciences.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLO): As a result of taking this course, students should be able to:
SLO #1. Identify and explain basic concepts, terminology and theories of the selected social science
disciplines from different spatial, temporal, cultural and/or institutional contexts;
SLO #2. Apply selected social science concepts and theories to contemporary issues;
SLO #6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the impact of diverse philosophical, ethical, or religious
views.
All student outcomes will be assessed through exams, quizzes, and written assignments.
Course Goals: (SLO fulfillment)
  explore psychology as a science- IGR SLO #2; SGR SLO #1
  compare various viewpoints within psychology- IGR SLO #1; SGR SLO #2
  discuss topics as professional psychologists- IGR SLO #3; SGR SLO #6
  learn the subject matter of and careers in psychology- IGR SLO #2; SGR SLO #1 and #6
  correct erroneous beliefs and perceptions of psychology- IGR SLO #3; SGR SLO #1, #2, and #6
  expose you to psychological research- methods, theories and procedures- IGR SLO #1; SGR SLO #1
and #2
  study human behavior and cognitive processes from within this professional framework- IGR SLO #1;
SGR SLO #1, #2, and #6
*These student learning outcomes will be assessed
examinations.
through discussion and
As Confucius put it, "The worst form of poverty is not to live in small house, but in a small
mind."
Grading: There are several important points to be stressed. A large share of
your grade will be earned with on-line quizzing for each chapter we cover. For
each of the chapters we will cover, you will take an on-line, timed, chapter
quiz.
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•Each quiz consists of 40 multiple choice questions, and must be completed in
42 minutes. You will do a chapter quiz over chapters 1-7, and chapter 10 for 8
required quizzes. Quizzes over chapters 13, 14, 15 and 16 are optional bonus
quizzes worth 20 points, which have to be completed in 22 minutes.
a. You may take a single chapter's quiz only THREE TIMES, up until that
chapter's deadline, on the day that chapter is specified as being due. These
deadlines will be highlighted in the Calendar feature of D2L. Once you answer
a question in any quiz, you cannot go back to it. The exact due dates of the
chapter quizzes will be announced inside the D2L system but every quiz has to
be completed by 9:59 p.m. on the due date.
b. Only the highest score for a given chapter quiz will count toward your final
course grade.
c. The bonus quizzes are purely optional activities; taking them can only help
your grade. You can only try a bonus quiz a total of TWO times, and again only
your highest scores will be recorded. You have until 11:59 p.m. to attempt
these quizzes up until the last day they are available. These deadlines will be
highlighted in the Calendar feature of D2L.
**Important Note: After the second week of school, computer problems, lack
of internet access, etc., will no longer be a valid excuse for missing a chapter
quiz.
Lost quizzes: If you say you submitted a quiz and it does not show up, your
activity can be traced to see if you actually did submit a quiz. The University
can show me who is not being completely truthful.
The quizzes are to be taken closed book, closed notes and without help from
any other person. If you are using your book, any notes or taking the quizzes
with another person, you are cheating
Honesty is always the best policy.
d. For each chapter we cover, you will be required to actively participate in
discussions on-line. More details below but 15 points per chapter will be
available from 8 chapter discussions= 120 pts total.
Chapter Discussions Specifics: You are required to actively participate in on-line discussions for each of the 8
required chapters we will cover. You are expected to be prepared to discuss topics from the chapter by having
read the chapters thoroughly and not merely provide your opinions. I will assess both the amount of your
participation, preparation and timeliness. I will assess your preparation by seeing that you refer to topics,
questions and studies in a given chapter by author of a study, page number or topic-headings. By timeliness, I
mean that you are not chiming in at a point in time when the rest of the class has obviously moved on to another
topic. In terms of participation, a single posting will not be adequate to be actively engaged and participating
in a discussion. A discussion involves “give and take,” the exchange of ideas back and forth. Express your
thinking, reply to others and reply to those who reply to you.
