University of Alberta
Basic Psychological Processes & PSYCO 104 X01
Fall 2018
Instructor: Kimberley Campbell Office: Biological Sciences P-539
E-mail: [email protected] Web Page: available through eClass
Office Hours: Mondays 12:00 - 1:00 PM, or by appointment
Lecture Room & Time: CCIS 1-140, Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:00 - 6:25 PM
TA: Elyse Runac
Office: Biological Sciences P-553 E-mail: [email protected]
Course Description: Principles and development of perception, motivation, learning, and thinking and their relationship to the psychological functioning of the individual.
Fulfillment of the 1/4 laboratory credit typically entails serving as a research participant, but can be fulfilled through the completion of alternative assignments. The course is a prerequisite to all courses in the department and is normally followed by PSYCO 105.
Course Prerequisites: N/A
Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes: This course is one half of the department’s introductory psychology sequence. It will provide a base understanding of scientific methods, learning, memory, consciousness, perception, and neuroscience. The goal is to develop critical thinking skills, be familiar with the main foundations of modern psychology, and acquire an overview of the field of psychology as a whole.
Students will also learn transferable skills (such as email etiquette) that will help them navigate both university and professional environments.
Required Textbook:
Passer, M., Smith, R., Atkinson, M., & Mitchell, J. (2018). Psychology: Frontiers and applications (PSYCO 104 Custom Text w/ Connect for the University of Alberta; 6th Canadian Ed.). McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Practice exam questions and other useful material is available online at the textbook’s
“Connect” webpage.
Representative Evaluative Material:
Representative evaluative material will be available on eClass as practice exams. Other representative evaluative material can be found through your course “Connect” package that is offered by the textbook publisher.
Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings:
Week Dates Topic Chapter Notes
1 September 4 & 6 - course introduction
- Psychology: The science of behaviour 1 2 September 11 & 13 - Studying Behaviour Scientifically
- Biological Foundations of Behaviour
2 & 3 3 September 18 & 20 - Biological Foundations of Behaviour 3 4 September 25 - Biological Foundations of Behaviour
- Genes, Evolution, and Behaviour
3 & 4
September 27 Midterm 1 -- Chapters 1-3
5 October 2 & 4 - Discuss Course Paper
- Genes, Evolution, and Behaviour - Sensation and Perception
4 & 5 Course Paper Requirements and APA formatting 6 October 9 & 11 - Sensation and Perception
- States of Consciousness
5 & 6 7 October 16 & 18 - States of Consciousness
- Learning and Adaptation
6 & 7 8 October 23 & 25 - Learning and Adaptation
- Memory
7 & 8
October 30 Midterm 2 -- Chapters 4-7
9 November 1 - Memory 8
10 November 6 & 8 - Motivation and Emotion 11 11 November 12 - 16 No Class – Fall Reading Week --
12 November 20 & 22 - Motivation and Emotion 11 Paper due Nov. 22
13 November 27 & 29 - Personality 14
14 December 4 - Catch up and review
December 6 Final Exam -- All Chapters
________________________________________________________________________
Grade Evaluation:
EXAMS WEIGHTING DATE
Midterm 1 20% Sept. 27
Midterm 2 20% Oct. 30
Course Paper 15% Nov. 22
Final Exam 35% Dec. 6*
Research Participation 10% Throughout
* Students must verify this date on BearTracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted Grades are unofficial until accepted by the Department and/or Faculty offering the course
Letter Grade Percentage Points Descriptor
A+ 95 - 100 4.0
Excellent
A 90 - 94.99 4.0
A- 85 - 89.99 3.7
B+ 80 - 84.99 3.3
Good
B 75 - 79.99 3.0
B- 70 - 74.99 2.7
C+ 67 - 69.99 2.3
Satisfactory
C 64 – 66.99 2.0
C- 60 - 63.99 1.7
D+ 55 - 59.99 1.3 Poor
D 50 - 54.99 1.0 Minimal Pass
F 0 - 49.99 0 Fail
Format of Exams:
Midterms
Midterms will consist of multiple-choice questions and be worth 20% of the final grade.
Midterms are NOT cumulative and will only cover new material that has not yet been tested. Questions can come from textbook or lecture material. Midterms will be written in the usual classroom at the usual time.
Final Exam
The final exam will consist of multiple-choice questions and be worth 35% of the final grade. The final exam is cumulative. Questions can come from material covered throughout the term.
The date of the final exam will be announced once it has been confirmed by the University of Alberta’s Registrar’s Office. The final exam location will also be
announced at that time. Cheating during a final exam is an extremely serious academic offense and will not be tolerated.
Missed Term Exams and Assignments:
For an excused absence where the cause is religious belief, a student must contact the instructor within two weeks of the start of Fall or Winter classes to request
accommodation for the term (including the final exam, where relevant). Instructors may request adequate documentation to substantiate the student request.
A student who cannot write a term examination or complete a term assignment due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for a deferral of the weight of the missed term work/exam to the final exam or an extension of the paper deadline. You must contact the instructor within 24 hours of the exam or paper deadline to apply for the deferral. In all cases, instructors may request adequate documentation to substantiate the reason for the absence at their discretion.
Deferral of term work is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.
Deferred Final Examination:
A student who cannot write the final examination due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for a deferred final
examination. Students who failed at the start of term to request exam accommodations for religious beliefs are expected to follow the normal deferred final examination process.
Such an application must be made to the student’s Faculty office within two working days of the missed examination and must be supported by appropriate documentation or a Statutory Declaration
(http://calendar.ualberta.ca/content.php?catoid=20&navoid=4939#Attendance). Deferred examinations are a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferred
examination will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferred examination is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.
Student Responsibilities:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: "The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the
provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University."
All forms of dishonesty are unacceptable at the University. Any offence will be reported to the Associate Dean of Science who will determine the disciplinary action to be taken.
Cheating, plagiarism and misrepresentation of facts are serious offences. Anyone who engages in these practices will receive at minimum a grade of zero for the exam or paper in question and no opportunity will be given to replace the grade or redistribute the weights. As well, in the Faculty of Science the sanction for cheating on any examination will include a disciplinary failing grade (NO EXCEPTIONS) and senior students should expect a period of suspension or expulsion from the University of Alberta.
EXAMS: Your student photo I.D. is required at exams to verify your identity. Students will not be allowed to begin an examination after it has been in progress for 30 minutes.
Students must remain in the exam room until at least 30 minutes has elapsed. Electronic equipment cannot be brought into examination rooms and hats should not be worn.
CELL PHONES: Cell phones are to be turned off during lectures, labs and seminars.
Cell phones are not to be brought to exams.
STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR ACCESSIBILITY-RELATED
ACCOMMODATIONS (students registered with Student Accessibility Services - SAS): Eligible students have both rights and responsibilities with regard to accessibility- related accommodations. Consequently, scheduling exam accommodations in accordance with SAS deadlines and procedures is essential. Please note adherence to procedures and deadlines is required for U of A to provide accommodations. Contact
SAS (www.ssds.ualberta.ca) for further information.
STUDENT SUCCESS CENTRE: Students who require additional help in developing strategies for better time management, study skills or examination skills should contact the Student Success Centre (2-300 Students’ Union Building).
RECORDING AND/OR DISTRIBUTION OF COURSE MATERIALS: Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose
without prior written consent from the content author(s).
Policy about course outlines can be found in the University Calendar
(http://calendar.ualberta.ca/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=806&hl="syllabus"&returnto=
search - Evaluation_Procedures_and_Grading_System).
Disclaimer:Any typographical errors in this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced in class. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.
