Psych 241 – A1
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Fall Term, 2018
Instructor: Dr. Kyle Nash
Office: Biological Sciences, P457 Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 3:30-4:30pm or by appointment
Course Location, Days & Time: Tory Lecture Theatres 11, Tuesday and Thursday, 2:00pm-3:20pm
Teaching Assistant Information: Yunzhu Ouyang Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00-3:00pm or by appointment
Course Website: Sign in to eClass, accessible on University Home Page
Course Description: A survey of theories and research on the individual in a social context. Prerequisites: PSYCO 104 or SCI 100, and PSYCO 105 or equivalent. Note:
PSYCO 241 and SOC 241 may not both be taken for credit. [Faculty of Arts]
It is your responsibility as a student to ensure that you have the appropriate prerequisite for the course.
Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes: The primary goal of this course is to provide students with an introduction to research and theorizing in social psychology.
Topics covered in this course will include research methods, attitudes and social information processing, social influence, the self, group processes, prejudice, altruism, aggression, and interpersonal attraction. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Demonstrate broad knowledge of social determinants of behaviour. 2.
Describe and evaluate current theory and research in social psychology. 3. Understand and interpret principles of social psychology in everyday life. 4. Define causes of social behaviour from different perspectives.
Course Format: Two 1 hour, 20 minute classes will be held each week consisting of lectures, video clips, and class discussions. Readings will supplement, but not replace, corresponding lectures. Lecture slides will be posted on eClass just prior to the
corresponding lecture.
2 Textbooks: Social Psychology: The science of everyday life 2e (2018) Greenberg, Schmader, Arndt, & Landau Worth Publishers: New York This textbook is available from the Bookstore. ISBN - 13: 978−0−7167−0422−5 Price Textbook - $133 Price ebook (Launchpad) - $70
More information about Launchpad will be provided by a representative during the first lecture.
Important Dates: See Academic Schedule in current Calendar First Day of Class: Sept 4th
Last Day of Class: Dec. 7th
Final Exam Date (if applicable): Dec. 14th, 2pm (tentative)
WARNING: Students must verify this date on BearTracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted
Date of Deferred Final Exam: TBA
Registration:
Add/Delete (No academic record)
Fee Payment
Fee Refund (50%)
Withdrawal (Grade of W)
Fall 13-week classes
Sep 17, 2018 Sep 28,
2018
Oct 4, 2018 Nov 30, 2018 First half
6-week classes
Sep 17, 2018 Sep 28,
2018
Sep 27, 2018 Oct 9, 2018
Second half 6-week classes
Nov 2, 2018 (delete only)
Sep 28, 2018
Nov 23, 2018 Nov 30, 2018
Schedule and Readings (subject to change):
DATE TOPIC READING (pages)
9/4 – 9/6 Introduction & Research Methods Ch. 1 (2-35),
9/11 – 9/13 Fundamentals Ch. 2 (37-77)
9/18 – 9/20 Social Cognition Ch. 3 (85-120)
9/25 – 9/27 The Self Ch. 5 (163-199)
10/2 – 10/4 Key Motives Ch. 6 (203-244)
10/9 MIDTERM EXAM #1
10/11 – 10/16 Attribution, Impression, and Expectation Ch. 4 (123-159)
10/18 – 10/23 Social Influence, Persuasion, and Attitudes Ch. 7 (249-285), Ch. 8 (230-263)
10/25 – 10/30 Group Dynamics Ch. 9 (329-366)
10/30 – 11/1 Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination Ch. 10 (369-404)
11/6 Responses to Prejudice Ch. 11 (411-445)
11/8 MIDTERM EXAM #2
3 11/13 – 11/15 NO CLASS
11/20 – 11/22 Aggression Ch. 12 (447-492)
11/27 – 11/29 Altruism Ch. 13 (495-527)
12/4 -12/6 Interpersonal Attraction and Close Relationships Ch. 14 (533-570), Ch. 15 (575-616) 12/14 Final Exam 2:00 p.m. (tentative)
Components of Course Grade:
(1) Exam 1 – 30%
(2) Exam 2 –30%
(3) Final Cumulative Exam – 40%
The exams will be drawn from lectures and the text (even if one has not been covered in the other). All exams will be multiple-choice and the final exam will be partially cumulative. Approximately 40% of the final will cover previous material and the remaining 60% will cover the most recent material. There are no other course assignments and no marks are given for class participation.
Please note that it is important to show up for all exams on time. To be fair to other students and to prevent unethical behavior, students who are more than 30 minutes late will not be allowed to write the exam.
Grading:
Final grades will be reported using letter grades. Final grades will be determined after combining scores for all components of the course into a percentage total for each student.
The instructor will convert these percentages into letter grades based on the following conversion system:
A+ ≥92.5%
A 84.5 – 92.4 A- 79.5 – 84.4 B+ 76.5 – 79.4 B 73.5 – 76.4 B- 69.5 – 73.4 C+ 66.5 – 69.4 C 63.5 – 66.4 C- 59.5 – 63.4 D+ 54.5 – 59.4 D 49.5 – 54.4 F ≤49.5
This is NOT a curved course. However, cutoffs may be adjusted so that the proportion of students receiving each letter grade more closely corresponds to the University-suggested ranges. Exam marks will be posted under “Grades” on the course website. I will not return the
4 in-class participation/activity worksheets or the final exam to the students. Grades are unofficial until approved by the Department and/or Faculty offering the course.
Representative Evaluative Material: Example multiple choice items will be provided in lectures and in the Launchpad practice quiz section.
Attendance: Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course.
Missed Exams: For an excused absence where the cause is religious belief, a student must contact the instructor(s) 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 exam due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for deferral of the weight of the missed term exam. The weight of the midterm will be transferred to the final exam. 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 Exam: For information on how to apply for a deferred exam see “I Missed my Final Exam, Now What?”
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 students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.
An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process .
Recording of Lectures: 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
5 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).
Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this syllabus are subject to change and will be announced in class and posted on eClass. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.
Student Resources:
The best all-purpose website for student services is: https://www.ualberta.ca/current- students.
Accessibility Resources: (1–80 SUB)
The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and enable all people to reach their full potential. Accessibility Resources promotes an accessible, inclusive, and universally designed environment. For general information to register for services visit the Accessibility Resources webpage.
The Academic Success Centre: (1-80 SUB)
The Academic Success Centre offers a variety of workshops on effective study and exam strategies. There are in-person and online sessions available for a modest fee.
The Centre for Writers: (1-42 Assiniboia Hall)
The Centre for Writers offers free one-on-one writing support to students, faculty, and staff. Students can request consultation for a writing project at any stage of development.
Instructors can request class visits and presentations.
Health and Wellness Support: There are many health and community services available to current students. For more information visit the Health and Wellness Support webpage.
Office of the Student Ombuds:
The Office of the Student Ombuds offers confidential interviews, advice and support to students facing academic, discipline, interpersonal and financial difficulties.
Learning and working environment:
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment.
The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.
6 Copyright: Kyle Nash, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta, 2018
