COURSE SYLLABUS
Psychology 101 Section 002
Introductory Psychology
Spring 2016
Monday and Wednesday 10:20am-12:10 pm
E100 Vet Med
INSTRUCTOR:
Prof. Sharleen Sakai
Office: 218 Giltner
Office hours: Tues 3:00-4:00 & by appointment
Teaching Assistant: Nicola Bernard
E mail: nicola.k.bernard@gmail.com
Office: 44 Psychology
Office Hours: Mon. 2:00-3:00 & by appointment
Undergrad. Assistant: Bhavana Pabbati
E mail: bpabbati@gmail.com
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Psychology seeks to understand behavior, the mind and the brain. This course will provide a basic
understanding of the areas of psychology and will introduce basic research methodologies and theories
underlying behavior. Specific topics to be covered will include: biopsychology, sensation and perception,
learning and memory, motivation, intelligence, cognition and language, social and personality theory and
mental disorders.
REQUIRED TEXT: Psychology, Third edition
Schacter, Gilbert,Wegner and Nock , 2014
Worth Publishers
ATTENDANCE AND READINGS:
It is expected that you attend each lecture. You are responsible for all information presented in class, including
any announcements and class discussions. Lectures will also include material not presented in the book. You
should prepare for each class by reading the assigned chapter prior to class. Course information, syllabus, study
guides, announcements will be posted using D2L. Students whose names do not appear on the official class list
for this course may not attend this class.
I Clicker PARTICIPATION POINTS:
This class will employ active learning strategies via the use of in-class questions. These questions may be used
to assess your understanding of lecture material. In addition, these questions may be used to generate discussion
during class.
You will not be graded on these questions but you must participate in the I Clicker exercises. Points will be
scaled such that:
70% or more of the I clicker questions=50 points
60-69% of I clicker questions= 38 points
50-59% of I clicker questions=25 points
Less than 50% of I clicker questions=0 points
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You must REGISTER your clicker online at: www.iclicker.com
It is essential that you register your clicker within the first week of class. If you do not register your clicker,
your responses will not be associated with you and you will not receive credit for them. On the registration
page, you will need to report your first and last name and student id. Important: in the section for student id,
you should write your msu netid including @msu.edu. Do NOT list your A-PID.
It is expected that you will attend class each day and that you will bring your clicker. There are no make up
points for iClicker questions. 70% participation is level required to obtain full credit for this activity.
This takes into account situations that arise including: illness, an emergency, forgetting your clicker or
batteries are dead. You cannot obtain credit for that day of class. I recommend that you keep a spare set of
batteries with you so that if your batteries should die, you will have a spare. Please understand that in a class of
over 500 students, there will be at least one person who forgets their clicker each day and the instructor simply
cannot give credit in these circumstances.
QUESTIONS AND EXAM PREPARATION: ALL E mail inquiries should be directed to:
Nicola Bernard (nicola.k.bernard@gmail.com) or Bhavana Pabbati (bpabbati@gmail.com)
Study questions will be posted on D2L one week before each exam. If you genuinely understand the questions
and the answers to them, you should do very well on the exam. Do not expect us to write out e-mail answers to
study questions for you, but please do come to talk to us if you would like to discuss the study questions. If you
are trying to receive a good grade in the class, it would be wise to study the material as the course progresses.
If you are having difficulty with the material, have questions or other concerns, you may come to office hours
or make an appointment. You are encouraged to ask questions and utilize the service of the assistants who are
available to help you learn.
EXAMS:
There will be a total of 5 exams in this course: 4 in-term exams and a final comprehensive exam. The four interm exams will cover the material from lecture, videos, discussion and assigned readings since the preceding
exam. Each in-term exam consists of 50 best answer, multiple-choice questions. The exams begin promptly at
10:20 pm. Be on time. No exam will be give if you are late and a completed exam has already been
turned in. All exams are in E100 Vet Med.
There are 4 in term exams. Three out of the 4 in term exams count toward your grade. The highest 3 in term
exam scores will be counted toward the course grade.
Exam feedback will be e mailed to you, usually within a few days after the exam. The exams will not be returned to
you but you may look over the exam after you receive your exam feedback. You can do this at posted office hours for
the one week following the exam. You will not be able to copy down the questions. Bring your student ID.
In the case that you feel that an item is scored incorrectly, you may appeal the item by: stating in writing the
item and exam form, your answer and the relevant support, i.e. text page number or lecture. E mail this
information to your TA no later than one week following the exam.
FINAL EXAM: Wed May 4 10:00 am-12:00 pm E100 Vet Med
The final is required. You must take the final exam. This is a comprehensive final exam consisting of 50
multiple choice questions. Note that the time for the final exam is different from our usual class time.
