WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON ONTARIO CANADA
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology 1000-650 - ONLINE
Introduction to Psychology
Welcome to Psychology 1000! I plan to make this online
course every bit as successful as my on-campus
course. Below you will find a course description,
evaluation summary, lecture outline, and some study
tips. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself
with the outline right now. I look forward to teaching you
in Psych 1000 Distance Studies and wish you all the
best for a great course!
Dr. Mike Atkinson
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
An introductory survey of the methods and findings of
modern scientific psychology. The following topics will be
covered: history and methodology, biological psychology,
sensation and perception, learning and motivation, verbal
and cognitive processes, developmental psychology, social
psychology, individual differences (intelligence and
personality), and clinical psychology. Antirequisites:
Psychology 1100E, 1200
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one
can be taken for credit. So if this course has an antirequisite that you have
previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of
the grade achieved in this one.
3 lecture hours; 1.0 course
Please note: You are responsible for ensuring that you have
successfully completed all course prerequisites, and that you
have not taken an antirequisite course. Lack of prerequisites
may not be used as a basis for appeal. If you are found to be
ineligible for a course, you may be removed at any time and
will receive no adjustment to your fees. This decision cannot
be appealed. If you find that you do not have the course
prerequisites, it is in your best interest to drop the course
well before the end of the add/drop period. Your prompt
attention to this matter will not only protect your academic
record, but will ensure that spaces become available for
students who require the course for graduation.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is an introductory level survey of the methods
and findings of modern scientific psychology. The goal is to
provide students with an overview of various topic domains
within the realm of psychology. As such, students will be
exposed to diverse theoretical viewpoints and various
methods and procedures for the scientific investigation of
psychological issues. Note: Modern psychology is scientific
in nature. Consequently, we will spend a lot of time
discussing science-related topics such as research design,
neural functioning, sensory mechanisms, etc.
Each chapter in the text covers a major interest area in
psychology. Following each chapter, students will be able to
identify the major concepts and terminology for that topic
area. In addition, when presented with a hypothetical
problem or case, students will be able to assess and
evaluate the problem and choose the best solution.
COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Mike Atkinson Room 6316, SSC
661-2111, ext. 84644 atkinson@uwo.ca
NOTE: please use this email address to contact me—do
not use the mailer in WebCT itself.
Office Hours: By appointment (send me an email and we
will
arrange a tim
can just arrange a time to Chat.
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources
here at Western to assist you. Please visit:
http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these
resources and on mental health.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format
or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to
you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an
accommodation.
Required Text: Passer, M.W., Smith, R.E., Atkinson, M.L.,
Mitchell, J.B., & Muir, D.W. (2011). Psychology: Frontiers
and Applications. Fourth Canadian Edition. Toronto:
McGraw Hill Ryerson.
Note: this text comes shrink-wrapped with a passkey for
CONNECT. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED. However, I believe
that you will find CONNECT very useful.
Recommended: Fleet, J., Goodchild, F., & Zajchowski, R.
(2006). Learning for success: Effective strategies for
students (4th edition). Toronto: Thompson.
Psych 1000 Web Site
The main course website is located at
http://owl.uwo.ca
Here you will find class information, study suggestions, links
to other resources, etc. Please check it often.
Questions
Asking questions during lecture is an extremely important
part of learning. I strongly encourage you to ask a question
whenever you require clarification on an issue, or have an
observation to make yourself. Please feel to email your
questions to me (atkinson@uwo.ca), or start a discussion,
or ask questions during a Virtual Office Hours session.
EVALUATION:
There will TWO tests during the course. The first term test
is tentatively set for Sat. June 21 at 2:00 p.m. Exact times
and rooms will be posted on the WebCT site once they are
finalized by the Registrar’s Office. Term test 1 will consist of
100 multiple choice questions (Chapters 1 – 8 plus the
Appendix ) and is worth 40%. Questions will be based on
both the text and the online lecture material. The final exam
will be scheduled during the final exam period for Distance
th
courses. The tentative date is during the week of July 28 .
Again the exact date and times will be posted when finalized.
The final exam (also worth 40%) covers Chapters 9 - 17 and
will consist of 100 questions from both the text and online
lecture material.
In addition to the exams, there is a research requirement
that involves reading & reviewing an original research paper
in psychology. You must review one paper during the
course. A link to the papers and instructions are posted on
the website. . You should write NO MORE than the
maximum of 3 pages (i.e. 800 words). Feel free to use
bullet points where appropriate. This review is worth 10%
th
and is due on July 7 at 11:59 p.m.
Finally, there is an online discussion requirement. You will
be assigned to a group of about 20 students and twice
during the course, you must go online and discuss specific
issues about a video that I will assign you to view. There will
be one required online discussion during the first half of the
course, and one during the second. Each discussion is
worth 5%. Specific dates for the discussion and the marking
scheme will be posted on the Owl site.
