WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON
CANADA
Department of Psychology
2014-2015
Psychology 1000 Section 004
Introduction to Psychology
1.0 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, the former Psychology 1200
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit.
So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for
the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
3 lecture hours, 1.0 course
2.0
COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. John Campbell
Office and Phone Number: SSC 7440
Office Hours: By appointment
Email:
jcampb7@uwo.ca
Course Coordinator: Dr. Mike Atkinson
Teaching Assistant:
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
Time and Location of Lectures: Tuesdays & Thursdays; 12:30 – 2:30 HSB-40
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.
3.0
TEXTBOOK
Required Text:
Passer, M.W., Smith, R.E., Atkinson, M.L., Mitchell, J.B., & Muir, D.W. (2011).
Psychology: Frontiers and Applications. Fifth Canadian Edition. Toronto:
McGraw Hill Ryerson.
Note: this text comes shrink-wrapped with a passkey for the CONNECT website.
Recommended: Ellis, Toft & Dawson (2012). Becoming a Master
Student. Nelson
4.0
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, brain structure, 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.
5.0
EVALUATION
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
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as
follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf):
A+
A
B
C
D
F
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
50-59
below 50
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
Competent work, meeting requirements
Fair work, minimally acceptable
Fail
6.0
TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
There will four exams during the year. All exams are common to all sections of Psych 1000. The
questions will be based on both text and lecture material.
Note that the mid-semester exams are held on Saturdays. Also, the Christmas and Final exams are
scheduled by the registrar’s office. We will let you know as soon as the schedule becomes available.
October Exam (20%)
Chapters 1-4, Appendix A
75 multiple choice questions
Saturday, October 18
December Exam (20%)
Chapters 5-8
75 multiple choice questions
TBA
March Exam (20%)
Chapters 9-13
75 multiple choice questions
Saturday, March 7
Final Exam (30%)
Chapters 14-17
100 multiple choice questions
TBA
9:00-11:00 am
(Dec. 6 – 17)
th
3:00-5:00 pm
(April 11 – 30)
Assignments (10%)
In addition to the exams, you must participate in a series of 5 on-line discussions. Details about the format
a grading scheme will be posted on Owl. The discussions are worth 10%.
Finally, there is a research participation requirement (see details on the Owl site). Please note that this is a
Department of Psychology requirement and does not add marks to your grade. Failure to meet the
research requirement will result in a loss of 10 points on your final grade.
Evaluation Summary:
Term test 1:
Mid year test:
Term test 2:
Final exam:
Discussion:
Total
7.0
20%
20%
20%
30%
10%
100%
LECTURE SCHEDULE
Topics will be covered in the following order during the year. Approximate lecture dates are given so that
you can keep up with the readings. Ideally, you should do the required readings before the topic is covered
in class. 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 -- we cover approximately one chapter
every week and half. Thus, it is important for you to keep up with the readings.
First Term
Topic
Chapter
Lecture date
Introduction
& Methodology
1&2
Sept. 4, 9, 11, 16
Biological Foundations
3
Sept. 18, 23, 25
Oct. 3
Genes & Behaviour
4
Oct. 7, 9
Statistics/Review
Term test 1 (20%)
Oct. 14, 16
1 – 4, plus Appendix
Oct. 18
Sensation & Perception
5
Oct. 21, 23, 28
30
Consciousness
6
Nov. 4, 6
Learning
7
Nov. 11, 13, 18, 20
Memory
8
Nov. 25, 27
Dec. 2
Mid-year TEST (20%)
5-8
Dec. 6 – 17
Second Term—Classes resume on Jan. 6
Topic
Chapter
Lecture date
Language & Thought
9
Jan. 6, 8
Intelligence
10
Jan. 13, 15
Motivation & Emotion
11
Jan. 20, 22, 27
Development
12
Jan. 29; Feb. 3, 5, 10
Social Psychology
13
Feb. 12, 24, 26;
March 3
Conference Week
Feb. 16 - 20
Review
Term test 2 (20%)
March 5
9 - 13
March 8, 3:00 p.m.
Stress
15
March 10
Personality
14
March 12, 17, 19
Disorders
16
March 24, 26; 31
Treatment
17
April 2, 7, 9
Final Exam (30%)
14 - 17
TBA
LEARNING INFORMATION EFFICIENTLY
You will be expected to know the assigned chapters VERY WELL!
Many of the multiple-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.
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.
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 immediately 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.
Don't try to read most of the 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.
Note that much of 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.
After actively reading 10 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.
Official Policy Statements POLICY ON MAKEUP EXAMS
Students are entitled to a rescheduling of exams or an extension of deadlines for legitimate medical or
compassionate grounds. However, it is the student's responsibility to inform the instructor prior to the due
date, to arrange a timely makeup, and, if requested, to provide acceptable documentation to support a
medical or compassionate claim.
In the case of a final examination or assignment in the course, the student must arrange for a Special
Examination or Incomplete through their Dean's office, for which you will be required to provide acceptable
documentation.
If you feel that you have a medical or personal problem that is interfering with your work, you should
contact your instructor and the Faculty Academic Counselling Office as soon as possible. Problems may
then be documented and possible arrangements to assist you can be discussed at the time of the
occurrence rather than on a retroactive basis. In general, retroactive requests for grade revisions on
medical or compassionate grounds will not be considered.
In order to write a make up for a midterm exam you must contact me. I will request that official
documentation be brought in. No one will be allowed to write a make up unless they have first cleared it
through me. If you miss a term test or exam due to an illness, you will have to abide by the university’s
policy on accommodation for medical illness, found at:
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/accommodation_medical.pdf. Failure to contact Dr. Atkinson
within one week of a missed exam will result in a score of zero on the missed test or exam. Any request
to write the make-up must be supported by written documentation outlining the reasons for your
absence. NOTE. In fairness to all students in Psych 1000, we cannot give special consideration to
personal commitments (e.g., work-related trips, vacation flight bookings, etc.) which conflict with
scheduled tests and exams. Note as well that it is your responsibility to check and confirm the examination
timetable as set by the Registrar.
For each test or exam, there will be one and only one formally scheduled make-up. Typically, the makeup will be offered within 7 days of the original test or exam date. The format for the make up will be
multiple choice or a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions.
8.0
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/appealsundergrad.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.
9.0
OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
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.