A make up final exam is possible only if documentation is provided in support of: 1) a medical or family
emergency (e.g. hospitalization) In the case of death of immediate relative, a Grief Absence Request Form
2
approval is required. or 2) a scheduled conflict, such as a religious holiday or required participation in a
university-sanctioned event. Notification of such conflicts must be provided to the TA before the end of the day
of the exam. The final make up exam will be in an essay format.
PARTICIPATION IN PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH:
Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behavior. Consistent with this definition, the faculty,
and graduate students of the Psychology Department maintain active research programs in all areas of
psychological study. By Department Policy, all students taking Introductory Psychology are required to
earn 14 research participation credits (except those who chose the Alternative to Research Participation,
described later, which anyone is free to choose). One credit is earned for every 30 minutes of participation.
Thus, a student must participate in 7 (clock) hours of research to earn the maximum number of research
participation credits. D e t a i l s f o r R esearch Participation w i l l b e p r o v i d e d i n o u r f i r s t c l a s s
m e e t i n g . Registration and access information for SONA participation can be found on page 7.
Deadline: Research participation should be completed by the last day of classes by 5:00 pm April 29. Credits
from participation in experiments after this time will not count.
Problems: The person to contact about all matters related to research participation is Leslie Baldwin
(lbaldwin@msu.edu). Course instructors CANNOT help you with research participation-related problems,
except one: If you feel that your participation has caused you psychological and/or physical harm, contact
your course Instructor IMMEDIATELY!
ALTERNATIVE TO RESEARCH PARTICIPATION:
You should note that experimental participation serves both the educational and research missions of our
department. However, should you conscientiously object to participation in psychology experiments, you may
write a research paper as an alternative. The paper must present a research problem including the statement of
the problem, its background and current state utilizing at least 7 sources from academic journal articles (no web
sources). The paper must be 10-13 pages (typed, double-spaced) and include proper literature citations. You
must e mail the TA to arrange this option and obtain written approval for research paper topic no later than
February 29.
Research Paper Due Date: Wednesday April 20 at 5 pm. Submit your paper in the Alternative
Research Paper Drop Box on D2L.
Research Paper Grading:
Papers contribute to research participation points as follows: 4.0=14 points, 3.5 = 12 points, 3.0 = 10 points,
2.5 = 08 points, 2.0 = 06 points, 1.5 = 04 points, 1.0 = 02 points,
0.0 = 00 points. No late papers will be accepted.
NOTE: YOU CANNOT DO BOTH RESEARCH PARTICIPATION AND THE ALTERNATIVE
RESEARCH PAPER OPTION.
GRADING:
Each exam question is worth 3 points. Total possible exam points is 600 points.
Research participation credits are worth 3 points each.
Total exam points (3 best in term exam + final)
iClicker points
Total research credit points
Total course points
=
=
=
=
3
600
50
42
692
Points
622-692
588-621
553-587
519-552
484-518
449-483
415-448
414 and below
% points received
90-100
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
less than 60
grade
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.0
Missed exams: There will be NO make-up exams. If you miss an exam (even if you have a very good
reason), that score will be dropped. If you miss two exams, then we will give you an opportunity to make up
one of them, but only if you email one of us before missing the second exam, and if documentation is provided
in support of: 1) a medical or family emergency (e.g. hospitalization). In the case of death of immediate
relative, a Grief Absence Request Form approval is required. 2) a scheduled conflict, such as a religious
holiday or required participation in a university-sanctioned event. If you cannot get a note or if your excuse
involves something that is personal and that you want to keep private, you must get a note from the Dean. If
this happens then bring it to the TA’s attention and you will be given a make-up exam which will be in an essay
format.
Academic Honesty:
Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states that "The student shares with the faculty the responsibility
for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional standards." In addition, the Department of
Psychology adheres to the policies on academic honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0,
Protection of Scholarship and Grades; the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades; and
Ordinance 17.00, Examinations. (See Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide
(http://www.vps.msu.edu/SpLife/index.htm) and/or the MSU Web site: http://www.msu.edu.).Therefore, unless
authorized by your instructor, you are expected to complete all course assignments, including homework, lab
work, quizzes, tests and exams, without assistance from any source. This means that you may not assist anyone,
receive assistance from anyone or other source including notes, texts, or audio during an exam. Students who
violate MSU rules may receive a penalty grade, including but not limited to a failing grade on the exam or in the
course. This includes using someone’s iClicker for in class activities when those students are not in class. Note
that plagiarism is a serious violation of academic integrity and will result in a 0.0 grade.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs,
services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting
the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on the web at rcpd.msu.edu. Once your
eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a Verified Individual Services
Accommodation ("VISA") form. Please present this form to me at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior
to the accommodation date (test, project, etc.). Requests received after this date may not be honored.