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Further, I will assess the value and depth of your discussion postings and comments
as shown below. Lastly, I will assess the civility of your postings. To help frame your
postings, I have prepared a series of discussion questions for you to answer as you
read and discuss the various chapters. See the HomePage of Psy 101 under SDSU
Getting Started (left side of the page) for a link to the Discussion Questions.
Grading Rubric for Discussions-see Calendar for due dates
Preparation (6 pts) If you earn the 4 point criteria, you have also met the 2 point
criteria
Points
Criteria
4(+2)
Responded by due date; well prepared; did appropriate reading/thought
2
Responded by due date but limited preparation/thought
0
Did not meet due date
Discussion contribution (6 pts)
Points
Criteria
4(+2) Several constructive thoughts in each post; stimulates new discussion & new related issues;
provides documentation and support
2
Builds on the same information as the original post or provides only similar information
0
No documentation or support; provides only "I agree" or "I disagree" statements
Group Dynamics (3 pts)
Points Criteria
3
Discusses with courtesy and professionalism even if disagreeing; maintains discussion topic
0
Rude or devalues other students' contributions; socializes only or frequently gets group off task
Assignments: For three of the more demanding chapters (chapters 3, 4 and 6),
I have put together some fill-in-the-blank assignments to help walk you some
of the important points in the topics. For chapter 2, I am requiring that you
take part in a fun critical thinking exercise on-line. In addition, I have an online exercise for chapter 6. The deadlines for these assignments will be posted
in the calendar for D2L and you will submit your work in the DropBox of D2L.
You can earn a total of 108 points for the assignments.
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Total pts on 8 quizzes =
320 pts
Total pts on 8 on-line discussions = 120 pts
Total pts on five assignments =
Chapter 2 assignment =
10 pts.
Chapter 3 assignment =
45 pts
Chapter 4 assignment =
35 pts
Chapter 6 assignment
=
35 pts
Chapter 6 on-line assignment =
20 pts
Total pts from assignments =
145 pts.
Total points possible in course =
585 pts
If the total of these figures equals or exceeds
90% or 526 pts. or higher = A grade
80% or 468 pts. or higher = B
70% or 409 pts. or higher = C
60% or 351 pts. or higher = D
Less than 60% = F grade
Again, even though this is an on-line course, South Dakota State University has an attendance
policy, including on-line courses. You are expected to log in on the first day of class. See the
HomePage of Psy 101 in D2L, under SDSU Getting Started (left side of the homepage) for
complete information.
Absences and work not-completed on-time:
Teaching and learning is a reciprocal process involving faculty and students. Faculty
members have an obligation of holding classes on a regular basis and students have an
expectation to attend and participate in classes on a regular basis.
Absence due to personal reasons: Absence due to verified medical reasons, death of
a family member or significant other, or verified extenuating circumstances judged
acceptable by the instructor or the Office of Academic Affairs, will be honored. If a
student has an accident, falls ill, or suffers some other emergency over which he/she
has no control, the student needs to gather whatever documentation is available (e.g.,
copies of repair or towing bills, accident reports or statements from health care provider)
to show the instructor. Such exceptions must be communicated and negotiated between
the student and faculty member prior to the absence whenever possible. Absences for
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vacations, breaks, or personal interviews do not constitute a valid reason for
absence.
Absence due to approved university-sponsored/recognized trips: Faculty and
administration will honor officially approved absences where individuals are absent in the
interest of officially representing the University. Appropriate sanctioned activities
include:
ity (Students’ Association, Band, Choir, etc.);
llegiate athletics; and
conference attendance, etc.)
Requests for excused absences must be submitted one week prior to the trip or event.
Students must present the completed approved trip absence card to the faculty member
prior to the trip or event to have an official excused absence. Faculty members are not
required to honor incomplete or late cards
Students with special needs: If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any
type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please inform me and make the
appropriate arrangements with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). The Office of Disability
Services is located in the Student Union building, room 65. To schedule an appointment call
(605) 688-4504 or (605) 688-4986 and request to speak with the Coordinator of Disability
Services. Here is the email address for the coordinator of disability services:
sdsu.disabilityservices@sdstate.edu
Here is the homepage for the Office of Disability Services:
http://www3.sdstate.edu/campus/disability/index.cfm
Policy Statement-Academic Dishonesty
The following actions will not be tolerated and if detected will be reported to the appropriate university
officials for administrative action.
