Department of Psychology
Psych 346/2/51 ψ Learning I
Tues. 18:30-20:45
LOY, CC-308
Fall: Sept. 6-Dec. 6, 2005
Instructor:
Office:
Office hours:
Tel.:
Email:
Dr. Jack Hirschberg
PY-135-1
By appointment
(514) 620-7171
hirschbj@videotron.ca
That behaviour can be learned is taken by most people to be an axiom. However, we
often overlook the importance of this ability to the plasticity of behaviour and its function
in adaptation. Furthermore, modern research has begun to explain the deeper intricacies
of the phenomenon we call learning, and this knowledge has significant implications for
science, education, technology, medicine, and everyday life.
This course will cover the basic concepts encompassed by the term “learning”. The topics
to be covered will include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
the historical context for modern theories of learning;
the evolutionary context for modern theories of learning;
the details of the classical theories and paradigms of behaviourism;
the details of modern theories and paradigms of behaviourism;
the theories and paradigms of non-behaviourist models of learning;
the neural and biochemical explanations for learning;
the application of learning principles to developmental psychology,
psychopathology, social psychology, and human sexuality.
Text
Lieberman, D.A. 2004. Learning and memory: An integrative approach. Toronto:
Thomson/Wadsworth. ISBN: 0-534-61974-6. Additional readings may be assigned as the
course progresses.
Course Format
Lectures, discussions, and audio-visual presentations will be used. This course presents a
moderately heavy workload. In addition to class time, students should expect to devote at
least the same amount of time to reading and study. Students are advised that some of the
material presented in class is not available from the text. Exams will be based on the text,
assigned readings and material presented in class.
Evaluation
Please read this notice from the PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT PARTICIPANT POOL (2005-06)
Welcome to the Psychology Department Participant Pool. Most of the research that you will be
hearing about in this class was conducted within a university setting by Psychology Professors. A lot of
Psychology research involved students enrolled in Psychology courses; i.e., people like you.
This year, the Psychology Department at Concordia University is offering you an opportunity to
participate in a number of research projects that are being conducted within the department. It is our hope
that first-hand experience will broaden your knowledge of Psychology and bring meaning to the material
that you are learning in class. Your willingness to help would be greatly appreciated and each hour of your
time spent participating in a study associated with the Psychology Department Participant Pool will gain
you one credit representing 1% of your course grade. In courses offering a participation option the
instructor will set a maximum number of credits you can earn through participation (this maximum will not
be greater than 6 credits). If your instructor offers 6 credits for participation this means that up to 6% of
your final grade may be obtained from participation. However, you may choose to do fewer than 6 credits
or none at all; it’s entirely up to you.
We describe below this introduction how to find experiments being conducted within the
department and how to arrange to participate in them. First, however, we would like to explain how
participation credits are worked into your final grade. Your final grade will be based on your normal course
work (e.g., tests, essays, labs) and participation. The weight given to your course work depends on how
much you participate. Let’s say that your instructor offers up to 6 credits for participation and you signed
up to participate in 4 hours of research. Assuming that you showed up to participate in all 4 experiments
your final grade will be calculated based on (100-4)% = 96% from coursework and 4% based on your
participation. In this example, if you received 75 out of 100 on your course work then your mark on the
course would be .96*75 + 4 = 76%. If you choose not to participate at all, your grade would be based on
course work only; i.e., 75%. If you obtained 6 participation credits your final grade would be .94*75 + 6 =
76.5%. So, if X is the percentage of your final grade coming from participation then (100-X)% is the
percentage coming from normal course work. (Participation will generally raise your grade modestly,
unless you fail to show up for an appointment you’ve made; see point 5 below.)
The Department believes that participation in research provides an important part of your
education in Psychology. However, all participation in Psychological research must be voluntary. Nobody
should be forced to participate in an experiment, or be forced to continue in an experiment that they are
uncomfortable with for any reason. Therefore, once you have arranged to participate in an experiment you
will have a choice.
1. You can participate in the study and the experimenter will explain to you everything you need to
know to complete the study.
2. Or, you can act as an ‘observer’ in the study. This means that the experimenter will walk you
through the study, show you some of what would be done in the study, but not collect any data
from you.
If you choose to ‘observe’ a study, observation will only require about an hour and you will receive one
credit for this. If you choose to participate in a study, you will receive one credit for each hour of your time,
normally limited to a maximum of three credits per study. YOU MUST INFORM THE EXPERIMENTER
ABOUT YOUR INTENTION TO ‘OBSERVE’ THE STUDY AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE LAB.
Below this introduction you will find information about how to contact research labs within the
department. It is our hope that you will learn a lot from participation in research and that the experience
will be rewarding. Please accept our best wishes for a great year.
Sincerely,
Rick Gurnsey, Ph.D.
Adam S. Radomsky, Ph.D.
Chair, Department Curriculum Committee
Chair, Department Ethics Committee
PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT PARTICIPANT POOL DETAILS
1. When can I participate? Opportunities to participate will be available until the last week of classes.
For one-term fall courses (i.e., /2 courses) the last day to participate is Monday December 5, 2005.
