INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY 1010 6.0, Section G
FALL/WINTER 2006/2007
Class Time: Wednesdays,
Course Director: Dr. Jill B. Rich
Office: 248A, BSB
e-mail: jbr@yorku.ca
Office Hour: by appointment 736-5115, X 30561
secretary: Barb Thurston, X66253 (283 BSB)
Access course website via http://www.yorku.ca/jbr for detailed
course outline.
Registration for psychology experiments for
research credit via http://www.psych.yorku.ca/urpp/
Important information for
students regarding the Ethics Review process, Access/Disability, Academic
Honesty/Integrity, Student Conduct, and Religious Observance Days is available
on the CCAS webpage (see Reports, Initiatives, Documents):- http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate_cte_main_pages/ccas.htm
Teaching Assistants: Messages: 736-5115 X70580 Office hours
as listed or by appt (e-mail)
Name
Sara Ahola 038J Atkinson sahola@yorku.ca Tues,
Navneet Dhami 067 BSB ndhami@yorku.ca Wed, 12:00-1:00 E-J
Gayle Goldstein 043 BSB ggold@yorku.ca Thurs, 2:30-3:30 K-N
Jen Hilborn 269 BSB jhilborn@yorku.ca Tues, 1:30-2:30 O-S
Stephanie Hornyak 041 Atkinson shornyak@yorku.ca Thurs, 1:00-2:00 T-Z
Required Text: Weiten, W., &
McCann, D (2006). Psychology: Themes and variations (Canadian ed.).
A supplemental study guide
designed to accompany the text is available at the university bookstore. The
study guide is optional, but I highly recommend it because it has sample questions
that will prepare you well for the exams. At the end of September, a ThomsonNOW pincode will be
available for purchase at the
Note: The textbook is a new
edition with extra Canadian content. If you have bought a used copy of the 6th
edition of the Weiten text, you should know that
although the material will overlap with the class text, the exams will be based
on the Weiten & McCann edition. Thus, it is your
responsibility to know if there are differences in the two versions. There is a
copy of the text on reserve in Scott library that you can access (but you can’t
take it out on loan).
Course Description and
Objectives:
This course will provide you
with a broad overview of the field of psychology. Through lectures, films, and demonstrations
in class, as well as your own reading and thinking, you will gain an
understanding of many ideas, theories, and principles of human behaviour. You
will learn about a variety of separate areas of study within psychology, and
will come to appreciate some of the many exciting research findings that have
advanced the field. Your successful completion of this course will hopefully
lead you to have a better understanding of yourself and others.
The 3-hour class period will
encompass some combination of lecture, activities, and films. We will typically
take a break for about 15 minutes around the middle of the class period. Films
will usually take place in the last hour. Demonstrations of psychological
principles and other activities will be integrated into the lectures in most
cases.
Class attendance is
important. Each session is intended to
be interesting, challenging, and (hopefully) enjoyable for you. In addition, material
presented in class--from lectures, films, and research demonstrations--will
be included on the exams. The TAs will be able to explain or clarify
specific concepts presented in the text or in class. However, they are not
responsible for giving you an individual lecture if you miss a class. It is
your own responsibility to find out what you missed. Thus, it is to your
benefit to come to every class and to borrow notes from a fellow student when
you do have to miss a class.
Course Evaluation:
There will be a total of
FOUR EXAMS: one during each semester and one during the December and April exam
periods. The exams will be noncumulative (i.e., only
material covered since the previous exam will be tested). The structure of the
exams will be a combination of multiple-choice and short-answer questions.
Approximately 80% of each exam will be based on the textbook, and the remaining
20% will be based on material presented in class (from lectures, films, and
demonstrations).
In addition to your
performance on the exams, part of your final grade will be determined by your
participation in research studies in the Department of Psychology, which will
give you the opportunity see the research process up close and personal.
Research credit will be given in ½-hour increments to a maximum of 3 hours of
credit (.5 points for every half hour). This will be explained in greater
detail in class and at http://www.psych.yorku.ca/urpp/.
Your total grade will
be determined by the following weights: Exam 1 (22%), Exam 2 (25%), Exam 3
(25%), Exam 4 (25%), research participation (3%).
Your grade for this course
will be based on the following scale:
Percentage Letter Grade Percentage Letter Grade
90 - 100 A+ 60 - 64 C
80 - 89 A 55 - 59 D+
75 - 79 B+ 50 - 54 D
70 - 74 B 40 - 49 E
65 - 69 C+ 0 - 39 F
note: E and F are both failing
grades.
Minimum Requirement for
Continuing in Psychology at
The Senate of York University
has passed a regulation stating that students must obtain a minimum grade of C (4.0) in AS/AK/SC/PSYC
1010 6.0 to be permitted to pursue a degree in Psychology as well as to
take courses for which PSYC 1010 6.0 is a prerequisite. This regulation applies
to students wishing to take Psychology courses in the Faculty of Arts,
Atkinson, and the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science. You may take the course
again and then may take other psychology courses if you receive at least a C.
