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Social Psychology
Instructor: Marika Lamoreaux
Office: 1168 Urban Life Building
Phone: (404) 413-6295
Office Hours: Tuesdays 11-12:15
e-mail: mlamoreaux@gsu.edu
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit
Aristotle
Prerequisite: PSYC 1101 with a C or higher
Purpose: There are several different goals for this class. I developed the class structure and
assignments to achieve these goals. Of course, the ultimate goal is for you to learn the
fundamentals of social psychology and how to apply social psychology (to your life, to politics, to
advertising, etc.). All of the class structure and assignments are designed to help you with this goal.
A sub goal of this course is to improve your critical thinking skills. The weekly quizzes and the
many questions I ask in class are designed to help achieve this goal.
Structure: As a 4000-level class, I want this class to feel as much like a capstone class as possible.
To this end, there will be no face-to-face lecture in this class. This will be a hybrid class, such that
half the class will be face-to-face, and half the class will be digital (see the schedule for details). On
digital days you will watch lectures I have posted on YouTube and use the textbook companion
website. On face-to-face days we will have discussions where we will apply the material from the
chapter by doing any of the following – complete exercises illustrating concepts, apply the concepts
to current events, collect classroom data on concepts, and watch clips relevant to the material. To
prepare you for discussion you will generate your own examples of all the required concepts for the
chapter (see Brightspace for a list for each chapter). At the beginning of each discussion day there
will be a quiz where I will ask you to write your example to one concept I have chosen.
Required Course Materials
Textbook
Purchasing
the Text
Think Social Psychology
1st Edition
Duff 2012
ISBN 978-0-205-01345-8
Your cheapest option is to rent a digital copy of the text from the textbook
provider (Pearson): http://www.coursesmart.com/0205014372/?a=1773944
If you can find a social psychology text by a different author, it’s fine for you to
use it, although it is highly likely that different texts will not cover all the terms as
the Duff text, and you will be responsible for learning about any terms not covered
by alternative texts. I have placed copies of different texts on library reserve.
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Companion
Website
iClicker
The textbook has a free companion website with chapter summaries, flashcards,
and quiz yourself questions: http://thethinkspot.com/socialpsychology_1
These are available at the bookstore and online. You may get the
iClicker1 (without the screen on it). Register your clicker at
www.iclicker.com. You must register your iClicker by 1/27.
Internet
Access
All students in this course are required to have internet access because I will email class information and/or post it on Brightspace. Computers are available in
the library and at various locations around campus. I expect you to check your
GSU e-mail and Brightspace at least once every 24 hours. If you have questions or
a problem accessing your e-mail or Brightspace, please immediately contact the
IT help center: 413-4357; http://www.gsu.edu/ist/information_students.html
Course Policies
I expect you to be an active participant in the class. I expect you to take
My
Expectations responsibility for your decisions, your work, and the commitment you make to
the class.
All phones must be completely turned off during class. If your phone makes
Electronic
noise (including vibrating) during class, or if you use your phone during class
Devices
(e.g., text), it is distracting to me and your fellow classmates. I will take your
phone for the remainder of class, send a text to a random person in your address
book, and make you sing a song of my choosing. Further, I reserve the right to
deduct points from any student who is texting, or whose phone makes noise.
Returned
Material
Academic
Misconduct
and
Disruptive
Behavior
If circumstances beyond your control require that you receive a call during class
please notify me before class, set your phone on vibrate, and sit close to the exit.
When the call comes, please leave the room discretely to answer it.
You are required to keep all graded material until final grades are posted by the
university (not by me on Brightspace), and to give it back to me within one week
if I request it. You have one week after I return graded material to the class to
dispute a grade, or to let me know that your grade isn’t posted on Brightspace,
even if you were not present in class the day I returned the material. After the
week passes, I will not change the grade on Brightspace, and I will use the grade
on Brightspace to calculate your final grade.
