PSYCH 101: Introduction to Psychology
Spring 2008
Meeting time
Location
Instructor
Office
Email
Course website
Course email
Teaching assistants
CORY SECRIST
TA fellow
Office: Guthrie 10B
Wed. 12:30-1:20pm
11:30am-12:20pm Monday-Friday
Kane 120
ANN VOORHIES, PH.D.
Guthrie 218; Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:30pm and by appointment
anncv@u.washington.edu
http://courses.washington.edu/psyc101b/
psyc101b@u.washington.edu
MICHELE BEDARD
Graduate TA
Office: Guthrie 10B
Mon. 10:30-11:20am
CHRISTEINE TERRY
Graduate TA
Office: Guthrie Annex 1,
Rm. 130 Mon. 3-4pm
TRACI FELLER
UGTA/CLUE instructor
MGH 251
Thurs. 8-9:30pm
Required reading: Myers, D.G. (2008) Exploring Psychology, 7th ed. New York: Worth Publishers.
Other resources: Class note outlines, lecture podcasts, and other optional resources are available on
the course website.
Email: Check your email at least once per day. Schedule changes and important information will be
communicated via email.
Please turn off all cell phones and digital devices* BEFORE the start of class. Taking phone calls
and text messaging during class are rude and disruptive behaviors that will not be tolerated. If a family
emergency necessitates having access to your phone, keep it on vibrate, and inform me before class
starts. *Recording devices are permitted.
Laptop computers are permitted in the back 2-3 rows of the classroom. Anyone disrupting class from
anywhere in the room will be asked to leave.
Disabled students: To request academic accommodations due to a disability, contact Disabled
Student Services, 448 Schmitz Hall, (543-8924: V/TDD). Provide me with a letter from DSS
indicating the accommodations required, so that we can discuss your needs for the class.
Note on attendance: Please do not ask for permission to miss class, leave early, or arrive late. You
are responsible for your attendance and for any information you miss by not attending class. If you
miss all or part of class, it is your responsibility to get the information you need from another student
in the class.
Course Description:
Introduction to Psychology is a survey of the scientific study of behavior, including learning and
memory, language, cognition, perception, personality, social and abnormal behavior, and the research
methods used to study behavior. Classes will consist primarily of lectures and short films. Because of
the vast amount of information in this dynamic field, and the brevity of the quarter, we will be moving
very quickly through a lot of material. You are expected to have done the readings before class, so
that you are prepared. It is recommended that you make use of the quizzes throughout the textbook
and on the website that accompanies the text (http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/exploring7e/) as
preparation for the midterms. Some material will be covered by both the textbook and lecture;
however, some lecture material and reading content will be independent of the other. All material will
be reflected on the exams. Therefore it is very important for you to attend class and keep up with the
reading.
Course Goals:
1. Knowledge of psychology: This course will introduce the major approaches to the study of
behavior, the research process, major contributions and issues in psychology, general psychological
concepts and terminology, and applications of historical and contemporary psychological
discoveries.
2. Critical scientific thinking: This course will promote intellectual curiosity about human and
animal behavior, increase appreciation for the scientific method, uncover faulty or biased ideas,
and develop students’ ability to critically evaluate scientific information.
3. Everyday application: This course will increase students’ understanding of how psychological
principles apply to everyday life.
Grading:
Tests
There will be 5 midterms throughout the quarter. Each midterm will be worth 50 points. Midterms
will be based on lectures and all assigned readings. In addition to the 5 midterms, there will be a
cumulative, 50 point final, given on June 11, 2008 at 2:30-4:20pm.
There will be NO MAKE-UP TESTS and NO FINALS GIVEN EARLY. Please read the following
policy carefully:
 IF you have taken all 5 midterms, you are exempt from the final and may opt not to take it.
(Note: if you have summer plans that require leaving before the final, you MUST take all 5
midterms.)
 IF you have missed a midterm, you are required to take the final.
 IF you have taken all 5 midterms and wish to take the final, your lowest test grade will be
dropped.
This policy is designed to give every student the right and responsibility to determine when and why a
test might be missed. Accordingly, it is also class policy that you should not contact me regarding a
missed test.
Appeals
If you feel that an answer marked as incorrect is legitimately correct, you may submit an appeal in
writing. To have your appeal considered, please note the following:

Submit a carefully thought out, typed explanation of which question you got wrong and why
you feel that the answer you selected is correct. You must justify your answer with information
from the notes or reading.

Rebuttals containing the words "In my opinion" will not be considered. I am happy to consider
all facts presented, but this is not debate class. You are not tested on your opinions.
I will consider all appeals adhering to the instructions above, but cannot guarantee a change in your
grade. All appeals are due no later than one week (7 days) following the posting of test grades, and
may be submitted in person or via email.
You are responsible for keeping track of how you are doing in the course. I recommend you
keep a running total of your points as the quarter progresses.
Points earned
Test 1 (50 pts)
Test 2 (50 pts)
Test 3 (50 pts)
Test 4 (50 pts)
Test 5 (50 pts)
Final exam (50 pts)
Possible points total = 250
Total =
Grading Scale
Your final grade will be calculated from the total points on your 5 highest test scores. Your grade will
be determined as follows:
Score = (Points / 250) * 100
Decimal score = (Score - 55) / 10
For example, a total of 300 points would result in a score of:
(235 / 250) * 100 = 94
The decimal score, reported to the registrar, would be:
(94 - 55) / 10 = 3.9
This scale results in a 95% = 4.0, with a 0.1 decrease for every 1 percentage point below 95.
Extra credit
An addition of up to 0.3 grade points may be earned through participation in the Psychology Subject
Pool. By volunteering as a research subject, you will earn 0.1 grade point per 2 hours of participation,
up to a maximum of 0.3 grade points for 6 hours. More information will be presented at the start of
class on 3/8, and is available at http://web.psych.washington.edu/subjectpool/index.html.
Class Schedule
Date
Assigned reading
Lecture Topic
Introduction & Scientific
Method
Week 1
Lecture
M-F
3/31 - 4/4
Chapter 1
Week 2
Lecture
Activity
M-F
W
4/7-4/11
4/9
Chapter 2
Brain and behavior
Questionnaire day
Week 3
Exam
Lecture
M
T-F
4/14
4/15 - 4/18
Ch. 1 & 2
Chapter 4
Test 1
Development
Week 4
Lecture
M-F
4/21 - 4/25
Chapter 5
Sensation and Perception
Week 5
Exam
Lecture
M
T-F
4/28
4/29 - 5/2
Ch. 4 & 5
Chapter 6
Test 2
States of consciousness
Week 6
Lecture
M-F
5/5 - 5/9
Chapter 7 & 8
Learning & Memory
Week 7
Exam
Lecture
M
T-F
5/12
5/13 - 5/16
Ch. 6-8
pp. 299-330
Test 3
Language & Intelligence
Week 8
Lecture
M-F
5/19 - 5/23
Chapter 12
Personality
Week 9
No class
Exam
Lecture
M
T
W-F
5/26
5/27
5/28 - 5/30
pp. 299-330, Ch. 12
Chapter 15
Memorial day
Test 4
Social psychology
Week 10
Lecture
Exam
M-Th
F
6/2 - 6/5
6/6
Chapter 13
Ch. 13 & 15
Psychological disorders
Test 5
Final Exam
W
6/11
Cumulative
2:30-4:20pm