If you require testing accommodations (additional time, less disruptive room, etc.) you must contact me
and present your VISA at least two weeks before the exam date to schedule an alternative exam. Typically, I
will schedule for you to take the exam during a special exam sessions offered by the Psychology Department.
Those exams occur in small group settings and are offered every Wednesday at 2:00pm and Thursday at 9:00am
in Giltner 346. If you are unable to make either of those times, or that option does not meet your VISA
accommodations, you may be able to schedule to take your exam at the RCPD office. In either case, the exam
must be scheduled well in advance, so you need to adhere to the two week prior notification requirement.
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Drops and Adds:
The last day to add this course is the end of the first week of classes. The last day to drop this course with no
grade reported is 3/2/16. You should immediately make a copy of your amended schedule to verify you have
added or dropped this course.
Observing a Major Religious Holiday:
You may make up course work missed to observe a major religious holiday only if you make arrangements in
advance with the instructor.
Commercialized Lecture Notes:
Commercialization of lecture notes is NOT permitted in this course.
Disruptive Behavior:
Article 2.3.5 of the Academic Freedom Report (AFR) (http://www.vps.msu.edu/SpLife/acfree.htm) for students
at Michigan State University states that "The student's behavior in the classroom shall be conducive to the
teaching and learning process for all concerned." Article 2.3.10 of the AFR states that "The student has a right
to scholarly relationships with faculty based on mutual trust and civility." General Student Regulation 5.02
states that "no student shall . . . interfere with the functions and services of the University (for example, but not
limited to, classes . . .) such that the function or service is obstructed or disrupted. Students whose conduct
adversely affects the learning environment in this classroom may be subject to disciplinary action through the
Student Faculty Judiciary process.
Classroom behavior:
Class begins are 10:20. At that time, put away newspapers and other distractions. Turn off cell phones, iPods
etc. It is not appropriate to answer phone calls or text message during lecture. Distracting behaviors such as
instant messaging, writing e mail, social networking or playing games is prohibited. If you arrive late or leave
early, plan to sit near the back and by an aisle to minimize the disruption to others. Please stop talking. These
behaviors are disruptive and are not conducive to the learning process. If I ask you to stop any of these
behaviors more than once during the course, you will be penalized by losing all iClicker points.
LIMITS TO CONFIDENTIALITY:
Please be aware that class materials are generally considered confidential pursuant to the University’s student
record policies. However, all University employees, including instructors, cannot maintain confidentiality when
it conflicts with their responsibility to report certain issues based on external legal obligations or health and
safety considerations of MSU community members and others. As the instructor, I must report the following
information to other University offices if you share it with me:
 Suspected child abuse/neglect, even if this maltreatment happened when you were a child
 Allegations of sexual assault or sexual harassment when they involve MSU students, faculty, or staff
 Credible threats of harm to oneself or to others
These reports may trigger contact from a campus official who will want to talk with you
about the incident that you have shared. In almost all cases, it will be your decision whether
you wish to speak with that individual or not. If you would like to talk about these events in
a more confidential setting, you are encouraged to make an appointment with the MSU
Counseling Center (http://www.counseling.msu.edu/students).
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SCHEDULE
Date
1/11/16
1/13/16
Chapter
Course details & Introduction
Psychology: Evolution of a Science
1
1/18/16
1/20/16
MLK day -no class
Research Methods
2
1/25/16
1/27/16
Neuroscience
Neuroscience
3
3
2/1/16
2/3/16
Neuroscience/Sensation
Sensation & Perception
3/4
4
2/08/16
2/10/16
EXAM 1
Consciousness
1-4
5
2/15/16
2/17/16
Memory
Memory
6
6
2/22/16
2/24/16
2/29/16
3/2/16
Learning
Development
Development
EXAM 2
7
11
11
5-7, 11
3/7-3/11/16
SPRING BREAK
3/14/16
3/16/16
Language and Thought
Language and Thought
9
9
3/21/16
3/23/16
Intelligence
Emotion and Motivation
10
8
3/28/16
3/30/16
Emotion and Motivation
Personality
8
12
4/4/16
4/6/16
EXAM 3
Social Psychology
8-10, 12
13
4/11/16
4/13/16
Social Psychology
Stress
13
14
4/18/16
4/20/16
Disorders
Disorders
15
15
4/25/16
Treatment
16
4/27/16
EXAM 4
13-16
FINAL Comprehensive EXAM : Wed May 4 10:00 am-12:00 pm E100 Vet Med
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MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
Participation in Psychological Research: Information for Students
As part of your psychology course, you are encouraged to participate in research projects conducted or
supervised by the faculty of the department. The purpose of such participation is to give you some direct
experience with real experiments and to give you a better idea of how the work of psychology is actually carried
out. Participation is a course requirement for all sections of PSY 101.