I will not tolerate academic misconduct. You are responsible for knowing all the
university’s policies on academic misconduct as well as the whole student code
of conduct. I also will not tolerate disrespectful or disruptive behavior. For
example, I expect that you will not use language like “gay” or “retarded” as
synonyms for silly or bad, and that you will always treat other students with
respect. The excuse “I didn’t know that is against university policy” will not
absolve you of responsibility for your conduct. For more information on GSU’s
policy on academic misconduct and disruptive behavior, check the student guide
to university policies:
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwdos/codeofconduct_conpol.html and
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwsen/minutes/2002-2003/disrupt2.html
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Students who wish to request accommodation for a disability may do so by
registering with the Office of Disability Services. To receive accommodation in
this course, students must have a signed Accommodation Plan from the Office of
Disability Services and provide me a copy of that plan at least 48 hours before
requiring accommodation. I will not retroactively change a grade or offer make
up assignments because a student with a disabling condition chose not to utilize
the full extent of the resources available when completing any work for this
course. For more information, please contact the Office of Disability Services:
Telephone 413-1560 or 463- 9044 TDD/Voice;
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwods/index.htm
Withdrawals As stated on the registrar’s website, http://www.gsu.edu/es/20399.html,
students may make a voluntary withdrawal from a class or classes before the
semester midpoint using PAWS. Students will automatically receive a grade of
W if they have not exceeded their limit and a WF if they have.
The best way to get in touch with me is through GSU e-mail; I do not check
Contacting
Brightspace e-mail. It will likely take me days longer to respond to a phone call
Me
than to an e-mail. Indicate what class you are in and the name you go by in class
in your e-mail. I will usually respond to e-mails within 24 hours, except
weekends, school breaks, and the end of the semester when things are really
busy.
Students
With
Disabilities
I encourage you to come see me during office hours or to schedule an
appointment if you are having difficulty with the course material or assignments.
Grading
Clicker Points
Quizzes
Exams
I will ask questions each discussion day that you will need to answer using
your clicker. You must answer 75% of the questions for that day in order to
earn your point for the day. There are 11 discussion days, but there is a max
of 8 clicker points. Therefore, on 3 days you can answer less than 75% of
the clicker questions without losing any points.
You will have a five-minute timed quiz each discussion day and I will
automatically drop your lowest quiz. You may bring one 4x6 index card to
the quiz; unaltered, and handwritten on both sides.
You will have two 50-item multiple choice exams: a midterm and a
cumulative final exam.
You may bring one 4x6 index card to the midterm and the final. For the
midterm you may write on one side only of the index card, and for the final
you may write on both sides. You many not alter the index card in any way,
nor print on to the index card (i.e., the text must be handwritten).
Missing a Quiz
or Exam
If you have an A+ average before the final exam you are exempt from the
final. If you did not take the midterm, regardless of your average, you must
take the final.
If you believe you have a valid reason to miss a quiz or exam, you must
provide documentation from someone in an authority position (e.g., doctor,
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or coach, not a relative) stating that you will be unable to attend class on the
date and time of the quiz or exam, with an explanation of why. The note
must contain the person’s email and phone number. You must provide me
the documentation at least one week ahead of time, and you must take the
quiz or exam before I give it in class.
Multimedia
Project
Extra Credit
Grade Review
If there is an emergency and you cannot take a quiz or exam, you have one
week to provide the documentation. If I approve your absence, the
following policies apply. If you miss a quiz you will have one week from
the missed quiz to make up the quiz. If you miss the midterm I will use
your final exam grade as your midterm grade. In other words, you cannot
make up the midterm and your final exam will be double-weighted. If you
miss the final you will take a final exam with a format of my choosing.
In groups you will illustrate two concepts from class in a 3-4 minute video
and post it on YouTube. You must be present both days of class that we
watch the projects, or you will receive half-credit for your project. See
Brightspace for more detailed information about the project.
Three times during the semester I will ask an iClicker question about the
syllabus. If you answer the question correctly you will receive ½ an extra
credit point. You can’t make-up extra credit.
Students have one week after a grade is posted on Brightspace to have it
reviewed. I will not change assignment grades after this period.
If you are not getting the grades you want, set up an appointment to see me
as soon as possible. We will likely be able to figure out a better studying
system to improve your performance. If you wait too long to come talk to
me, there won’t be enough time left for you to improve your overall grade.
Almost every semester at least one person receives a C- in my class and asks
me to change the grade to a C so the class will count for them. I will not
change the grade nor give you a chance to earn more points.
Calculating
Your Grade
Grade
Assignment
Graduating Seniors: The same policy for changing the final grade applies to
you. Do not count on me being sympathetic, you more than anyone should
be frequently calculating your current grade and making improvements to
your study habits if you find you are not earning a passing grade.
