Personality 238-TTh- Syllabus-2 PDF

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PSYCH 238: Introduction to Personality Psychology Fall 2020 Tuesday/Thursday- mixed mode 9:05 pm to 10:20 pm (119 Osmond and Zoom: 941 8917 3499)

Instructor: Alicia Drais-Parrillo, Ph.D. Grad TA: Sara Such Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Office: https://psu.zoom.us/j/5105953790 Office Hours: by appt. Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:30-12:30 & Wednesdays 10:45-11:45 UTAs: (meetings by appointment) Megan Bunke, [email protected] Christian Dellavella, [email protected] Emily Hamilton, [email protected]

Taylor Metz, [email protected] Samantha Simon, [email protected] Owen Zimmerman, [email protected]

PREREQUISITE: PSYCH 100 REQUIRED READINGS: • Ashcraft, D.M. (2014). Personality Theories Workbook (6th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. • See Canvas for additional recommended sources ADDITIONAL TOOLS: Flipd app & Clicker COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to Personality Psychology is a survey course on historical and modern approaches to personality research. This course will introduce you to scientific conceptualizations of individual differences as well as how we assess personality. We will cover a range of theoretical and empirical approaches with a focus on those that are or have been most influential in the field. The course is also intended to help you apply personality theories to case studies and to your own life. COURSE OBJECTIVES: • Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of historical approaches • Recognize and evaluate the foundation of modern approaches • Evaluate the assumptions about human nature and individual differences • Compare and contrast scientific conceptualizations of individual differences • Demonstrate an understanding of how personality is assessed • Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of a variety of assessment methods • Demonstrate critical and integrative thinking by applying personality theories to case studies and life experiences

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS: A general educational goal of this class, beyond its particular content, is developing students’ skills in critical thinking and applying psychological concepts and theory. Classes will include discussions and applied questions as well as lectures. Reading case studies before class meetings is a critical component for success in our course. Other requirements include Clicker questions, Canvas quizzes and exams, and a final project. Clicker (Zoom Poll) Questions During the semester students will respond to Clicker questions about topics covered in the current or prior class meeting. These questions are each worth one point: ½ point for completion and ½ point for accuracy. That means partial credit will be given for incorrect answers. Only 55 points total may be earned on these questions, but you will have the opportunity to answer at least 60 items. Therefore, if you answer incorrectly, you have opportunity to make up for the loss. Attendance and Focus: Flipd Attendance is encouraged but staying focused is rewarded. Not only will your comprehension of course concepts improve, so will your performance. We will use Flipd for our course. Flipd is a phone app available for free that tracks your phone usage. It is assumed that you will NOT use your phone during our class. The only exceptions may be to access Zoom for breakouts or submit Canvas assignments if you do not have a tablet or laptop. Nevertheless, your minimum goal for “flipping” off during the term is equivalent to our total class time (2,250 minutes) and earns you 5 points. Using Flipd outside of class is highly encouraged to improve your focus, and it can provide supplemental points to your total Clicker points. Based on the Flipd tracking data, you will earn extra points for the minutes that you do NOT use your phone during the semester: 12,000 minutes = +5 points; 25,000 minutes = +7.5 points; and 50,000 minutes = +10 points. These points will be added to your total Clicker points at the conclusion of the semester for a maximum of 55 points. After you download the Flipd app, join our group. The code is 9QOLZJ. Groupwork: Case Studies and Activities You will be assigned to a group and will work with them for part of the semester on case studies and activities. After each exam, you will be reassigned to a new group. Cases to be read are included in the course schedule. For some of the discussions, the groups will produce a written response in class and be graded. For other case studies, the groups will discuss the answers, but you will submit your own response individually after class. The points may vary depending on the activity. The total points available for case studies and activities are 125. If you are unable to attend class on the day we have a graded group activity and your excuse is University-approved or if you have 2