Evaluation Summary:
Term test 1: 40% Final exam: 40% Online
Discussion: 10% Research Review: 10%
Total 100%
EVALUATION GUIDELINES
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading
guidelines, which are as follows (see this link):
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
A+
A
B
90-100
80-89
70-79
One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
Superior work that is clearly above average
Good work, meeting all requirements,
and eminently satisfactory
C
D
F
60-69
50-59
below 50
Competent work, meeting requirements
Fair work, minimally acceptable
Fail
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their
course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks
will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000 level and 2000 level courses
72% 2100-2990 level courses
75% 3000 level courses
80% 4000 level courses
Psychology 1000
Lecture Calendar
Topics will be covered in the following order during the
course. “Lecture dates” are given so that you can keep up
with the readings, but of course, you can access the lectures
in any order and time frame you like. Lectures are
intended to highlight certain areas of each
topic -- there is not enough time available to us
to cover all the material. However, you are
responsible for all the material in the text. Please note that
there is a fairly heavy reading load in this course – you will
need to cover approximately one chapter every 4 - 5
days. This is particularly true for the second half of the
course. Thus, it is important for you to keep up with the
readings.
First Half
Topic
Introduction
& Methodology
Chapter
1 & 2 + Appendix
Lecture date
May 5- 14
Biological Foundations
3
May 15 -20
Genes & Behaviour
4
May 21- 25
Sensation & Perception
5
May 26 – 31
Consciousness
6
June 1 - 6
Learning
7
June 7 - 11
Memory
8
Study
Mid-term TEST (40%)
June 12 - 16
June 17 – 20
1 - 8 + Appendix
June 23
Second Half
Topic
Chapter
Lecture date
Language & Thought
9
June 22 - 25
Intelligence
10
June 26 - 29
Motivation & Emotion
11
June 30 – July 3
Development
12
July 4 - 7
Social Psychology
13
July 8 - 11
Stress
15
July 12 - 15
Personality
14
July 16 - 19
Disorders
16
July 20 - 23
Treatment
17
July 24 - 27
Final Exam (40%)
9 - 17
July 28 - 31
LEARNING INFORMATION EFFICIENTLY
1.
You will be expected to know the assigned chapters
VERY WELL!
M an y o f th e m u ltip le
-choice
questions in this course are based on material from
the chapters that is not explicitly covered in lecture.
To be able to answer these questions correctly you
will need to know and understand each of the
concepts and processes described in the assigned
chapters. This a major learning task and many
students run into difficulties because they do not
know how to handle this learning task efficiently.
2.
Just reading the assigned chapters is NOT enough!
For most people the process of reading
something, or even re-reading it, does not mean
that they remember it. This is especially true for
"heavy" course content such as that found in the
psychology text. If you wish to learn the material
from the text efficiently, you will need to approach it
in a different manner.
3. Learn the text chapters using ACTIVE
reading/learning strategies.
Strategies recommended for efficient learning of text
material can be divided into three types: pre-reading, reading
for comprehension, and post-reading.
a.
Pre-reading. Learn the headings and subheadings.
Instead of diving im m ediately into reading the chapter,
spend a few minutes learning the headings and
subheadings. The headings and subheadings tell you
the important ideas that will be covered in the chapter.
In the text they are laid out for you on the first few
pages of the book in the table of contents. Look at
these headings and subheadings, think how they have
been ordered, try reciting them from memory, and then
write them out on a separate sheet of paper.
b.
Reading for comprehension. Read a few pages and
THEN summarize.
D on't try to read m
chapter in one sitting. It is much easier to learn the
material in small chunks. Read a few pages carefully
and THEN make a summary of the important points.
Continue doing this until you have summarized about
10 pages - then take a break. You can summarize by
highlighting sparingly AND making marginal notes, or
by making separate written notes.
N ote that m u
the information in psychology comes in the form of
arguments. Here are some the important kinds of
information that are crucial to knowing and
understanding an argument: i) definitions of new terms,
ii) essential explanations of the specific argument, iii)
examples, iv) results of studies. If you make separate
summary notes, try using point form and keywords.
This has 2 advantages: the notes are made more
quickly and they are easier to read. As you record key
terms and definitions ALWAYS relate them to the
arguments of which they are a part.
c.
Post-reading. Test yourself.
A fter active
or more pages in the manner described above, try
reciting (i.e., recalling from memory) all the important
points under each heading and subheading that you
have studied. This will reinforce the ideas you know and
identify those that you need to review. Doing the study
guide questions and relevant old exam questions after
you have finished the entire chapter can also be very
helpful.
For more information regarding learning strategies:
Read relevant sections of the self-help book, Learning for
Success: Effective Strategies for Students, written for
students by Western's Learning Skills Counsellors. It is also
available from D.B. Weldon Library or the University
Bookstore.)
Chapter 4 presents many useful ideas on ways to select and
remember important information and chapter 6 of this book
looks at a variety of strategies for learning from textbooks.
Other chapters in the book deal with important learning
issues such as preparing for and writing exams, time
management, learning from lectures, etc...
Students interested in exploring time management issues in
more depth can examine the self-help book Power Over
Time: Student Success with Time Management also written
by Western's Learning Skills Counsellors. It too is available
from D.B. Weldon Library or the University Bookstore.
Use the Learning Skills Services at the Student
Development Centre in Room 210 UCC. A range of services
are offered to help you improve your general learning skills
including workshops on textbook reading, multiple- choice
strategies for Psychology 1000, and individual counselling.
Official Policy Statements
STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the
occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating
are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of
research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described
at the following link:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_
undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to
detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked
for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will
be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written
assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter
plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content
located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. All papers submitted for such
checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the
purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system.
Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The
University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com (http://www.turnitin.com).
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment,
failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the
University.
OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/index.cfm
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the
following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergradresponsibilities.htm
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2014 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.