Introduction to Psychology
Psych 101
Spring, 2004
Instructor: Vinai
Norasakkunkit, Ph.D.
Time: Mon, Wed:
Location: AH 102
Office hours: AH 36,
Tuesday: 8:00am-9:50am, Thursday: 8:00am – 11:50am, Friday: 9:00am – 12:00pm.
Phone: X6317
E-mail: vinai.norasakkunkit@mnsu.edu
Syllabus located at http://krypton.mnsu.edu/~norasv/syllabus101.html (click on topic of week to download Powerpoint slides)
Multiple choice practice quizzes and other
student resources located at http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/intro/cafe/wort/olc/index.htm
Course overview:
Introduction to Psychology is a
survey of the field of general psychology without specific emphasis on any
particular theory or model of human or animal behavior. Fundamental principles,
methods, theories and issues in the field are discussed. Content areas may
include learning, thinking, perception, memory, personality, intelligence,
emotion, adjustment and abnormality. Emphasis is placed upon the relationship
between research and theory. Cultural variations in mental processes due to the
relationship between mind and society may be touched upon as well.
In completing this course, you
will gain an understanding of the broad scope of the fields of psychology, as
well as knowledge of the principles, methods, procedures, and vocabulary used
in the study of psychology. Major areas of psychology such as learning,
motivation, cognition, perception, personality, and social psychology will be
examined within the framework of mainstream psychological science. This
course will provide a foundation for further study in psychology and other
related social sciences. This course is intended for students who want to
fulfil general education requirements and for students who have a specific
interest in psychology.
Structure of the course
Mastery of the material requires
that you stay current on the reading assignments and attend class regularly.
The lectures will assume that you have already done the reading for the week,
so your understanding of each lecture will be best if you have done the reading
first. On occasions, I will also be showing films in class to supplement the
theories that you encounter in your readings.
Grading
Course grade will be made
up of six multiple choice exams. Each
exam counts 1/6 of your total grade. The
sixth exam, which is non-cumulative, will be held on finals week.
Make-up exams
Make-up exams will only be
considered in the event that a student misses an exam due to a medical, and
sometimes, personal emergency. Students are expected to speak with me at one of
my office hours before an exam day to discuss circumstances. I reserve the
right to ask for documentation of the emergency should the need arise.
Extra credit
Students will be expected
to concentrate on the course assignments at hand. However, extra credit
assignments that will be considered are volunteering as a participant in
psychological research at MSU and/or doing a one-page writing assignment.
Students will have the option to improve their grade on the exam with the
lowest grade by half a grade (e.g., From a “B” to a “B+”, etc.) for each hour
of research they participate in (or for each writing assignment) with a
limit of three extra credit assignments (research hours and/or paper) in total.
Students will be responsible for bringing the research credit slips in to me
for each research study they participate in. Keep in mind that opportunities to
participate in research studies are contingent on how many psychological
research projects looking to recruit participants are taking place in any given
semester. Therefore, opportunities to participate in research may vary from
semester to semester. In any event, students should not count on research
participation to work as a substitute for showing up in class, doing the
readings, or studying for the exams but rather as an opportunity to slightly
improve the grade they receive on an exam.
Disabilities
Every attempt will be made to accommodate qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the Disabilities Services Office at (507)389-2825 (V) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY).
INCOMPLETES
Incompletes are meant to be
used in cases of extreme medical or personal emergency. These are the
only situations in which an incomplete will even be considered. If a situation
of this type should arise, I would need to be contacted as soon as possible so
that a contract could be negotiated to outline what work would need to be
finished and in what time frame. I reserve the right to ask for documentation
of the emergency should the need arise. University policy states that any
consideration of incompletes is contingent on the student having already done
passing work for the semester.
UNABLE TO DEAL
WITH CERTAIN TOPICS IN CLASS
You may note in
the class syllabus certain topics that may in some cases cause severe
discomfort or other strong emotional reactions from some students. If you
believe that in- class discussion of such material might be more than you
can handle please see me right away so that we can determine whether you
should remain in this course.
ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY
It is assumed that in this
class each student and I will act in a professional and honest
manner. Therefore, any student who engages in an act of Academic
Dishonesty, such as cheating on an exam, etc., will receive a failing
grade for that task and in most cases a failing grade for the course. Please
review the sections on Academic Standards, Cheating, and Plagiarism in
your student handbook. If you still have questions about Academic Honesty
or expectations in this course see me as early as possible in the
semester.
Text:
Wartman, C., Loftus, E,
& Weaver, C. (1999). Psychology,
5th Ed.
Tentative Calendar
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Date(s) |
Topic
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Reading before class (not including light supplemental reading assignments) |
Reminders |
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Week of Jan 12 |
Begin Reading Ch. 1 |
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Week of Jan 12 & 20 |
Chapter 2 |
No class Monday, Jan 19 |
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Week of Jan 26 |
Chapter 3 |
Video
Jan 28-29 Exam
1: Ch. 1-3 next week |
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Week of Feb 2 |
Chapter 4 |
Exam 1 this week on Mon, Feb. 2:
Covers Ch. 1-3 |
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Week of Feb 9 |
Chapter 6 |
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Week of Feb 16 |
Chapter 7 |
Exam
2: Ch. 4, 6, & 7 next week |
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Week of Feb 23 |
Chapter 8 |
Exam 2 this week on Wed, Feb. 25:
Covers Ch. 4, 6, & 7 |
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Week of March 1 |
Chapter 9 |
Spring break week of March 8 |
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Week of March 15 |
Chapter 10 |
Exam 3: Ch. 8-10 next week |
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Week of March 22 |
Chapter 11 |
Exam
3 this week on Mon, March 22: Covers Ch. 8-10 Start next week’s reading early: there are
two chapters to read |
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Week of March 29 |
Theories of Personality / Psychological
Assessment and Individual Differences |
Chapter 13 & 14 |
Exam 4: Ch. 11, 13, 14 next week |
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Week of April 5 |
Chapter 12 |
Exam 4 this week on Wed, April 7: Covers Ch. 11, 13,
& 14 |
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Week of April 12 |
Chapter 15 |
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Week of April 19 |
Chapter 16 |
Exam 5: Ch. 12, 15, 16 next week |
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Week of April 26 |
Ch. 17 |
Exam 5 this week on Mon, April 26:
Covers Ch. 12, 15, & 16 Start next week’s reading early: there are
two chapters to read |
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Also week of April 26 |
Ch. 18 |
Exam
6 will cover Ch 17-18 and will take place on TUESDAY, MAY 4 AT 10:15AM LOCATION:
SAME LECTURE ROOM AS ALWAYS. |