I have made two videos explaining how to calculate your current, and best
possible grades. The links to those videos are on Brightspace
The final course grades will reflect the percentage of points you earn in the
course, as follows: below 60%=F, 60-69.9%=D, 70-72.9%=C-, 7376.9%=C, 77-79.9%=C+, 80-82.9%=B-, 83-86.9%=B, 87-89.9%=B+, 9092.9%=A-, 93-96.9%=A, 97-100%=A+
To determine whether I will round your final grade, I will look at your final
exam grade. If your final exam grade is lower than the rounded grade, I will
not round the grade. If your final exam grade is higher than the rounded
grade, I will round the grade. For example, if you have a 76.99% at the end
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of the semester and you earned a 76% on the final, I would not round your
grade. If you earned an 80% on the final I would round your grade.
Times You Can Earn Points
Clicker Points
Quiz
Exams
Final Project
11
10
2
1
Points Per Assignment
Total Points
1
4
50
10
8
36
100
10
Plagiarism, Cheating, and Unauthorized Collaboration:
For a full explanation of academic dishonesty, see the GSU student code of conduct at:
http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwdos/codeofconduct.html
The most common types of academic dishonesty are plagiarism, cheating on assessments, and
unauthorized collaboration.
GSU Department of Psychology Definition of Plagiarism
If a student uses or relies on others’ work in preparing any academic materials (e.g. written
assignments, posters, presentations) the student must cite the source correctly according to the
directions provided by the instructor. Failure to do so is plagiarism. Copying and pasting even part
of a sentence or phrase is plagiarism, even when the source is cited correctly. Paraphrasing a source
in a way that copies the phrase or sentence structure of a source is also plagiarism. To avoid
plagiarism, students are expected to properly paraphrase others’ ideas.
Quotes in scientific writing should only be used when the wording of the original source is critical
to the student’s argument. Whether quoting is appropriate in a given instance is at the discretion of
the instructor, not the student. Quoting is not allowed in this class.
Cheating and Unauthorized Collaboration
Cheating includes the use or sharing of any unauthorized materials and/or assistance before, during,
or after an assessment (e.g. exams, tests, quizzes). Unless otherwise specified by your instructor,
you may not discuss an assessment or share materials or information with any other student at any
time.
Unauthorized collaboration occurs under the same circumstances as cheating, but involves
assignments outside of the classroom (e.g. papers, projects, presentations) rather than assessments.
The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at
Georgia State. Upon completing the course, please take time to fill out the online course evaluation.
Schedule
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Day Date
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1/13
1/15
1/20
1/22
1/27
1/29
2/3
2/5
2/10
2/12
2/17
2/19
2/24
2/26
3/3
3/5
3/10
3/12
3/17
3/19
3/24
3/26
3/31
4/2
4/7
4/9
4/14
4/16
4/21
4/23
4/30
Topic
Intro to The Class/Making Good
Examples
Ch 3 - Social Cognition
Ch 3 - Social Cognition
Ch 4 - The Self
Ch 4 - The Self
Ch 5 - Self-Perception
Ch 5 - Self-Perception
Ch 6 - Attitudes
Ch 6 - Attitudes
Ch 7 - Persuasion
Ch 7 - Persuasion
Midterm
Group Work
Ch 8 - Social Influence
Ch 8 - Social Influence
Ch 10 - Intergroup Bias
Ch 10 - Intergroup Bias
Ch 10 - Intergroup Bias
Assignment
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 3 quiz
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
iClicker registration due and Ch 4 quiz
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 5 quiz
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 6 quiz
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 7 quiz
Multimedia Project Group Agreement and Plan
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 8 quiz
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 10 quiz
continue exercise
Spring Break
Ch 11 - Aggression
Ch 11 - Aggression
Group Work
Ch 12 - Attraction
Ch 12 - Attraction
Ch 13 - Prosocial Behavior
Ch 13 - Prosocial Behavior
Group Work
Project Presentations
Project Presentations
1:30 PM -2:45 PM
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 11 quiz
Work on Final Project
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 12 quiz
Digital day - read text, watch videos, self-test
Ch 13 quiz
Work on Final Project
Multimedia Project due on Brightspace
Cumulative Final Exam