For Review by University Studies Sub-Committee January 28, 2009

For Review by University Studies Sub-Committee January 28, 2009

For review by University Studies sub-committee January 28, 2009

Psychology 325

Social Psychology

Fall Semester, 2008

University Studies: Social Science

Instructor:Dr. Peter Miene

Office:Phelps 231 D

Phone:457-5668

email:

Office Hours:Monday 9:30 – 11:00, 2:00 – 3:00 Thursday 9:30 – 11:00

Tuesday 9:30 – 11:00 Friday9:30 – 11:00, 2:00 – 3:30

Wednesday 9:30 – 11:00 and by appointment

Required Text:Kassin, Fein, & Markus (2008). Social Psychology (7th Ed.). Houghton Mifflin.

Some additional readings will also be required, and they will be posted on D2L or on e-reserve. More specific details will be provided.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the discipline of social psychology with a special emphasis on experimental social psychology. We will cover some of the major topical areas and theories of concern to social psychologists, such as person perception, stereotyping & prejudice, attitudes & persuasion, and norms & group behavior. The course will emphasize the underlying themes and principles that unite these areas of study.

COURSE STRUCTURE:

Format. Class sessions will be a mixture of lecture, videos, and discussion. Students are expected to keep up with the readings for each unit and should come to class prepared to ask or answer questions and discuss the material. The majority of the topics covered in this course have "real world" applications to social issues/problems, and quality discussion necessitates that students have done the readings prior to class. The content in lecture will overlap what is presented in the book to some extent, but lectures are definitely not just a repeat of what you have already read.

Tests. Tests will be a mixture of multiple choice and essay questions, and they will cover material presented in class only, in the text only, and obviously material covered in both. The first two tests cover relatively less material, so they are worth 60 points each. Tests 3-5 will be worth 80 points each, for a total of 360 points coming from tests. Each test will cover only material presented/discussed during that unit; the final exam is the last unit testand is not comprehensive.

Students must provide FIVE scantrons (Form Number 22000) on the day of the first test (Monday, Sept. 8).

Make-up Exams. There are no scheduled make-up exams in this course. If illness or other verifiable emergency keeps you from taking the scheduled exam, you MUST talk to me as soon as possible (and before the scheduled exam if at all possible). Arrangements will be made on an individual basis.

Projects. There will be a number of in-class writing projects that YOU MUST BE IN CLASS TO COMPLETE. There may also be a few writing assignments to be completed outside of class. These assignments will contribute a total of 40 points to the course grade.

Grades. Course grades will be determined by the number of points earned by the student (400 points possible) using the following scale:

A (90% and above)360 – 400 pointsC (70 – 79.9%)280 – 319 points

B (80 – 89.9%)320 – 359 pointsD (60 – 69.9%)240 – 279 points

UNIVERSITY STUDIES PROGRAM OUTCOMES:

The University Studies Program has approved Psy 325 as a Social Science course within the Arts and Sciences Core. As a University Studies course, Social Psychology is designed to promote students' abilities to:

a). understand humans as individuals and parts of larger social systems

b). understand the historical context of the social sciences

c). identify problems and frame research questions relating to humans and their experience

d). become familiar with the process of theory building & theoretical frameworks used by the social sciences

e). understand the research methods used in the social sciences

f). describe discipline specific knowledge and its applications

g). understand differences among and commonalities across humans and their experience, as tied to such variables as gender, race, socioeconomic status, etc.

Course Schedule

USP Social Science

DayDateTopicReadingOutcomes____

M8/25Course Overview

W8/27IntroductionChp. 1a, b, f

F8/29Research Issues

M9/1Labor Day – No Class

W9/3Research IssuesAronson & Mills

F9/5Research IssuesChp. 2c, d, e, f

M9/8Test 1

W9/10The Social SelfChp. 3

F9/12The Social SelfChp. 3

M9/15The Social SelfChp. 3a, c, f, g

W9/17Perceiving PersonsChp. 4

F9/19Perceiving PersonsChp. 4

M9/22Perceiving PersonsChp. 4a, c, d, f, g

W9/24Test 2

F9/26PrejudiceChp. 5

M9/29Discrimination Chp. 5

W10/1StereotypesChp. 5

F10/3Stereotype threatChp. 5a, b, c, d, e, f, g

M10/6AttitudesChp. 6

W10/8PersuasionChp. 6

F10/10Fall Break Day – No Class

M10/13Attitudes and BehaviorChp. 6

W10/15Attitudes & BehaviorChp. 6a, b, c, d, e, f

F10/17Conference – No Class

M10/20Test 3

W10/22Power of the Situation:Chp. 7

F10/24Conformity,Chp. 7

M10/27Compliance,Chp. 7

W10/29and ObedienceChp. 7a, b, c, d, e, f, g

F10/31Group ProcessesChp. 8

M11/3Group ProcessesChp. 8

W11/5Group ProcessesChp. 8a, c, d, f, g

F11/7Sustainable FutureTBA

USP Social Science

DayDateTopicReadingOutcomes____

M11/10Veterans’ Day – No Class

W11/12Test 4

F11/14Close RelationshipsChp. 9

M11/17FriendshipsChp. 9

W11/19Romantic RelationshipsChp. 9c, d, e, f, g

F11/21Helping OthersChp. 10

M11/24Helping OthersChp. 10a, c, d, f, g

W11/26Thanksgiving

F11/28Break

M12/1AggressionChp. 11

W12/3AggressionChp. 11a, c, d, f, g

F12/5Catch up; Review

M12/8Test 5

1:00 – 3:00