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Basic Psychological Processes PSYCO 104: Section A5
Fall Term 2019 TR 2:00 – 3:20
CCIS 1 440
Instructor: Dr. P. L. St. Jacques
*I prefer to be addressed as Professor or Dr. 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 4 to 5 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, emailing the TAs, or by talking to me immediately after class.
Teaching Assistants (TAs): We have four excellent TAs for the course, who will be assisting with marking of course assessments, and can answer your questions about any feedback you receive.
Selen Kucuktas: [email protected] Erin Scully: [email protected]
Michelle Tomczak: [email protected] Tim Woerle: [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 OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:
A. Develop skills to think like a Psychologist by drawing appropriate, logical, and objective conclusions about behavior and mental processes from empirical evidence.
B. Recognize that Psychology is a science by a) identifying the steps of the scientific research method, and b) designing and evaluating basic psychological research.
C. Describe ethical principles that guide Psychologists in research.
D. Demonstrate basic knowledge of the concepts and research findings in a variety of areas in psychology including: neuroscience, genetics, sensation & perception, attention, learning, memory, and thinking.
E. Identify and describe some of the main themes that guide psychological research.
F. Apply psychological principles to everyday life.
G. Develop skills to critically evaluate myths and other erroneous claims based on evidence from Psychological Science.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
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Week 1 Sept. 3 Introductory Meeting
Sept. 5
How does our perspective shape how we think about psychology?
Week 2 Sept. 10 Research Participation & Contemporary Psychology Sept. 12
Week 3 Sept. 17 Sept. 19 Week 4 Sept. 24 Sept. 26 Week 5 Oct. 1
Oct. 3 Review Session Review Session
Week 6 Oct. 8 MIDTERM EXAM 1 Exam 1: All Material from Sept. 3 to Oct. 1 Oct. 10
Do children raised in similar ways have similar personalities?
Week 7 Oct. 15 Do we only use 10% of our brain?
Oct. 17 Are some people left-brained, and others right-brained?
Week 8 Oct. 22 Is depression caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain?
Oct. 24 Week 9 Oct. 29 Oct. 31 Week 10 Nov. 5
Nov. 7 Review Session Catch-Up & Review Session for Exam 2 Week 11 Nov. 19 MIDTERM EXAM 2 Exam 2: All Material from Oct. 10 to Nov. 7
Nov. 21 When we remember, is it like watching a movie?
Week 12 Nov. 26 Does amnesia involve forgetting who you are?
Nov. 28 Is eyewitness memory the best kind of evidence?
Week 13 Dec. 3 Can memories be repressed and later recovered?
Dec. 5 Review Session Catch-Up & Review Session for Final Exam Dec. 16 FINAL EXAM at 9 AM Final Cumulative Exam
Thinking Like a Psychologist: Critical
Thinking, Research Methods, and How to Study
based on Psychological Research
Memory
Is it better to stick to your first impulse or change your answer on a multiple-choice exam?
Biological Aspects of Psychology: Genetics & the
Brain
Sensation, Perception &
Attention
Are we really in touch with reality?
Can subliminal messages influence our behavior?
Reading Week
Do people have different learning styles?
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** WARNING: Students must verify the final exam date on BearTracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted.**
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
There is NO required textbook for the course. Instead, links will be provided to various readings
available for free via the UoA library and/or online. Please see the eClass website for links to required readings under each week of the course.
OPTIONAL TEXTBOOK:
Students who would like a more traditional textbook for reference can use the following text, which is available from the UoA textbook store, or online directly from the publisher:
Passer, Smith, Atkinson, & Mitchell. (2019). Psychology 104 Basic Psychological Processes, University of Alberta customized version 2019-2020, Select materials from: Psychology:
Frontiers and Applications, 7th Canadian edition, McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Earlier editions of the text, or any similar introduction to psychology textbook will roughly overlap in the information covered.
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 D5 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.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: There will be 10 short-written assignment due each week on Monday by 5 PM to be submitted on eClass using the link available under each week. The only exceptions to this are the first week of class and weeks with a midterm exam. The purpose of the written assignment is to help you reflect on content that you are learning in relation to the course and to link this material to everyday life. Written assignments will be limited to 300 words. They will be evaluated by the TAs as excellent (1 mark), pass (0.5 marks) or fail (0 marks), based on the appropriateness of your written response to the weekly reflection question. The best 8 out of 10 assignments will count towards your final grade.
MIDTERM EXAMS: There are two midterm exams for the course, which will be written in class during the usual class time. Midterms will cover material in the assigned readings and in lectures. Although there is much overlap between the two, some content is only covered in one or the other. You are responsible for all material. The midterms consist of multiple choice questions (MCQ). No previous exams will be provided, however, example MCQs will be included in the course. Midterms will not be handed back in class; the teaching assistants will hold exam viewings.
Version 1.0: August 28, 2019. Page | 4 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.
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 2019-2020 University Calendar.
Letter Approximate % Pts Descriptor
A+ >= 95 % 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- 71 – 74.99% 2.7
C+ 67 - 70.99% 2.3
Satisfactory
C 63 – 66.99% 2.0
C- 60 – 62.99% 1.7
D+ 55 – 59.99% 1.3 Poor
D 50 – 54.99% 1.0 Minimal Pass
F or F4 < 50% 0 Failure
Grade Distribution:
Evaluation Weighting Due Date
Midterm Exam 1 25% Oct. 8
Midterm Exam 2 25% Nov. 19
Written Assignment
10%
Monday by 5 PM on:
Sept. 9, 16, 23, 29;
Oct. 14, 21, 28;
Nov. 4, 25; Dec. 2 Research Participation
10% Completed by
Dec. 6 at 8 PM
Cumulative Final Exam 30% Dec. 16 at 9 AM**
** WARNING: Students must verify the final exam date on BearTracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted.**
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MISSED ASSESSMENT
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: The written assignments will assess your level of engagement with the course material on a weekly basis. You are also allowed to drop the lowest 2 scores out of the 10 assignments, such that your final mark will reflect only the top 8 out of 10 assignments. Thus, absolutely no excused absences will be accepted for missing the deadline for submitting a weekly written assignment. Students who miss a written assignment will be given a raw score of zero for the missed assignment.
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 1) notify the Professor by email within two days of the missed exam, AND 2) submit a signed declaration form to the Professor for their relevant faculty (Faculty of Science, Faculty of Arts) within two weeks 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. If the absence is not approved, then you will receive a mark of zero for the missed exam.
No deferred midterm exams 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).
Version 1.0: August 28, 2019. Page | 6 examination will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferred examination is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.
The deferred final exam will take place on: Wednesday, January 22 at 1 PM.
The deferred final exam will take place in a classroom located in the Department of Psychology, and the exact location will be emailed once all deferred final exams have been approved.
Missing the deferred final 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.
Version 1.0: August 28, 2019. 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.
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.
Version 1.0: August 28, 2019. Page | 8 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 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. St. Jacques, Department of Psychology, University of Alberta (2019).
