PSYCO 104 A5: Basic Psychological Processes
University of Alberta Fall 2018
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-3:20 pm Location: CCIS 1 440
Instructor: Dr. Gail Moroschan Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Drop in or by appointment. The best way to contact me or ask me a quick question is through email. If you would like to talk to me in person, I’m in my office every day (across from the Psychology General Office). Feel free to drop by my office, or email me for a specific
appointment time.
Office location: BS-P 222B (Biological Sciences Building, Psychology department, main floor) TA: See eClass course page for information about your TA for this course.
Required textbook, available at the University bookstore:
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.
The custom textbook for this class comes with many online study resources for students. The online resources (Connect) are included when you purchase the new custom textbook from the U of A bookstore. The textbook representative will be in class at the beginning of the semester, to show you about these resources including how to access the optional online assignments that can be used to study and practice for exams. More information is on the eClass page.
Course website:
The course website is on eClass. Access can be found at https://eclass.srv.ualberta.ca/portal/
. You must login with your CCID and password.
Course description:
Principles and development of perception, motivation, learning, and thinking and their relationship to the psychological functioning of the individual. Fulfillment of the 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
Expectations:
I expect students to be familiar with and to follow all University Regulations detailed in the University calendar and in the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
http://calendar.ualberta.ca/index.php and https://www.ualberta.ca/governance/resources/policies- standards-and-codes-of-conduct/code-of-student-behaviour ). You can expect to be treated in a polite, respectful, and honest manner, and I expect the same in return. The use of laptops or other electronic devices during lectures for purposes other than taking notes (such as checking email, surfing the web, playing games, watching videos, or texting) is considered rude and can be distracting to others. Talking to your neighbors during lectures is also distracting and disruptive.
Please do not do these activities during lectures or you may be asked to leave.
Lectures:
Class lectures will be based on topics from the textbook (see schedule on eClass). You are expected to have read each chapter, preferably before each lecture. Lectures are meant to clarify and enrich your knowledge of the given topic. There may not be sufficient class time to cover everything that was read in the chapter, however you are still responsible for this material on exams. Materials presented during lectures are meant to expand your understanding and generate interest in the topics. All materials from lectures (including videos and guest lectures) can and may be on exams even if the material is not covered in the textbook.
Research Participation:
In addition to being your instructor for this class, I am also the Research Participation Coordinator for the Department of Psychology. Any questions or issues you might have about Research Participation can be addressed to the Research Participation team [myself, Fred Boyko (Programmer/Analyst), Tom Johnson (Director)] at [email protected] and one of us will be able to respond to you. Your participation in research participation is completely separate from, and has no impact on, any exam evaluations that I give you in this class as your instructor.
Evaluation:
Research Participation 10% Completed by December 7
Exam 1 20% Tuesday, October 2
(Ch.1; Ch.2)
Exam 2 20% Tuesday, October 23
(Ch.3; Ch.4)
Exam 3 20% Tuesday, November 20
(Ch.5; Ch.6)
Exam 4 (Final Exam) 30% Friday, December 14 @ 2 pm
(Ch.7; Ch.8; Ch.11) (date tentative until validated by the Registrar)
Grading:
Exams will be marked in terms of your percentage correct. The final grade will be computed according to the University of Alberta letter grading system and will be based upon your relative standing in class. That being said, a mark of at least 50% is typically required for a passing grade.
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.
Excellent Good Satisfactory Poor Pass Fail
Letter Grade A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F
Grade Point
Value 4.0 4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0
Approx. % > 96 95- 91
90- 87
86- 82
81- 77
76- 73
72- 69
68- 65
64- 61
60- 56
55- 50
< 50
Format of exams
All exams will consist of multiple choice questions. They are not cumulative (they cover only the current chapters being tested, not chapters tested previously). More specific information on the content and break down will be given before each exam. A representative sample of exam questions for this class is posted on eClass.
Missed 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.
As with all rules there are exceptions. These are outlined in the university regulations as
published in the Calendar. In brief, only those students who are incapacitated because of severe illness (which does NOT include mild colds, sore throat, headache, general malaise, hangovers and the like), or who are suffering from severe domestic affliction, or who have other compelling reasons (e.g. religious convictions, emergencies, deaths) may apply with the instructor for an excused absence for the missed exam. Excused absence for a missed midterm exam is a privilege, not a right, and is granted at the discretion of the instructor. Misrepresentation of facts to gain an excused absence is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour. The instructor must be contacted within two working days following the missed exam and
documentation may be requested. For those granted an excused absence a deferred exam will be written. University Regulations concerning examinations can be found in the University Calendar.
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 (within three days of the start of Spring or Summer classes) to request accommodation for the term (including the final exam, where relevant). Instructors may request adequate documentation to substantiate the student request.
Final exam: All students must write the final exam on the assigned day (determined by the Registrar). When a student is absent from a final exam a final grade will be computed using a raw score of zero for the final.
Students missing a final exam for valid reasons (as above) must present themselves to their faculty office within two days of the missed exam and apply for a deferred final exam. Please note: the instructor is not involved in this process for the final exam. If a deferred final exam is granted it will be written on Jan 30, 2019 at 10 am. Missing the deferred exam will result in a raw score of zero being assigned.
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).
Academic offences:
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
https://www.ualberta.ca/governance/resources/policies-standards-and-codes-of-conduct/code-of- student-behaviour ) and avoid any behaviour that 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.
Cell phones: Cell phones are to be turned off during lectures. 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. http://www.studentsuccess.ualberta.ca/
Disclaimers: 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.Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University
Calendar.
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).
Copyright: Dr. Gail Moroschan, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta (2018).