CHEATING: An act of deception by which a student misrepresents that he or she has mastered
information on an academic activity that he or she has not mastered. Any student found using
cheat sheets in an exam will result in an F grade on that exam.
PLAGIARISM: The offering of as one's own work the words, ideas or arguments of another
person without appropriate attribution by quotation, reference or footnote.
FABRICATION: The intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or
citation in an academic exercise.
FACILITATING ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Those who intentionally or knowingly help or attempt to
help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty are also subject to penalty.
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Your Responsibility:
  It is your responsibility to have the assigned readings completed BEFORE class and all the necessary
information downloaded from the homepage and with you in class.
  It is your responsibility to locate a computer, with a printer.
  It is your responsibility to contact me if you need assistance. Don’t wait until the day before the exam
or as you are handing in the assignment or quiz.
  It is your responsibility to participate in class. I adjust the lecture according to your feedback and
participation. We can have lectures from beginning to end or we can punctuate the lectures with
discussions—it’s up to you.
My Responsibility:
  to instruct you in the scientific study of psychology.
  to get you ready for more in-depth study in each of the areas we discuss.
  to teach you about your career options in psychology, to help you prepare for them, and to help
motivate you towards your goals.
  to help you begin to learn the technology you will need as a Psychology major.
  to give you the ability to critically evaluate psychological reports and discriminate between
behavioral science and pseudoscience.
Students with official excused absences: Students with excused absences will be
given appropriate make up work or instructor-determined equivalent opportunities for
obtaining grades as students who were in attendance. Students with official excused
absences are not to be penalized in course progress or evaluation. However, should
excused absences be excessive, the faculty member may recommend withdrawal from
the course(s) or a grade of incomplete to the student.
Online course attendance policy: Attendance policies do apply in the online
classroom. Faculty members determine the specific attendance policy for courses under
their direct supervision and instruction. Attendance procedures must be stated in written
form and made available to students on the first day of the course. Common strategies
for demonstrating “attendance” in an online course include login requirements per week,
an identified number of discussion postings per week, consistent contact with peers and
instructor, and/or other assignments as determined by the instructor. Also, students are
expected to login to their class on the first day of the semester.
Mediation on absence: Arrangements should be negotiated with faculty members. If
this is not possible, the students should go first to the department head, and if
necessary, next to the dean. The student may contact the Office of Academic Affairs if
conflict cannot be resolved at these levels.
I do not see how missed discussions can be made up unless special
arrangements are justified with your instructor.
If you are sick or someone you care for is sick, I will likely ask to see a note from a
doctor; if you are in legal trouble, I will ask for a note from a court or an attorney.
Funerals for immediate family are accepted excuses, I may still ask for documentation,
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but don’t try to tell me you could not be on-line. The internet is everywhere you
can be and you are taking an on-line class. Be on-line as needed.
Specific Course Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, a
student should be able to:
1. Distinguish psychology from philosophy, and tell the difference between scientific and
pseudoscientific claims regarding the range of human abilities i.e., the right-brain/left-brain myth,
etc. What are some of the controversial claims of human ability that are not based on acceptable
facts?
2. Understand the basics of scientific research/methodology in psychology.
3. Understand the contributions of nature to human behavior, the role of experience (or nurture)
and the influence of the evolution of humans on present day humanity.
4. Identify the specialties in psychology and related fields.
5. Have a basic understanding of brain and nervous system structure at the microscopic and
macroscopic level. Ever heard that the sexes have very different brain functions? Ever heard that
we only use about 10% of our brain potential? What are some of the basic brain structures? What
are some of the major neurotransmitters and their receptors?