Missed Exams:
According to University
Policy, the only legitimate excuse for missing an exam is a medical problem. A
make-up exam will be offered ONLY for a personal medical problem or a serious
personal/family problem (e.g., death in the family). If you must miss an exam,
it is essential that you notify me within 48 hours after the exam.
Notification received after that time will result in a score of 0 for that
exam. You must bring a note from your physician to the make-up exam at the time
specified by myself or one of the teaching assistants. Make-up exams will NOT
be provided for someone who completes an exam and then says he or she was not
feeling well at the time.
Cheating:
DON'T DO IT!! The University
does not look favourably on cheating of any kind, and
the penalties are very harsh for doing so. Become familiar with the rules and
regulations regarding cheating/plagiarism. These are published in the
Undergraduate Programme Calendar.
COURSE OUTLINE: FALL TERM
PSYCHOLOGY 1010 6.0, SECTION G
Date Topic Text Assignment
Sep. 6 The Evolution of Psychology chap 1
Sep. 13* The Research Enterprise in Psychology chap 2
Film: Methodology: The Psychologist and the Experiment VC2327 (1975, 31 min)
Sep. 20* Biological Bases of Behavior I: chap 3
Neurons and Genetics pp. 77-86; 107-116
Film: Statistics at a Glance MP3651 (1972, 28 min)
Sep. 27* Biological Bases of Behavior II: chap 3
The Nervous System; Brain and Behavior pp. 87-107; 117-123
Film: The Two Brains VC1203 (1984, 60 min)
Oct. 4* Sensation and Perception chap 4
Film: Sensation and Perception VC 2054 (1990, 30 min)
Oct. 11 EXAM 1 chapters 1-4
Oct. 18 Variations in Consciousness chap 5
Oct. 25* Learning Through Conditioning chap 6
Film: Learning VC 2055 (1990, 30 min)
Nov. 1 Learning Through Conditioning, cont finish chap 6
Human Memory I: Encoding, Storage, & Retrieval chap 7, pp. 267-285
Nov. 8* Human Memory II: Forgetting, chap 7
Memory Systems, and Memory Improvement pp. 286-309
Video clip: Expert Memory (not available in library)
Nov. 15* Language and Thought chap 8
Film1: Language Development VC2053 (1990)
Film2:
Cognitive Processes VC2063 (1990)
Nov 22* Intelligence and Psychological Testing chap 9
Film: Testing and Intelligence VC 2063 (1990, 30 min)
(note: this chapter will be covered on Exam 3)
Dec 10 (SUNDAY) EXAM 2 chapters 5-8
Tait McKenzie Student Fieldhouse East (Students whose surnames are A-K)
Tait McKenzie Student Fieldhouse West (Students whose surnames are L-Z)
WINTER TERM
Jan. 3* Motivation and Emotion I chap 10, pp. 391-418
Film: Portraits of Anorexia MP 3969 (1986, 25 min)
Jan. 10 Motivation and Emotion II chap 10, p. 418-435
Human Development I: Early Development chap 11, pp. 437-462
Jan. 17* Human Development II: Adolescence & Adulthood chap 11, pp. 462-489
Film: The Developing Child VC 2052 (1990, 30 min)
Jan. 24 Personality I: Theories of Personality chap 12, pp. 494-519
Jan 31 Personality II: Traits, Research, and Assessment chap 12, pp. 491-494;
and pp. 520-533
Feb. 2: LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM COURSE WITHOUT RECEIVING A GRADE
Feb 7 EXAM 3 chapters
9-12
(note:
don’t forget that the lecture for chap 9 was in Dec.)
Feb. 14 Reading Week, NO CLASS
Feb. 21* Stress, Coping, and Health chap 13
Film: Health, Mind Behavior VC2070 (1990, 30 min)
Feb. 28 Psychological Disorders I chap 14, pp. 575-590
Mar. 7 Psychological Disorders II chap 14, pp. 590-621
Mar. 14* Treatment of Psychological Disorders chap 15
Film: Poundmaker’s Lodge VC 2627 (1987, 29 min)
Mar. 21 Social Behavior I: Attributes, Attraction, & Attitudes chap 16, pp. 663-687
Mar. 28* Social Behavior II: Conformity, Obedience, Prejudice pp. 687-705
Film: Obedience VC 0822 or 2321 (1965, 45 min)
Apr. 24, TUES, EXAM 4 chapters
13-16
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Tait McKenzie Student Fieldhouse East (Students whose surnames are A-K)
Tait McKenzie Student Fieldhouse West (Students whose surnames are L-Z)
* indicates that a film or video clip will be shown that day