General Psychology: Psych 101 01
Cluster Requirement: 4A, Human Questions and Contexts
Fall 2012
M,W,F: 3:00-3:50
Dr. Ted Powers
Office: Rm. 391
Tel: 910-6906 E-mail: tpowers@umassd.edu
Office Hours: Mon 12-1, Wed 12-1 & 2-3, Fri 10-11 or by appointment
Course Overview:
PSY 101 provides an introductory overview of the study of psychology. The course will explore
the fundamental questions regarding human thought and behavior and provide an overview of the
theories and research used in the study of psychology. The course will emphasize psychology as
a science, including the relationship between data and theory. At the completion of this course,
you should able to discuss the major questions and issues confronting psychologists and how
psychology has contributed to human knowledge and understanding. The class structure will
include some combination of lecture, discussion, in class or outside activities.
Learning Outcomes:
Course-Specific Learning Outcomes:
After completing the course, students will be able to:
1. Articulate the basic principles for several psychological perspectives for understanding
human behavior and cognition.
2. Describe the research process and how it used in psychological research
3. Understand the relationship between psychological research and knowledge and
everyday life experiences.
University Studies Learning Outcomes: Cluster 4A, Human Questions and Contexts.
After completing the course, students will be able to:
1. Explain different perspectives on: a) what it means to be human and how
the significance of human existence has been understood; b) the nature of
human relationships and how these relationships are evidenced in regard
to the broader world; or c) how knowledge is obtained, maintained and
changed, as well as how individuals come to understand and think about
the world around them.
2. Recognize ethical issues in complex contexts and evaluate the ethical
positions taken by themselves and others.
3. Locate, analyze, summarize, paraphrase and synthesize material from a
variety of sources.
4. Evaluate arguments made in support of different perspectives on human
questions and contexts.
Course Requirements
Students are responsible for:
1. Their immortal souls
2. All required reading and all material presented in class
3. Four multiple-choice exams (each worth 70 points)
4. Participation in psychological research (TBD) (30pts)
There will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMS.
An optional cumulative (i.e., covers the entire course) exam will be given on the day of
the university scheduled final exam. This may be used to substitute for any of the other
exams. This optional exam can only improve your grade, because I count the best 4/5.
Required Materials:
Myers, D.G. (2009). Psychology (Ninth Edition). New York: Worth
Publishing (can get text bound, unbound, or electronic)
Supplemental reading: TBA
All course materials, including the syllabus, PowerPoints, review sheets,
grade posting, and more can be found by visiting my faculty web page.
You can get to the page from the university homepage in the following
manner:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click on Faculty & Staff, then under Faculty Resources click on Faculty & Staff Profiles
Go to P for Powers and click on Powers
Click on “Courses”
Click on our course
Policies and Procedures
Grading
Final grades in this course will be based on the highest 4 exam grades and the research point total.
The optional cumulative final exam may be used to replace any of the other 4 exams given in
class during the course. Course averages will be calculated from the exams and the research
points.
Two credit-hours of research participation is required during the course of the semester.
The research pool requirement is worth approximately 10% of your final grade in PSY 101.
Grading of Research Pool requirement:
Complete 2 hours = earn 30 pts.
Complete 1 hour = earn 10 pts.
Complete 0 or fewer hours (it is possible to get a negative score if you miss appointments) = 0%
Staying enrolled in this class requires that you agree to this policy.
Please see Research Pool Policy online for complete information about the research requirement.
Each exam will contain 35 multiple choice questions for a total of 70 points. The tests will cover
the lectures and the text. Any missed test, regardless of the reason for the student’s absence, will
be registered as a 0. Bring a sharpened pencil, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener to all tests. Be
sure to look over the syllabus and note the test dates. Inform your family not to schedule trips
that will prevent you from taking tests. Do not schedule trips, work, or doctor appointments on
these days. Absolutely no make-ups will be given for the tests, and no exceptions to this
policy will be made unless 2 or more tests are missed and ALL are documented by a
medical doctor, court or relative’s death certificate. In other words, if a student fails to take a
test for a non-medical/legal reason and misses another test for a medical/court-related reason, no
make-up tests will be offered for either test. If documentation is provided, all but 1 test can be
made up. One missed test will be dropped as the lowest grade. It is your responsibility to come
to every test in case you have car trouble, are ill, are in court, etc. on the date of a later test. If a
student lies to me about the reason for one or more missed tests or presents me with
falsified documentation for one or more missed tests, ALL missed test grades will be
entered into the final grade calculation as 0’s and the next highest grade will be dropped as
the lowest grade.
Final grades will be calculated by adding the point totals from a student’s highest 4 exams
and the research point total and then dividing by the number of possible points
(i.e., (4 X 70) + 30 = 310 points divided by a possible 310 = 100%)
Expectations for In-Class Behavior
Because of the large class size students are easily distracted by extraneous noise, movement, etc. The
class conduct policy has been created to facilitate everyone’s ability to hear and focus on the material.
Failing to observe these rules is disrespectful of your classmates and the professor. So please be a “good
citizen” and adhere to the following rules:
 Do not hold extraneous conversations during class.
 Turn off cell phones, iPods, etc. before class.
 Come to class on time and remain until the end.
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to adhere to the University policy on academic honesty, which you will find
in the course catalog and on the University website,
http://www.umassd.edu/studenthandbook/academicregs/ethicalstandards.cfm.
Anyone caught cheating (e.g., using notes, looking at another’s test, using an electronic device, falsifying a
test version number, etc.) will be failed in this course and face the consequences explicated in the
University policy. Although class members are encouraged to study together, everyone is expected to work
alone on test days. The only allowed tools during tests are your brain, pencils, and an eraser. If a student
lies to me about the reason for one or more missed tests or presents me with falsified documentation
for one or more missed tests, ALL missed test grades will be entered into the final grade calculation
as 0’s and the next highest grade will be dropped as the lowest grade AND the case will be sent to
Judicial Affairs for disciplinary action.
Personal Responsibility
By enrolling and remaining in this class after add-drop period, you have agreed to the course
policy stated in this document and explained on the first day of class. You are being given ample
opportunity to succeed through a dropped test grade, the offer of tutoring, and item analyses for each test.
For your part, you are expected to be responsible for your behavior and success in this class by studying,
coming prepared to all classes and tests, living up to the University’s academic honesty policy, and being
respectful of all class members. Please feel free to contact your professor or teaching assistant if you have
any questions or concerns. However, please check this document first, as it answers most policy/grading
questions.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS
No exceptions to the policy explained in this document will be made.
Any student who is unable to meet his/her responsibilities in this
class or is uncomfortable with the policy is encouraged to drop the
course through add/drop or through a withdrawal.
BY REMAINING ENROLLED IN THIS CLASS, STUDENTS ARE
AGREEING TO ALL POLICIES STATED IN THIS DOCUMENT.
Study Tips
A.
(a) Every day after class, rewrite your notes in full sentences and organize the information
appropriately. Doing so will reveal points of confusion to you. Clarify these with the book or
by asking questions in class or outside of class.
(b) Create detailed flashcards and use them to memorize information.
(c) Explain course information out loud, in your own words, to your room mate, parent, or bed
post. Until you can explain it accurately and clearly, you don’t really know it.
(d) Try to integrate what you're studying with what you already know. Relate course material to
your own personal experiences.
(e) Use the study guide. Study using the tips listed above, and then take a practice test. Note the
questions you got wrong, and go back to re-study that material in the book and your notes.
Repeat the process until you run out of practice tests.
(f) Use the student activities website to engage yourself with the materials.
A. When you take the tests, take a deep breath and relax. Read the questions carefully. Be sure you
understand exactly what the question is asking, and ask the proctor for clarification, if you do not.
Imagine your flash cards that are relevant to the question. Try to come up with the answer on your
own. If the answer you choose is one of the choices, it is likely to be the right one. If not,
consider each choice within the context of your interpretation of the question and what you know
about the topic, and eliminate those responses that are obviously incorrect.
B. Get into the habit of actively studying each day. Studying 1 hour a day for 8 days is MUCH more
effective than studying 8 hours the day before a test.
C. Choose a quiet, non-distracting place to study. However, try to vary where you study rather than
always being in the same place.
D. Occasionally, study with a friend. Quiz each other, compare notes and discuss discrepancies.
E. When you feel yourself losing focus, switch the type of task you are working on, the subject that
you are studying, or the environment that you are in. Take a break.
F. Study just before going to sleep.
G. Get enough sleep each night. Talk and laugh with friends over a meal each day. Have a little fun
on the weekends. Get some aerobic exercise 3-4 times a week.
Outline
WF
9/5-9/7
Introduction/Method
Prologue&C1
MW
9/10-9/12
Method
C1
FM
9/14-9/17
Bio Bases of Behavior
C2
WFMW
9/19-9/26
Developmental Psych.
C4&C5
F
9/28
M
10/1
Sensation/Perception
C6
WFW
10/3-10/10
Learning
C7
FMW
10/12-10/17
Memory
C8
F
10/19
Cognition
C9
M
10/22
Exam 2
W
10/24
Motivation
C11
FM
10/26-29
Emotion/Health
C12
WFMW
10/29-11/7
Personality
C13
F
11/9
WFM
11/14-11/19
Psych. Disorders
C14
WMW
11/21-11/28
Therapies
C15
FMWF
11/30-12/7
Social Psych
C16
M
12/10
Exam 1
Exam 3
Exam 4