Duration: 1 semester
Credit points: 3
Lecturer: Dr. Theo Gao
Teaching Assistant: 戴嘉良 . 陳清甄
Semester 1
Week 1 :
Introduction to the topic, lecture’s content, assessment.
Formation of student study groups.
Week 2 : The scientific foundation of psychology
Psychology as a Natural and Social Science
Early History of Psychology
Psychology in the 20 th Century
Psychology as a field of study
Professional perspectives
Assignment of presentations
Week 3 : Research methods
Scientific findings: what is this?
The goals of scientific research
Methods in Psychological research
Experimental Design
Critical thinking
Research ethics
Week 4 : Biological basis of behaviour
Nervous system: organization and function
Brain: Structure, function and study of the brain
Nature or nurture: Evolution and Genetics

Week 5 : Sensation and Perception
Psychophysics
Vision
Hearing
Taste
Smell
Skin and body senses
Week 6 : Consciousness
Attention
Sleep
Dreams
Psychoactive drugs
Student presentation 1
Week 7 : Learning
Classical conditioning
Operant conditioning
Social learning
Systemic learning
Student presentation 2
Week 8 : Memory
The study of memory
Models of memory
The multiple store models
Models of memory
Level processing
Parallel processing
Baddeley’s model
Memory deficiencies
Student presentation 3
Week 9 : Mid term exams
Multiple choice questions
Week 10 :
Language and thought
Nature of language
Language and the brain
Language and thoughts
Language acquisition
Nature of thought
Problem solving
Decisions and judgment
Reasoning

Creativity
Essay assignments
Student presentation 4
Week 11 : Intelligence
Definitions
Assessment
Theories on the nature of intelligence
Differences in intelligence
Gender
Social
Cultural
Mental retardation
Intelligence and genetics
Student presentation 5
Week 12: Motivation and emotion
Theories of motivation
Biological basis of motivation
Emotions
Measuring emotions
Theories of emotions
Student presentation 6
Week 13: Social development
Emotional development
Personality development
Interpersonal development
Moral development
Death and dying
Assignment of presentations
Student presentation 7
Week 14 :
Social psychology
Attitudes
Attributions
Impressions
Attraction, liking, loving.
Student presentation 8
Week 15 : Personality
Psychodynamic
Humanistic

Cognitive behavioural
Trait based
Biological
Measuring personality
Student presentation 9
Week 16 : Psychological disorders
DSM-IV classification
Anxiety disorders
Mood disorders
Schizophrenic disorders
ADHD
Personality disorders
Student presentation 10
Week 17 : Review lecture
Deadline for submission of essays
Week 18 : Final exams; essay questions
There will be 4 types of assessment:
1. Multiple choice questions (MCQ): 25%. For the mid term exams you will be presented with a set of no more than 30 MSQ, with up to 4 choices for each. You will have to pick the right one. As you understand, picking random questions will give you a chance of 25%. This is not enough…
2. Group presentation: 25%. The class will be divided to 10 groups of no more then 4 students. Each group will present a chosen subject according to the relevant topic of the day’s lecture. Subjects will be assigned in Week 2. The presentation will be in English (as everything else) and will use standard
Microsoft PowerPoint format. All members of a team get the same mark. So teamwork is essential. Teams will be formed in Week 1

3. Essay: 25%. Essays will be of 250-300 words. Topics will be proposed on
Week 2 but any topic from the lectures will be accepted. Essays will follow the following format:
Abstract: 30 to 50 words
Introduction: 50 to 75 words
Main topic: 150 to 200 words
Conclusion: 50 to 70 words
A sample essay will be provided on the 2 nd week of the class.
Deadline for the submission of the essays is Week 18, Tuesday 12:00. No essay will be accepted after the deadline.
4. Essay questions: 25%
The final exams will consist from 10 questions of which you can choose 5 to answer.
The type of questions will be c overed in the last week. Don’t miss the last week.
Oral exams will be optional, after consultation with the Lecturer.
Notice 1: A pass mark is a total of 60%. However, you will fail the class if you have below 8% in any of the assessments, even if you have a total of 60%.
Notice 2: 10% will be added to the overall grade for class participation.
Robert J. Sternberg, 2004, Psychology, 4 th ed.
(Thomson Wadsworth)
Suggested material: Dictionary of psychology, 2001, Reber&Reber, Penguin books
General Information: The class will be in English. However the point of the class is not to examine your English ability, but your willingness to study
Psychology and function in an advanced level. Therefore mistakes will be absolutely tolerated. Enyones cen make mictake; Right?

On the other hand what will not be tolerated, will be to present other people’s work as your own. You know what I mean, and I will not talk anymore about it…
I wish you all good luck.
Theo.