SPECIAL NOTE: Students under 18 years of age may not participate in any HPR experiments. Special options
have been created for students under 18 to meet the 14 credit participation requirement. Please contact Leslie
Baldwin (lbaldwin@msu.edu) for more information.
Steps in Research Participation: Registering as a Participating Student.
The purpose of this handout is to go over some of the things you will need to know before participating in
psychological research. The first step is registering. This, like nearly all your scheduling activities, is handled
through the Internet: https://msu-psychology.sona-systems.com
Among other things you will be asked to select the course and section number to which you wish to have your
participation credits credited. It is critical that you select the correct course and section number. If you select an
incorrect course or section, the credits that you earn through participation will not be relayed to the proper
instructor and will not be counted in calculating your course grade. If you are enrolled in more than one
participating class you will disperse the credits you earn between the classes (credits cannot be shared).
Signing-up for research: You can sign up for experiments 24-hours a day on the Web site. For more information,
please consult the document posted on D2L.
Canceling appointments: Experimenters have invested a great deal of time and money in preparing an
experiment. This goes to waste if you fail to keep your appointment. In such cases, you can cancel your
appointment 24 hrs prior to the start time. If it is after the 24 hour deadline you need to e-mail the HPR HPR
coordinator, Leslie Baldwin, (lbaldwin@msu.edu ).
Reporting for a research appointment: Be sure to give yourself enough time to get to the experiment on time
and find the appropriate room. Arriving 10 minutes before the experiment is to begin is suggested. If you are late,
you could find the experiment in progress and the door locked. On rare occasions, an experimenter may not make
his/her appointment with you because of unusual circumstances (e.g., a car breakdown, a personal emergency). If
this happens contact Leslie Baldwin, the HPR coordinator in Room 262, Psychology Building or email her at:
lbaldwin@msu.edu to report it (email is preferred).
Rights of Students Participating in Psychology Research
Participation must be voluntary/optional activities. First, it is Department, University, and Federal policy that
no student be compelled in any way to participate in research. If you participate in research, it must be done
voluntarily. Therefore, even in classes where research participation is required, students must be offered one or
more alternative activities to meet their requirement. If you want to avail yourself of such an alternative activity,
you may get information from your professor. Note that on rare occasions there are more people interested in
participating in experiments than there are openings in the experiments. If this occurs this semester, additional
alternative activities will be provided later in the semester.
Participation should be educational. Second, participating in research should be a learning experience for you.
You have a right to obtain information about the experiments in which you serve as a participant. You are entitled
to have your questions about the experiment answered. Also, at least five minutes of every experimental session
must be devoted to teaching you something about the experiment. You are entitled to receive a written summary
of the experiment, including the name and phone number of the person in charge of the experiment, whom you
may contact if you have additional questions.
The right to discontinue participation: Third, the Department of Psychology is highly concerned that no study
be conducted that would in any way be harmful to you. Even so, it is possible that in rare cases you will feel
uncomfortable about participating in a study for which you have volunteered. Just remember, you always have
the right to leave any experiment. You don't have to explain or justify why you want to leave, and you can never
be penalized for leaving.
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The right to receive earned credits: Finally, if you complete a study, you have a right to receive the credit
you've earned. So, for example, even if an experimenter has an equipment breakdown, you're still entitled to
receive credit for the time you've spent in the study. Please remember that credit values are based on the time it
takes to complete a study, (1 credit equal to 30 minutes) and not the study itself. Credits are not automatically
awarded and it may take researchers a few days to record attendance. The HPR does not penalize participants for
missing studies but we do appreciate being notified if you cannot make your session.
Participants are not penalized for No Shows or if they cancel an appointment.
Reporting problems: If you ever encounter some problem or feel that your rights have been violated, we want to
know about it. Problems you have will be handled by Leslie Baldwin, the HPR student coordinator, email address
lbaldwin@msu.edu or come to Room 262 Psychology Building. They will be investigated and appropriate action
will be taken. You will need to know the name of the experiment and the date/time you signed up for.
Conclusions: We want to emphasize that negative experiences are very rare; most students who serve as
participants in research at Michigan State find their participation interesting and enjoyable. When you serve as a
participant in psychological research you're benefiting personally by learning more about what the science of
psychology is really about, but you're also benefiting many others. Others like the psychologists who are working
to get a better understanding of interesting and important behavioral questions. Others like people who will
benefit when that knowledge is ultimately applied to everyday human problems like loneliness, depression,
divorce, and self development. And others like future generations of students. Who knows? Perhaps the research
you participate in this semester will be featured in future psychology textbooks, just as some of the experiments
you'll study this semester had their data supplied by previous generations of MSU students. We hope and expect
that you'll put as much in and get as much out of research participation as they did.
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