INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY (ECT 120)
~ Fall Semester: 2014 ~
Professor:Sharon Hannigan, M.A.T./Ph.D.
Email:
Class meetings:Mondays & Wednesdays, HSExxxx, 9am-10:20
Office hours:Tuesdays & Thursdays, from ? - ?, in HSE Building 28, Room 314
my.nes:Please check site regularly for course description, syllabus, PowerPoint-based lectures, supplements, assignments, and rubrics
Required text:THINK Psychology, 2nd Edition, 2011, by Abigail A. Baird;
Pearson publishers; ISBN-10: 0132128403 (electronic version provided by instructor)
Overview:
This course, as its title states, is an introduction to the vast and infinitely interesting field of psychology. We’ll first try to understand psychology as “the science of human behavior” through both an appreciation of its history and ongoing development. We’ll then take a look at how psychological science is practiced by examining key empirical methods and measures used in many psychology experiments. Finally, we’ll learn about major topics in psychology (i.e., the human brain, perception, learning, memory, cognition, emotion, social interaction,mental disorders,etc.) that illuminate different aspects of human behavior, including feelings and thoughts. The hope is that by the end of the semester you’ll walk away with an awareness of psychology in all of its forms and with an appreciation of how it complements virtually all aspects of life.
Class format:
Classes meet twice a week for an hour and twenty minutes. The first five to ten minutes will usually consist of a quick recapof the main points presented in the previous meeting. The next hour or so will take the form of an interactive lecture, where, in addition to listening to me,you’ll be expected to volunteer your own understanding of and ideas/questions about the information presented. This is also a great time to listen and respond to questions raised by your classmates. Time permitting, we’ll end the period with a whole or small group discussion or an activity meant to integrate and reinforce the concepts presented earlier.
Readings:
There is required reading for each class meeting that corresponds to a psychology topiclisted in the syllabus. It’s a good idea to read the pages assigned for a given topic before(and after?!) that topic is covered in class.
Evaluation:
(1)Threein-class tests:
NOTE: All tests will include at least four of the following seven formats: multiple choice, true/false, matching, fill-in-the-blanks, diagram labeling, short answer, and essay. Below is the tentative test schedule:
• Test #1 is on Monday,September 22nd
• Test #2 is on Monday, October 20th
• Test #3 is on Wednesday, November 19th
(2)A final test:
Taken during “finals week”(December22-31), exact time & location TBA
(3)Capstone Project, Psychology Conference Poster and Review Paper:
In teams, you will present psychology postersin a mock “Psychological Disorders Conference Poster Session”scheduled to occur in class on Wednesday, December 3rd. Team posters must be based on a single psychological disorder outlined in Chapter 17 (Psychological Disorders) and mustalso include relevant information in Chapter 18 (Psychological Therapies). The general idea is to inform conference attendees (your classmates and instructor) about a mental disorder of interest to you and your teammates. Each poster will be graded in class on the day of the poster session according to a “Poster Rubric” (the instructor will visit each poster, where each teammate will present a different section of it to her). Specificposter instructions and specifications are forthcoming.
In addition each student, individually, will choose a posterother than his/her own and write a 1-2 page critical review of it. Poster reviews are due no later than Wednesday, December 10th. The poster review should conform to guidelines that will be handed out and explained by the instructor in advance of the poster session.
Grading:
*In-class tests/final test80% (average of all exams)
*Psychology Conference Poster:10% (team project)
*Psychology Poster Review Paper:10%(individual assignment) 100%
NOTE: If you receive a failing grade for the course, you will have an opportunity to make up the final grade by redoing all of the course assignments you failed during the semester. All make-ups will occur during make up period, and be evaluated by a committee of three or more faculty members.
Grade conversion table:
100-Point Scale(Tests & Assignments) / Performance Descriptors / 10-Point Scale (Final Grade)
> 95% / Brilliant / 10
90% – 95% / Excellent / 9
86% - 89% / Almost Excellent / 8
80% - 85% / Very Good / 7
76% - 79% / Good / 6
70% – 75% / Highly Satisfactory / 5
60% - 69% / Satisfactory / 4
60% / Fail / 1 - 3
Meeting deadlines for tests and assignments:
It is expected that course assignments will be completed in full and submitted to me by the due dates specified. Make-up tests will not be given unless, of course, there is a legitimate reason or a “real” emergency that prevents you from taking the test at the designated time (doctor’s note required). NOTE: Tests must be made up within one week of the original test date!
