Page | 1 Basic Psychological Processes
PSYCO 104-A4 Fall 2018 TR 11:00 – 12:20
CCIS 1 430 Instructor: Dr. Peggy St. Jacques
Office: Biological Sciences Building, Psychology Wing, 5th Floor, P-559 E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: My office hours are on Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30-2:30 PM or by appointment. You can drop-in at any point during that time, but to reserve a specific slot I recommend that students book a time to meet with me using the following website:
https://stjacques.youcanbook.me. Usually a 10-minute slot is sufficient time to answer questions related to the course content or structure. In addition to office hours, you can also get help using the forums on the course eClass website, meeting with the TAs, or by talking to me after class.
TA: Kennedy Fjellner Office Hours: Wed. 9-10 AM E-mail: [email protected] Office: BS P-537
TA: Michelle Tomczak Office Hours: Mon. 1 – 2 PM E-mail: [email protected] Office: BS P-218
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.
This course is an introduction to the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.
You will learn about the history of psychology, psychological research methods, the role of genetics and evolution in behaviour, the functioning of the brain, processes of
sensation and perception, learning, memory, consciousness, emotions and motivation.
You will also learn how the scientific method is applied in psychology, and you will develop the skill to think like a psychologist about information you encounter in day-to- day living.
Page | 2 COURSE OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:
A. Define the term psychology and demonstrate understanding of basic terminology, concepts and methods of the discipline.
B. Describe some of the major findings in a variety of areas in psychology including:
genes & evolution, sensation & perception, learning, memory, consciousness, motivation & emotion.
C. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the biological foundations of psychology by distinguishing the major brain systems, the organization and function of brain regions, and the main techniques used to study the brain.
D. Identify the steps of the scientific research method and use basic statistical analysis in psychological research.
E. Describe applications of psychology in everyday life, and develop skills to critically evaluate psychological claims.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
Passer, Smith, Atkinson, & Mitchell. (2018). Psychology 104 Basic Psychological Processes, University of Alberta customized version 2018-2019, Select materials from:
Psychology: Frontiers and Applications, 6th Canadian edition, McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings:
Date Topic Assigned Reading
Week 1 Sept. 04 Introduction to Psychology Chapter 1 Sept. 06 Perspectives in Psychology Chapter 1 Week2 Sept. 11 Research Participation & Critical
Thinking Chapter 1
Sept. 13 Research Methods Chapter 2
Week3 Sept. 18 Research Methods Continued Chapter 2
Sept. 20 Statistics in Psychology Appendix
Week4 Sept. 25 Statistics in Psychology Continued Appendix
Sept. 27 Midterm Exam 1 Chapters 1 - 2, Appendix,
& Lectures
Week5 Oct. 2 Genes & Evolution Chapter 4
Oct. 4 Genes & Evolution: Guest Lecture Chapter 4
Week6 Oct. 9 Neural Basis Chapter 3
Oct. 11 Neural Basis Continued Chapter 3
Week7 Oct. 16 Sensation Chapter 5, p. 141 - 170
Oct. 18 Sensation Continued Chapter 5, p. 141 - 170
Week8 Oct. 23 Midterm Exam 2 Chapter 3 – 5 , & Lectures
Oct. 25 Perception Chapter 5, p. 170 - 190
Week9 Oct. 30 Perception Continued Chapter 5, p. 170 - 190
Nov. 1 Learning Chapter 7
Page | 3 Week10 Nov. 6 Learning Continued: Guest Lecture Chapter 7
Nov. 8 Memory Chapter 8
Week11 Nov. 20 Memory Continued Chapter 8
Nov. 22 Midterm Exam 3 Chapters 5,7,8, & Lectures
Week12 Nov. 27 Motivation & Emotion Chapter 11 Nov. 29 Motivation & Emotion Continued Chapter 11
Week13 Dec. 4 Consciousness Chapter 6
Dec. 6 Consciousness Continued Chapter 6
Week 14 Dec. 14** Final Exam in Exam Period All readings & lectures
** WARNING: Students must verify the final exam date on BearTracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted.**
ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES: Additional learning resources aimed at facilitating student learning and perhaps including formative assessment tools, are available from the textbook publisher and may be accessed for a fee paid by the student to the third- party provider (e.g. the textbook company). Students choosing to access and use the online resources should note the following:
1. Registration in the system and any monetary transactions are of your own accord and not the responsibility of the University.
