International Baccalaureate Psychology
Mrs. McNamara, room 341
841-1613,
Course Description
Psychology is the systematic study of behavior and mental processes. Psychology has its roots in both the natural and social sciences, leading to a variety of research designs and applications, and providing a unique approach to understanding modern society. IB psychology examines the interaction of biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behavior, thereby adopting an integrative approach. Understanding how psychological knowledge is generated, developed and applied enables students to achieve a greater understanding of themselves and appreciate the diversity of human behavior. The ethical concerns raised by the methodology and application of psychological research are key considerations in IB psychology.
The aims of the psychology course at SL and at HL are to:
7. develop an awareness of how psychological research can be applied for the benefit of human beings.
8. ensure that ethical practices are upheld in psychological inquiry.
9. develop an understanding of the biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behavior.
10. develop an understanding of alternative explanations of behavior.
11. understand and use diverse methods of psychological inquiry.
Course Materials
spiral for notes and folder to hold all loose handouts
Hockenbury and Hockenbury’sDiscovering Psychology, Annenberg’s Film Series Discovering Psychology with Philip Zimbardo ( Hockenbury website ( Intelecom’sInside Out: Introduction to Psychology
Class Assessment
6 weeks’ grade components: 1-2 essay and/or multiple choice exams @ 40% total with the exception of the IA report, which will replacean exam grade; 1 project/presentation @ 10%;open and closed-note quizzes @ 30%; many daily grades— journals, notes, exercises, in-class assignments @ 20%
Other rules:
Plagiarism or cheating of any sort will not be tolerated; choosing to do so will result in an automatic 0.
Missing work at the daily and major work level corresponding with an unexcused absence will earn a grade of no higher than 69 as per school policy.
IB SL ASSESSMENT for testers 2018
Assessment component / WeightingExternal assessment (3hours) / 75%
Paper1 (2hours)
SectionA:Threecompulsory questions on part1 of the syllabus—cognitive, biological, sociocultural.
SectionB:Threequestions on part1 of the syllabus. Students chooseonequestion to answer in essay form.
(46marks) / 50%
Paper2 (1hour)
Fifteenquestions on part2 of the syllabus—developmental, health, abnormal. Students chooseonequestion to answer in essay form.
(22marks) / 25%
Internal assessment
A report of a simple experimental study conducted by the student.
(20marks) / 25%
AP Exam 100 multiple choice in 70 min. and 2 free response essays in 45 min.
2-4% / history and approaches8-10% / research methods
7-9% / biological bases of behavior
6-8% / sensation and perception
2-4% / states of consciousness
7-9% / learning
8-10% / cognition
6-8% / motivation, emotion and stress
8-10% / developmental psychology
5-7% / personality
5-7% / testing and individual differences
7-9% / abnormal psychology
5-7% / treatment of psychological disorders
8-10% / social psychology