For courses ending in April (i.e., /3 and /4 courses) the last day to participate is Tuesday, April 11,
2006.
2. Where can I find out about studies in which to participate? You can find out what studies are
available and who to contact by following the link to “Participant Pool” from the Department’s
webpage (http://psychology.concordia.ca) or go directly to:
http://psychology.concordia.ca/participants/index.html
Studies and experiments will begin to appear on our website by the middle of September. Once you
have found a study that you would like to participate in, please contact the laboratory listed on the
website to arrange a testing appointment.
3. What information do I need to provide when I contact a lab? You need to provide the lab with
your name, your student number, course number (e.g., PSYC315), term (e.g., /2), section (e.g.,
001) and your instructor’s name. If you do not have this information you will not be able to make an
appointment to participate.
4. What if I can’t make it to an appointment? If you are unable to attend this testing appointment that
you’ve made, YOU MUST CANCEL IT BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT. If you cancel an
appointment it will have no effect on your grade; it is as if the appointment had never been made.
5. What happens if I don’t cancel an appointment? The percentage of your final grade that comes
from participation is based on the number of appointments kept and the number not kept. Let’s say
you made 6 appointments of which you cancelled 2, showed up for 3 and failed to show up for 1. In
this case participation would count for 4% of your final grade (the 3 you showed up for and the 1 you
didn’t show up for) and 96% would come from other course work. In this case you would receive 3%
for participation. Please note that you can’t get credit for a missed appointment by signing up
for another experiment, so please make sure to cancel an appointment if you can’t make it.
6. Will I be guaranteed to have a chance to obtain the maximum number of participation credits
permitted by the instructor? No. Studies are filled on a first-come first-served basis. Therefore if
you would like to obtain participation credits you should check the web page regularly and sign up for
studies quickly.
7. What if I don’t want to continue participation once an experiment has started? You have the
right to withdraw from any study at any time for and any reason without any negative
consequences. If you would like more information about the ethical conduct of research involving
humans, you should visit the following link:
http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/english/policystatement/policystatement.cfm
8. How is my participation recorded? When you finish a study, the researcher will give you two copies
of a ‘receipt.’ It is your responsibility to put one copy in the drop box located in L-SP-244 and you
should keep the other copy until the end of your course in case there is a problem. The percentage of
your grade deriving from participation and the number of credits earned will be forwarded to your
instructor at the end of your course. When you complete a study any data obtained from your
participation will be kept confidential by the researchers and will NOT be communicated to your
instructor.
9. If you have any questions or problems with the Undergraduate Participant Pool, please first
contact the appropriate research laboratory. If you are unable to resolve your problem with
the laboratory, you may then contact Pat Wilson (in SP-244), Dr. Gurnsey or Dr. Radomsky.
There will be three class exams. The first two worth 30% each towards the final grade,
will each consist of 30 multiple-choice questions. The third, worth 40%, will consist of
40 multiple choice questions worth ½ mark each, and two short essay questions worth 10
marks each. Test one and two are NOT cumulative, however, TEST 3 IS
CUMULATIVE. There is no final exam and there is no provision for supplemental
exams. The time limit for the first two exams will be 1.5 hours. The time limit for the
third exam will be 2.5 hours. Remember that should you decide to take part in the
Psychology Department Participant Pool, you marks will be adjusted as per the
notice above. The maximum number of Participant Credits you may earn in this
course is 6%.
Students who miss an exam for valid reasons may write a makeup exam on the date
stipulated below in the course plan. The instructor reserves the right to request
documentation to validate an excuse for missing an exam, and to refuse requests for a
makeup exam if the excuse is deemed unacceptable.
Each part of the course will receive a numerical grade. The final numerical grade will be
rounded down if the fractional part is 0.4 or lower, and rounded up if it is 0.5 or higher.
The final grade in the course will be a letter grade based on your cumulative numerical
grade and your rank in the class, as follows:
If the total numerical And if your standing
Your final
grade is between in the letter group is
grade is
---------------------- ---------------------------90 & 100
80 & 90
80 & 90
70 & 79
70 & 79
70 & 79
60 & 69
60 & 69
Any standing
Top half
Bottom half
Top third
Middle third
Bottom third
Top third
Middle third
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
60 & 69
50 & 59
50 & 59
50 & 59
0 & 50
Bottom third
Top third
Middle third
Bottom third
Any standing
CD+
D
DFNS
Although no student will receive a lower grade than that earned by this system, the
instructor reserves the right to raise a particular student's grade if, at the instructor's
discretion, the student is deemed to deserve a raised grade based on mitigating
circumstances.
Course Plan
Sept 6- 20
Sept 27
Oct 4
Oct 11-25
Nov 1
Nov 8 – 22
Nov 29
Dec 6
Chapters 1 – 4 inclusive
Exam 1
Class canceled
Chapters 5 – 8 inclusive
Exam 2
Chapters 9 – 13 inclusive
Exam 3
Makeup exams