6. Understand the basic processes in sensory processes and how these are affected by innate and
environmental variables. How can brain damage alter how we see, hear, smell, etc.? Does
everybody “see” the world exactly the same?
7. Understand some of the variations in states of consciousness, and what we really know and
don't know about special topics such as hypnosis, dreams, near-death experiences, and druginduced altered states of consciousness. Can everyone be hypnotized? Why are drugs addictive?
What are sleepwalking and sleep talking?
8. Understand the basic mechanisms underlying learning in animals and humans. Why do some
psychologists compare humans to other animals and other psychologists want to compare us to
computers? What exactly is thinking and why are there so many theories that don't tell us much
as to how to improve our memory (with success). What exactly is thinking?
9. What is memory and how do we remember? How reliable is memory? What causes amnesia?
10. What are some common (and less common) types of behavior disorders we call mental
illness? How is mental illness defined? What exactly is schizophrenia, dissociative identity
disorder, bipolar disorder? How are these treated? Are all treatments effective?
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Tentative Schedule of Events
If server problems occur at critical times, deadlines will be adjusted. You should
not leave your completion of the quizzes to the last minute of the last night
possible. That is when server problems are most likely to occur, so PLEASE plan
ahead.
Important dates-The last day to withdraw from this course AND obtain a refund: June
3, 2012
July 16th is the absolute last day to withdraw from this class.
Remember, the quizzes are self-paced but you must have them completed by
the deadline specified; but if you leave them to the last possible day, you will be
unlikely to do your best work. The Discussion Forums are also self-paced as
shown here.
Discussion Deadlines:
Chap 1 Discussion, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. June 6th
Chap 2 Discussion, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. June 14th
Chap 3 Discussion, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. June 22nd
Chap 4 Discussion, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. June 29th
Chap 5 Discussion, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. July 6th
Chap 6 Discussion, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. July 13th
Chap 7 Discussion, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. July 23rd
Chap 10 Discussion, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. Aug 2nd
Quiz Deadlines for required quizzes:
Chapter 1 Quiz, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. June 7th
Chapter 2 Quiz, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. June 15th
Chapter 3 Quiz, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. June 23rd
Chapter 4 Quiz, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. June 30th
Chapter 5 Quiz, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. July 7th
Chapter 6 Quiz, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. July 14th
Chapter 7 Quiz, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. July 24th
Chapter 10 Quiz, must be completed by 9:59 p.m. Aug 3rd
**Please note that some of the quizzes have a Saturday deadline. I do not expect you
to do the work on a Saturday but one extra day to complete a quiz is probably better
than the alternative. Why not just get it done before the weekend?
Deadlines for assignments:
Chapter 2 assignment: June 13, 2012, 9:59 p.m.
Chapter 3 assignment: June 21, 2012, 9:59 p.m.
Chapter 4 assignment: June 29, 2012, 9:59 p.m.
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Chapter 6 on-line assignment: July 11, 2012, 9:59 p.m.
Chapter 6 assignment: July 12, 2012, 9:59 p.m.
Quiz Deadlines for optional BONUS quizzes
Chap 13 Quiz, must be completed by 11:59 p.m.
Chap 14 Quiz, must be completed by 11:59 p.m.
Chap 15 Quiz, must be completed by 11:59 p.m.
Chap 16 Quiz, must be completed by 11:59 p.m.
August
August
August
August
6th
6th
6th
6th
***Grades for this course have to be submitted on August 8th, so the options I can offer
you for bonus extra credit points are limited to the time available.
To access Desire 2 Learn:
If you are a first time D2L user, please open a web browser and go to
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Once there, you will need to click the link from the left-hand navigation menu which states:
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If you receive an error message, it may be useful to return to the last page and follow the link toward the top of the page
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a. Find your Desire 2 Learn Username and your email address
At this point, you will need to know your Colleague ID number. Enter your last name and Colleague ID number in the box
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Now go back to Step 3 to enter your D2L username and email address and you will be sent a temporary password for Desire
2 Learn. Move on to Step 4.
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