2. Students should be mindful of protecting their personal information and should be aware of how their personal information might be used and/or shared.
3. Students MUST NOT use their UofA gmail address or CCID to register into the system and instead should use a non-identifying email address or account.
To register and access McGraw-Hill Connect, Smartbook modules, and eBook for our section please use the following url (you will also need the connect code provided in the textbook from the bookstore and/or can use the 14 day free access code available on the publishers website):
http://connect.mheducation.com/class/p-st-jacques-psyco-104-fall-2018-a4
EVALUATION
RESEARCH PARTICIPATION: You will have the opportunity to learn more about how research is conducted in psychology by taking part in ongoing psychology research studies in the Department of Psychology and/or by completing an alternative
assignment. This is Lab D4 that you are registered for on Bear Tracks. You can acquire a maximum of 10% toward your final grade. Each 1-credit appointment is worth 2%;
each 2-credit appointment is worth 4%. More details will be given in class, and additional information is available on the research participation website.
MIDTERM EXAMS: There are three midterms for the course, which will be written during usual class time. Midterms will cover material in the assigned chapters and in lectures. Although there is much overlap between the two, some content is only covered
Page | 4 in one or the other. You are responsible for all material. The midterms consist of
multiple choice questions (MCQ). No previous or practice exams will be provided, however, the textbook provides multiple choice review questions. Midterms will not be handed back in class; the teaching assistant will hold exam viewings.
FINAL EXAM: The final exam will be held during the final exam period. You can view your personal exam schedule in Bear Tracks, under Academics >> MyAcademics >>
Exam Schedule. The schedule will also be available on the registrar’s website. The final exam will be cumulative, meaning that it will cover content on the entire course. It will consist of multiple choice questions. No previous or practice exams will be provided, however, the textbook provides multiple choice review questions.
GRADE EVALUATION: The midterm and final exam will be marked in terms of your percentage correct. Grades will be assigned in percentages and will be converted to letter grades based on the below table. Your final grades will be calculated in
accordance with University of Alberta letter grading system and will reflect your performance in relation to the rest of the class. The table below contains an
approximate guideline for the course, however the instructor reserves the right to adjust this table and assign appropriate grades based on relative performance. Grades are unofficial until approved by the Department and/or Faculty offering the course.
Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of the 2018-2019 University Calendar.
Letter Approximate % Pts Descriptor
A+ 92 – 100% 4.0
Excellent
A 88 – 91.99% 4.0
A- 84 – 87.99% 3.7
B+ 78 – 83.99% 3.3
Good
B 74 – 77.99% 3.0
B- 70 – 73.99% 2.7
C+ 65 - 69.99% 2.3
Satisfactory
C 60 – 64.99% 2.0
C- 55 – 59.99% 1.7
D+ 53 – 54.99% 1.3 Poor
D 50 – 52.99% 1.0 Minimal Pass
F or F4 0 – 49.99% 0 Failure
Grade Distribution:
Evaluation Weighting Due Date
Midterm 1 20% Sept. 27
Midterm 2 20% Oct. 23
Midterm 3 20% Nov. 22
Page | 5 Research Participation
10% Completed by
Dec. 7 at 8 PM
Cumulative Final Exam 30% Dec. 14 at 9 AM**
** WARNING: Students must verify the final exam date on BearTracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted.**
MISSED EXAMS
MIDTERM EXAMS: All students must write the exams in class on the assigned day.
When a student is absent from a midterm exam a final grade will be computed using a raw score of zero for the exam missed.
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 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 midterm examination due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons must provide documentation within two days of the missed exam.
Deferral (makeup) 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.
If you miss a midterm due to an approved absence such as incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction, or religious conviction (declaration form hardcopy required), then the weight of the excused exam will be added to the final.
No deferred exams or assignments are accepted.
FINAL EXAM: Students have access to their final exam schedule through Bear Tracks and on the Registrar’s website well in advance. Multiple exams and closely scheduled final exams are not valid excuses for a deferral of one or more final exams.
