Introduction to Psychology - Course Syllabus | PSY 200, Exams of Psychology

Download Introduction to Psychology - Course Syllabus | PSY 200 and more Exams Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! Information Literacy in Psychology Psychology 250 Course Syllabus Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Gore Email: Jonathan.Gore@eku.edu Office: 116 Cammack Building Phone: 859-622-1115 Office Hours: MWF 10-11 (or by appointment) Web: http://people.eku.edu/gorej/ 10 Course Objectives Welcome to Psychology 250! The purpose of this course is to provide the necessary information and practice for students so they will be able to: 1. Determine the nature and extent of information necessary for scientific purposes How assessed: Exams 2. Access empirical information efficiently and accurately How assessed: Library assignments 3. Evaluate empirical information and its sources critically How assessed: Exams, Article summaries 4. Incorporate information appropriately into specific writing assignments How assessed: Research proposals 5. Distinguish common sense and non-scientific approaches from scientific approaches How assessed: Exams 6. Demonstrate the ability to read, summarize, and evaluate psychological literature How assessed: Exams, Article summaries, Research proposals 7. Create research questions and hypotheses How assessed: Exams, Research proposals 8. Be able to choose appropriate designs to test hypotheses How assessed: Exams 9. Write the Introduction section of a research proposal in APA format How assessed: Research proposals 10. Describe career opportunities available in the field of Psychology at the undergraduate and graduate levels How assessed: Exams, Career assignments Readings The following textbook will be used for this course: Mitchell, M. L., & Jolley, J. M. (2007). Research design explained (6th Edition). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. OPTIONAL TEXT: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th Edition). The books should be available at the campus bookstore, and some used copies should still be available. Refer to the course schedule on page 3 for which chapter is assigned for each day. You will also be asked to read research articles for this class, which will be provided to you. Outside Credits for Psychology Department All students in PSY 200, 250, 291 and 301 are required to complete 5.0 hours of outside credits. This requirement is set by the Psychology Department. Failure to complete all three hours by the due date set by the instructor will result in a one-letter grade reduction of the final course grade. To fulfill outside credits for this class you are encouraged to participate in research projects. If you do not participate in enough research studies to fulfill the required 3 hours, you have the option of answering questions about students’ research posters, which are available during finals week. I encourage you to participate in some research in order to get ideas about your own future research projects. To receive credit for participating in research: Sign up for studies via the online system (see handout). The researcher will assign you credit in the computer once you participate. You will be asked to write a brief summary of what you experienced and what you thought about the study. Please keep track of which studies you participate in (name of study, date, researcher), just in case we have a computer glitch. To receive credit for reading posters: (Available the first day of finals week). Complete the questions on the Poster Question Form, and give to the instructor. (Get forms from instructor) Each poster you review is worth 0.5 unit credits. Grading Your grades will be based on four exams (25 points each; 100 points total), a cumulative final (35 points), two research proposals (25 points each; 50 points total), four article summaries (10 points each; 40 points total), four library assignments (5 points each; 20 points total), four career assignments (5 points each; 20 points total), and attendance (35 points). The total points in this course is 300. There will also be opportunities for extra credit. Keep track of how much you earn as we progress through the course. Your grade will be based on the ranges below (there will be no curves). 