PSY 2012 General Psychology (3265)
Spring 2013
Class Time: Tuesday 7th (1:55 pm -2:45 pm)
Thursday 7th – 8th (1:55 pm- 3:50 pm)
Class Venue: FAB 105
Professor:
Name: Stephen Walker
Email: stephen.walker@ufl.edu
Office: PSY 96
Office hours: Tuesday 2:45-4:45 pm
Teaching Assistant:
Name: Hallie Kritsas
Course Outline
Overview
This course is an overview of major
topics in modern psychology, the
scientific study of behavior, and
mental processes. As a first course
in the discipline of psychology, it
introduces some of the fundamental
concepts, principles, and theories
with a consideration for the
complexity of human behavior.
Course Goals
1. To teach you the science behind
psychology and how it differs from
the media’s interpretation.
2. To provide you with an introduction
to the different areas within the field
of psychology.
3. To teach you the concepts in the field
and how to apply them.
Required Material
Text:
Lilienfeld, Lynn, Namy and Woolf
Psychology from Inquiry to
Understanding 2nd edition
ISBN: 0205223397
Note: This package includes my psych
lab.
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Access to mypsychinfo:
If you purchase a new book, you do
not need to worry about purchasing
this, it comes with the book. If you
purchase a used book, however, you
will be required to purchase access
separately. Please see the attached
handout for instructions on how to
register for your mypsychinfo
account.
I>clicker:
You will a need i>clicker 1 for this
course. If you already have an
i>clicker 2 there is no need to
purchase the i>clicker 1…they are
backwards compatible.
ISBN: 0716779390
Note: Most stores are storing the
i>clickers behind the registers.
Expectations
You are expected to attend every
class and carry out the reading
assignments listed in this syllabus.
You are also expected to check your
email regularly (at least once a day)
and to visit E-learning on a regular
basis. Students typically find that for
each hour in class, at least two
additional hours are required for
preparation.
Attendance & Participation
Attendance is mandatory on all exam
days, which are clearly listed on the
course calendar. Class attendance
will not be tracked for other class
periods; however, regular attendance
is strongly recommended. Material
will be covered in class that is not
available in your text or on the
PowerPoint slides: you are
responsible for 100% of this material.
Further, the course will be much
more interesting if you are engaged
Stephen Walker
in class and actively participate in
discussion. I encourage you to
respectfully express your opinions,
ideas, and questions in class, and listen
and respond to your fellow classmates.
Students with Special Needs
If you are a student with a disability and
would like to request disability-related
accommodations, you are encouraged
to contact the Disability Resource
Center as early in the semester as
possible. The Disability Resource Center
is located in 001 Building 0020 (Reid
Hall). Their phone number is 392-8565.
If you have a documented disability you
must contact me by January 15th.
Examinable material
The lectures and the readings from the
textbooks listed below define the full
syllabus of this course. The book is
detailed and I will not be able to cover all
relevant material in my lectures,
however, all material covered in the
book is fair game for the exams.
Assessment
You will be tested in four non-cumulative
multiple-choice short exams during class
hours (see list below for dates) as well
as a mid-term and non-cumulative final.
There are no special exams, optional
papers or catch-up projects to
compensate for poor exam performance.
All exams are closed book and closed
notes and you will need a #2 pencil for
the bubble sheet.
Student Numbers: You will be asked to
assign yourself a 4-digit number at the
start of the semester. This number
should not be part of your social security
number, your student ID number, or any
other number that could be traced to
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your identity. Put this number on the
top of your tests and study guides
instead of your name. If you
repeatedly put your name on your
tests and study guides, I will start
to take points off.
Make-up Exam Policy: Make-up
exams will only be given in cases of
serious illness or emergency, or if
you will be representing the
University of Florida at an athletic or
scholastic event. In either case, if an
exam is to be missed, you must
notify me prior to the exam and
obtain my permission (by providing
appropriate documentation). In the
rare case of an exam day emergency
(e.g., a bicycle accident on the way
to campus), it may be impossible to
contact me before the exam. In these
circumstances, proper
documentation must be provided;
whether or not the student will be
allowed to make-up the exam is at
the instructor’s discretion.
Study Guides
To facilitate class discussion, you will
be required to fill out a study guide
for each chapter. The study guide is
due when you walk into class. The
study guide is located in the student
resource section of mypsychlab.
Specifically, you will be required to
complete “As You Read...Practice
Activities”—This is the only section of
the study guide that you are required
to complete. Each study guide will be
worth 4 points for a total of 64 points.
However, if all 16 study guides are
completed you will receive 6 points,
for a total of 70 points. The only way
to earn these 6 points is to complete
all study guides.
***The study guide that you turn in
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will not be returned. It is important
that you retain a copy for yourself, as
this will be a HUGE help when
preparing for exams.
Study Guide Make-Up Policy: No
make-ups will be allowed. If you need to
miss class due to an emergency or
university related event, let me know,
prior to class, and we will make
alternative arrangements.
Grading
Exams: There will be a total of four 30point multiple-choice exams. In addition
to these exams you will have a mid-term
and a non-cumulative final.
Study Guides: There will be a total of
16 4-point study guides due. If all 16
study guides are turned in you will
receive 6 points, for a total of 70 points.
Graded Item
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
4 exams 30 pt each
Study Guides
Research Experience
Total points available
Points
360 Above
352-359
340-351
320-339
312-319
300-311
280-299
272-279
260-271
240-259
232-239
231 below
Points
80
80
120
70
50
400
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DE (Fail)
The good news is – these grades are
firm – there is no curve. Everybody in
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the class can get an A grade (and I
hope you do).
The bad news is – these grades are
firm – there is no curve. If you score
just one point below the cutoff then
you will get the lower grade.
Honor Code
It is important that you understand
that I am not willing to give a passing
grade to those who do not abide by
the UF honor code. Any student who
cheats or helps another student
cheat will receive an E (Fail) in this
class. University of Florida Student
Honor Code, found at
http://regulations.ufl.edu/chapter4/40
17.pdf
you will receive points at a rate of 4
points per credit completed. Option 2: Is
a paper assignment. If you decide to
go with Option 2, you need to let me
know by January 25th. If either option
is completed before 4/8/13 @ 4pm,
you will receive 4 extra credit points
(these are the only extra credit points
available in this course). Rules and
details are available in the Research
Requirement document on Sakai.
For more info go to
http://www.psych.ufl.edu/Undergrad/psy
2012Research.pdf
**Note the contents of this syllabus may be
changed during the semester. If changes
are made to this syllabus they will be
announced in class and on E-learning. It is
your responsibility to come to class and to
check for announcement of any changes
online.
Experimental participation
requirement
There is a Psychology Department
requirement that all students enrolled
in PSY 2012 participate in a research
experience. More details are
available within the research
requirement document. Completion
of this requirement affects your
course grade based on the amount
of research credits you earn. Option
1: One credit is given for every halfhour you spend in an experiment,
and you need to earn 10 credits in
total. (This is equivalent to 5 hours
of participation in research). When
you complete the research
experience by completing 5 hours
(10 credits) of research, you will
receive 50 points that are added into
your PSY2012 grade. If you do NOT
complete the full number of credits
by the deadline (4/19/13 @ 4PM),
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Spring 2013 Tentative Timetable
Date
Lecture Topic
Reading
Jan. 8
Welcome to Psy 2012
Discussion in class
Jan. 10
Psychology & Scientific Thinking
Chapter 1 (Study Guide Due)
Jan. 15
Research Methods
Chapter 2 (Study Guide Due)
Jan. 17
Research Methods cont.
Chapter 2
Jan. 22
Catch Up & Review
Jan. 24
EXAM 1: Chapters 1-2
Jan 29
Biological Psychology
Chapter 3 (Study Guide Due)
Jan. 31
Biological Psychology cont.
Feb. 5
Sensation and Perception
Chapter 4 (Study Guide Due)
Feb. 7
Consciousness
Chapter 5 (Study Guide Due)
Chapter 3
Feb. 12
Catch Up & Review
Feb. 14
EXAM 2: Chapters 3-5
Feb. 19
Learning
Chapter 6 (Study Guide Due)
Feb. 21
Learning cont.
Feb. 26
Memory
Feb. 28
Language, Thinking, & Reasoning
Chapter 6
Chapter 7 (Study Guide Due)
Chapter 8 (Study Guide Due)
March. 12
Catch Up & Review
March. 13
MID-TERM: CHAPTERS 1-8
E2-E3 (8:20-10:10)—LOCATION TBA
March. 14
No Class! Day Off!
March. 19
Intelligence and IQ Testing
Chapter 9 (Study Guide Due)
March. 21
Human Development
Chapter 10 (Study Guide Due)
March. 26
Motivation & Emotion
Chapter 11 (Study Guide Due)
March. 28
Catch Up & Review
April. 2
April. 4
Exam 3: Chapters 9-11
Stress, Coping, & Health
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Chapter 12 (Study Guide Due)
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April. 9
Social Psychology
April. 11
Chapter 13 (Study Guide Due)
Exam 4: (Chapters 12-13)
April. 16
Personality
April. 18
April. 23
Psychological Disorders & Psycho/Bio
Chapter 15 & 16 (Study Guide
Treatment
Due)
Catch Up & Review
April. 25
Reading Day
April. 30
Final Exam: Chapters 9-16
3-5pm
Stephen Walker
Chapter 14 (Study Guide Due)
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