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. Please note that the instructor is not involved in the process for granting deferral for missed final exams. Instead, students should make an application to their 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).
Page | 6 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.
Missing the deferred exam will result in a raw score of zero being assigned.
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.
All students should consult the information provided by the Office of Judicial Affairs regarding avoiding cheating and plagiarism in particular and academic dishonesty in general (see the Academic Integrity Undergraduate Handbook and Information for Students). If in doubt about what is permitted in this class, ask the instructor.
EXAMS: Your student ID number and photo identification (e.g., ONEcard or other form of government ID) are 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 used during the exam and outside jackets cannot be worn. During exams you will also need to ask for permission to use the restroom and to leave your exam paper with the proctor who will mark the time you leave and return on the exam paper.
CELL PHONES: Cell phones should be kept on silent during lectures and during your research participation. Cell phones are not to be brought to exams.
Page | 7 CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: The following expectations are to enhance your ability to learn in this class, to avoid disruption and distraction, and to improve the quality of the classroom experience for everyone.
You should plan to come to class and to participate in classroom activities. Students who attend classes get better grades! Please arrive on time to class and stay for the entire class period. Late arrivals and early departures are disruptive.
If despite your best effort you arrive late, please quietly take a seat at the back of the classroom. Similarly, in the rare event that you must leave class early (e.g. for a medical appointment), please sit close to the door and leave as unobtrusively as possible.
When class starts, please stop your conversations. Wait until class is completely over before putting your materials away in your backpack, standing up, or talking to friends.
Please refrain from the use of laptops or other electronic devices during lectures for purposes (such as checking email, surfing the web, playing games, or texting) other than taking notes or participating in classroom activities.
Food and drink are discouraged in class. There may be times that you need a beverage or small snack during class. Avoid bringing in large meals or food that is noisy when unpackaged or chewed.
Thank you in advance for helping to foster a productive and rewarding lecture
environment for all, and to ensure that we get through all the material that will be on the exams.
FORUM ETIQUETTE: The purpose of Forum on the eClass website is for students to ask questions and exchange ideas on the academic topics covered in this course.
Before posting your question or discussion topic you should check it anyone has asked it already and received a reply.
If you find that a post is unclear or inaccurate, it is your role to ask your classmate for further clarification or to point out the inaccuracy. If someone replies to your post with a question, you owe them the courtesy of a response. The instructor and TA will also monitor the forum and comment where appropriate to correct inaccuracies or lead discussions where there is confusion.
Please be constructive and respectful when posting to the forum. Stay on topic in your posts and in your responses, and use proper writing style (e.g., grammer, sentences, etc.). Understand that other people will have different perspectives and approaches, and respect differences in opinions and beliefs. Politely critique a position on an issue, but not the person. Make sure you tone is appropriate, and avoid sarcasm, swearing, or language that would be considered rude or argumentative.
Do not post any personal information on the forums.
Page | 8 EMAIL ETIQUETTE: You are expected to write to the instructor and TAs as you would in any professional correspondence (i.e., using a clear subject line that identifies the class you are emailing about such as “PSYCO 104 Question”, proper form of address such as “Dear Professor/TA”, proper signature identifying yourself, using standard punctuation, capitalization and grammar, etc.). Email communication should be courteous and respectful in manner and tone. Do not send emails that are curt or demanding.
Do not expect an immediate response via email (normally, a response will be sent within two business days). If your email question is sent at the last minute it may not be possible to send you a response before an exam is given.
LEARNING AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The Department of Psychology 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 behavior that undermines that environment. The Department urges anyone who feels that this policy is being violated to:
• Discuss the matter with the person whose behavior is causing concern, or
• If that discussion is unsatisfactory, or there is a concern that direct discussion is inappropriate or threatening, discuss it with the instructor, or in cases of dispute with the instructor, with the Chair of the Department.
For additional advice or assistance regarding this policy you may contact the student ombudservice: (http://www.ombudservice.ualberta.ca/). Information about the
University of Alberta Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures is described in UAPPOL at
https://policiesonline.ualberta.ca/PoliciesProcedures/Pages/Human-Resources.aspx.
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
Page | 9 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.
COPYRIGHT: Dr. Peggy St. Jacques, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta (2018).