Attendance and active participation:
You are expected to attend all classes. If for some very good reason(i.e., sickness or emergency) you are unable to attend a class, please make an attempt to notify me via email. Students are responsible for making up missed information and assignments for unexcused absences.
While in class you are encouraged toactively participate. This means showing up to class in a timely fashion prepared to discuss reading assigned during the previous meeting. Remember, the smooth functioning of our class depends to a great extent on the amount of care and effort you put into the assignments. It also depends on your willingness to share your understanding of and ask questions about issues related to course content.
Academic dishonesty, cheating & plagiarism
Academic dishonesty, cheating, and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please refer to the Point NES/HSE BAE guidelines for policies and procedures.
Open door policy
Your instructor is happy to meet with you at any point during the semester - whether individually or in groups (e.g., poster teams). Please come and see me during my office hours or by appointment if you have questions regarding any aspect of the course. If you are not clear on an assignment or have a question about something presented in class, by all means feel free to contact me.
I am looking forward to a happy and productive semester together!
INTRODUCTION to PSYCHOLOGY (ECT 120)
~ Course Syllabus: Spring 2014 ~
Abbreviations: M = Monday, W = Wednesday, TBA = to be announced
Week 1: Sep.1/3INTRO. TO PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Course overview & syllabus (M)
Reading: Chapter 1, pp. 3-6 (M)
Reading: Chapter 1, pp. 7-15 (W)
Week 2: Sep.8/10RESEARCH METHODS
Reading: Chapter 2, pp. 19-24 (M)
Reading: Chapter 2, pp. 24-33 (W)
Week 3: Sep.15/17THE HUMAN BRAIN: NEURONS Reading: Chapter 3, pp.41-44 (M)
Reading: Chapter 3, pp. 44-45 (W)
Week 4: Sep.22/24THE HUMAN BRAIN: CEREBRAL CORTEX
*Test #1: Sep. 22; Chapters 1, 2 & 3 (neuron)(M)
Reading: Chapter 3, pp. 4649-51 (W)
Week 5: Sep.29/Oct.1THE HUMAN BRAIN, CORTEX & SUBCORTEX
Reading: Chapter 3, pp. 51-53 (M)
Reading: Chapter 3, pp. 47-49 & 54-55 (W)
Week 6: Oct.6/8SENSATION: VISUAL SYSTEM
Reading: Chapter 5, pp. 77-80 (M)
Reading: Chapter 5, pp. 80-82(W)
Week 7: Oct.13/15PERCEPTUAL PROCESSES
Reading: Chapter 5, pp. 87-90 (M)
Reading: Chapter 5, pp. 90-93 (W)
Week 8: Oct.20/22PERCEPTUAL PROCESSES, cont.
*Test #2: October 20; Chapters 3 (brain) & 5(M)
Reading: Chapter 7 (Learning), pp. 115-121(W)
Week 9: Oct.27/29~ Consultation Week (no classes) ~
Week 10 Nov.3-5LEARNING
*No class: Federal Holiday (M)
Reading: Chapter 7, pp. 121-129 (W)
Week 11: Nov.10/12MEMORY
Reading: Chapter 8, pp. 133-139 (M)
Reading: Chapter 8, pp. 139-143(W)
Week 12: Nov.17/19MEMORY, cont.
Reading: Chapter 8, pp. 144-147 (M)
*Test #3: November 19; Chapters 7 & 8(W)
Week 13: Nov.24/26EMOTION
Reading: Chapter 13, pp. 217-221 (M)
Reading: Chapter 13, pp. 221-223 (W)
Week 14: Dec.1/3PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Reading: Chapter 17, pp. 262-273(M)
*Psychological Disorders Poster Session! (W)
Week 15: Dec.8/10SEMANTIC NETWORKS/CATEGORIES
Reading: Chapter 9, pp. 151-155 (M)
Reading: Chapter 9, pp. 155-162 (W)
* Poster Review Paper due! (W)
Week 16: Dec.15/17SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Reading: Chapter 14, pp. 233-235 & 237-240 (M)
Reading: Chapter 14, pp. 241-245 (W)
Week 17: Dec.22-31HSE FINALS WEEK
Final Test (#4) TBA
~ NOTE: The professor reserves the right to alter the syllabus when necessary. ~