300-270 pts. = A 269-240 pts. = B 239-210 pts. = C 209-180 pts. = D 179-0 pts. = F Exams The unit exams will consist of a short-answer question (5 points), and 20 multiple-choice questions (1 point each). The cumulative final exam will consist of three short answer questions (15 points) and 20 multiple choice questions (1 point each). The class before these exams, we will have a review session, but you will receive a study guide before each exam (including the final). Because this course presents a lot of material, I suggest you begin reviewing your notes before the day of the review session. Each unit exam will only cover about two weeks of information (they are not cumulative), but the final will be cumulative. All material in this course is fair game to use (i.e., lectures, activities, books, articles), but you’ll get some hints on the review day what will be on it and what won’t be on it. We will go over the answers to the exams the class period after the exam date. IMPORTANT NOTE: YOU MUST RECEIVE AN AVERAGE OF 70% OR HIGHER ON EXAMS TO PASS THE COURSE WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUCCEED IN THIS COURSE? 1. STUDY. In order to succeed in most college courses you should allow a minimum of 2—3 hours outside of class for homework and study purposes for each hour spent in class. Thus, for this 3-credit course you need to allow 6--9 hours/week outside of allow yourself time to work through the study guide/homework assignments, understand the material and to develop the critical thinking skills that you will need in your professional lives. 2. STUDY GUIDES/HOMEWORK. Reviewing the study guides for exams and completing your homework assignments are your responsibility. You are asked to: (a) answer ALL of the questions on assignments and (b) ask for help if you do not understand. Understanding ALL of the information on the study guides is the BEST way to prepare for exams. 3. DEVELOP WRITING SKILLS. WRITING IS A SKILL. Most students are not at the skill level of writing they should be, but it is not too late to learn. If you are serious about writing well, you can learn to do it. Good writing takes practice and a willingness to accept feedback from others. I am willing to help you with your writing, but you may also get free help at the Writing Lab: Case Annex 173 (622-6191). 4. EXAMS. Exams cover a lot of information so it is important that you understand ALL exam material. We will review for the exam the class period before the exam, and go over the answers the class meeting after the exam. If going through the exam does not answer all of your questions, please make an appointment with me to receive additional help. I am always willing to help you understand any material. Please don't hesitate to ask. 5. WORK WITH OTHERS. We learn best when we teach others. I will give you opportunities to work with other students and I encourage you to study with a partner and explain concepts to each other. This is a great way to determine what you do, and do not, know. Course Schedule If this changes in any way, I’ll let you know Date TOPIC HOMEWORK 8/25 Introduction & Science 8/27 Psychological Research Articles Read Chapter 1 8/29 Theories & Hypotheses 9/3 Types of Variables 9/5 Types of Designs 9/8 Generating Hypotheses 9/10 Article #1 Discussion: Hypotheses, Design, Variables ARTICLE #1 SUMMARY DUE 9/12 Review for Exam 1 9/15 Exam 1 9/17 Answers to Exam 1, Ethics Read Chapter 2 9/19 External Validity: Generalizability 9/22 Construct Validity: Measurement 9/24 Internal Validity: Causality 9/26 Validity Issues in Designs 9/29 Article #2 Discussion: Ethics and Validity Issues ARTICLE #2 SUMMARY DUE 10/1 Review for Exam 2 10/3 Exam 2 10/6 Exam 2 Answers, PsycINFO Read Chapter 4 10/8 Library Day #1 Library Assignment #1 Due 10/10 Library Day #2 Library Assignment #2 Due 10/13 Library Day #3 Library Assignment #3 Due 10/15 Library Day #4 Library Assignment #4 Due 10/17 Article #3 Discussion: Hypotheses, Designs, Validity ARTICLE #3 SUMMARY DUE 10/20 Review for Exam 3 10/22 Exam 3 10/24 Answers to Exam 3, Introduction Section Read Chapter 15 10/27 Literature Reviews: Integration & Organization 10/29 Generating Your Hypothesis Read Chapter 3 10/31 Writing Issues & APA Format PROPOSAL #1 DRAFT DUE 11/5 Critique Workshop 11/7 First Paper Discussion 11/10 Review for Exam 4 REVISED PROPOSAL #1 DUE 11/12 Exam 4 11/14 Answers to Exam 4, Develop Topic & Hypothesis 11/17 PsycINFO search (3 articles on topic) 11/19 Literature Review Workshop ARTICLE #4 SUMMARY DUE 11/21 Second Paper Draft Discussion 11/24 Second Paper Meetings PROPOSAL #2 DRAFT DUE 12/1 Careers in Psychology #1 Career Assignment #1 Due 12/3 Careers in Psychology #2 Career Assignment #2 Due 12/5 Careers in Psychology #3 Career Assignment #3 Due 12/8 Careers in Psychology #4 Career Assignment #4 Due 12/10 Second Paper Discussion EXTRA CREDIT DUE 12/12 Review for Final Exam REVISED PROPOSAL #2 DUE FINAL EXAM WILL BE ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 FROM 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM