PSYC 100 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
Course Syllabus
Fall 2008
Instructor: Prof. Dr. Zeynep Aycan
Office: SOS 212
Office Hours: Thursdays 4:30-5:30 pm
Phone: 338 1353
Email: zaycan@ku.edu.tr
Course Description and Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to provide you with a broad introduction to psychology as a science of human
behavior, cognition, emotions, and relationships. We will explore various areas of psychology, including
biological, learning, cognitive, developmental, social, personality and clinical psychology. We will also
discuss the history of psychology as a science and the kinds of methodologies used in psychological
research.
The course has two components. The first component consists of lectures on Mondays and Wednesdays. The
second component consists of Discussion Sessions (DSs) on Fridays. The DSs will meet in groups of about
25 students and will complement the lectures of each week. You will have a chance to engage in group
discussions and activities with your DS leaders. DSs are not for reviewing or repeating the lectures. Certain
topics may be covered only in DSs. You are expected to attend both the lectures and the DSs. Exams
will include all materials covered in the lectures and DSs.
Discussion Sessions: will be held on Fridays throughout the semester – you will need to check with the
registrar’s office to learn when and where your group meets.
Course Requirements and Procedures:
A. Text: Myers, D. G. (2008). Exploring psychology in modules (7th edition). Worth Publishers.
B. Important electronic resources:

Relevant course materials such as the syllabus, handouts, and other announcements will be
maintained in the courseware in KUAIS.

There is a companion website to your textbook. This website can be accessed at:
http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/exploring7einmodules
We highly recommend that you make use of this website. The website will be a great help to you in
preparation for the exams.

All correspondence about your PSYC100 coursework will be done via your KU email.
B. Exams: There will be two mid-terms (25% each) and a final (30%). All exams are multiple-choice tests.
Exam dates are set by the registrar’s office.
C. DS assignments and pop quizzes: You will be given 4 pop quizzes during DSs. These quizzes will
include two short-answer questions pertaining to the topics covered during that week. The quizzes will
account for 15% of your final course grade. There will be no make-ups for the pop quizzes.
1
Course Policies:
A. Attendance: You are expected to attend all lecture and discussion sessions, do all readings on time,
participate in class activities, and participate in the exams as scheduled. Switching lecture or DS sessions is
not allowed.
According to the university policy, if you are absent from 1/3 of the classes during the semester (total of the
lectures and DSs that are actually held) you will receive an “F” grade in this course. A class missed due to an
approved medical excuse or an approved excused absence counts as an “absence.” We are going to start
taking attendance on September 18 Thursday. It is your responsibility as a student to monitor your
attendance records in KUAIS.
It is strictly forbidden to sign the attendance sheet for your friends or have them sign the attendance sheet for
you. If you are caught having forged your signature (with or without your knowledge) you will be counted as
absent and you will be denied any extra credit. In addition, disciplinary action may be taken.
B. Make-up for missed exams: Make-up exams are given only when you have an approved medical excuse.
Make-up exams will be scheduled within 2 weeks of the original exam date. You will be notified of this date
via email.
C. Extra Credit: You will have an opportunity to earn up to 5 points by participating in research studies
conducted by Department of Psychology students and faculty members. Whenever there is a new study that
you can participate, you will receive an e-mail from the research coordinator (Neslihan Kuş,
NKUS@KU.EDU.TR). Students who engage in any misconduct such as cheating on exams and/or
attendance forms, or misbehaving in the classroom will not be able to receive any extra credit.
D. Academic Honesty: Honesty and trust are fundamental values to Koç University students and faculty. I
will enforce Koç University code of ethics to its fullest extent as outlined in the Policies and Procedures
section of the University Catalog. Cheating, plagiarism, and collusion will not be tolerated.
Summary of the basis for grades:
Source of credit
Midterms
Final
Discussion session participation
Quizzes
Total credit
Extra credit
% contribution to course grade
50 (2x25)
30
5
15
100
5
Your final letter grade will be assigned according to the following scale: 90.5 and above = A; 87-90 = A-;
83-86 = B+; 79-82 = B; 75-78 = B-; 71-74 = C+; 67-70 = C; 63-66 = C-; 59-62 = D+; 55-58 = D;
54.4 and below = F.
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FINAL EXAM TOPICS: ALL OF THE BELOW EXCEPT
THE RED MODULES
September 16 Tuesday
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE FOR PSYC 100 LECTURESIntroduction to the course
September 18 Thursday
The History and Science of Psychology
M1
September 23 Tuesday
Research Strategies
M2
September 25 Thursday
Research Strategies
M2
October 7 Tuesday
Biology and Behavior
M3
October 9 Thursday
The Brain
M4
October 14 Tuesday
Behavior Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology / Environmental Influences on Behavior
M5 + M6
October 16 Thursday
Behavior Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology / Environmental Influences on Behavior
M5 + M6
October 21 Tuesday
Developmental Issues, Prenatal Development and the Newborn; Infancy and Childhood
M7 + M8
October 23 Thursday
Developmental Issues, Prenatal Development and the Newborn; Infancy and Childhood
M7 + M8
October 30 Thursday
Adolescence and Adulthood
M9 + M10
November 4 Tuesday
Waking and Sleeping Rhythms
M15
November 6 Thursday
Waking and Sleeping Rhythms
M15
November 11 Tuesday
Classical Conditioning
M18
November 13 Thursday
Operant Conditioning
M19
November 18 Tuesday
Learning by Observation
M20
November 20 Thursday
Information Processing
M21
November 25 Tuesday
Information Processing
M21
November 27 Thursday
Forgetting, Memory Construction, Improving Memory
M22
December 2 Tuesday
Intelligence
M25
December 4 Thursday
Intelligence
M25
December 16 Tuesday
Introduction to Motivation
M26
December 18 Thursday
The Psychoanalytic Perspective
M33
December 23 Tuesday
The Humanistic Perspective
M34
December 25 Thursday
Contemporary Research on Personality
M35
December 30 Tuesday
Social Thinking
M43
January 6 Tuesday
Social Influence (you are responsible
Introduction to Psychological Disorders
January 8 Thursday
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until page 588)
M44
M36