technical difficulties with Zoom, you may request to complete an activity individually. Submit a make-up request form as soon as possible so you may receive access to the make-up activity. You must turn in the activity within one week of returning to class. Activities and forms are posted on Canvas. Quizzes In addition to random clicker/poll questions during class, we will typically begin our class meetings with short Canvas quizzes to check comprehension. Therefore, students are encouraged to reread their notes before class and ask questions for clarification at the start of class. These quizzes are brief, and the points assigned to each quiz may vary. The total points available is 60. Examinations There will be four cumulative examinations of equal weight. On the specified exam date, we will have a review session in class. Later that same day, the exam will open at 3 pm on Canvas and close at minimum 48 hours later. You will have 35 minutes to take the test. There will be three sections to each exam: multiple choice questions on main theories covered in unit, multiple choice questions on case studies covered in unit, and a short answer question. The first three exams are mandatory, and the fourth exam is optional. Each exam is worth up to 20 points. If you skip the fourth exam, your first three exam scores will be retained “as is” for a total of 60 points. If you take the fourth exam, your four scores will be averaged out of 60 points. There is NO final exam. There is a final project. Consistent with university policy, make-ups will only be allowed for students who are unable to take the exam(s) for legitimate but unavoidable reasons. Students who are aware ahead of time of their inability to take the exam are responsible for letting the instructor know as soon as possible so that other arrangements can be made. To receive full credit, make-up exams must be completed within one week of the original exam date unless the instructor approves an extension for extenuating circumstances. The format and availability of make-up exams are at the discretion of the instructor. If you miss an exam due to University-approved absences, medical problems, or emergency situations, please contact your instructor as soon as possible and complete a make-up request form (available on Canvas). Personality Assessment Project There will be a culminating project for the course, due in the last few weeks. You will submit an integrative paper that summarizes your life history, self-report data, and the theories from this course that have shaped your understanding of who you are. This assignment will be laid out in specific detail as the semester progresses. The final project will be due Monday, December 14 by noon and is worth 75 points. However, you may submit you project early for bonus points. If you submit your project two weeks early (Tuesday, December 1), you will receive 8 bonus points. If you submit your project one week early (Tuesday, December 8), you will receive 4 bonus points.

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Course Surveys During the semester, you will be asked to complete two brief surveys. The first is a background and preference survey. (Given our current mixed mode format, you completed this survey before the start of the term.) This is a simple questionnaire for me to get to know a little bit about the class, and it is worth 5 points. The second survey is a mid-term evaluation. The purpose of the course feedback is to help me (1) monitor the progression of the course, (2) identify changes needed for the current course, and (3) improve the quality of teaching and instruction for current and future semesters. This survey will be due October 15 and is also worth 5 points. Both surveys will be completed on Qualtrics; both will be anonymous and confidential. This means that your name, grade, and other information cannot be connected to your responses. According to PSU policies, course credit/extra credit cannot be rewarded for the university course evaluations (SRTEs). Despite this, your completion of the SRTEs is extremely important. I value the SRTE feedback and continuously change my courses based on student feedback. Course Survey Student Background and Preferences 5 points Mid-semester Evaluation 5 points SRTE n/a NOTE: Surveys are due at 11:59 pm on the date specified.

Extra Credit It will be possible for students to earn extra credit points over the course of the semester. These opportunities may include impromptu homework assignments and inclass groupwork. The maximum number of bonus points you may earn is 10 points. This does NOT include the submission bonus for the final project or Flipd points.

Grades Clicker questions ........................ 55 Flipd focus points ........................ 5 activities & case studies ............ 125 class quizzes ................................ 60 3 exams (or 4 averaged)........... 60 personality project ..................... 75 course surveys 10 total 390

Grading Scale A = 93% to 100% A- = 90% to 92% B+ = 87%to 89% B = 83% to 86% B- = 80% to 82% C+ = 77% to 79% C = 70% to 76% D = 60% to 69% F = 59% and below

[CAN YOU BELIEVE THERE IS MORE? YEP, IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON…]

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CLASSROOM AND UNIVERSITY POLICIES: Zoom Use and Class Attendance We will use Zoom for students who are unable or choose not to attend in-person. To that end, class lectures will be recorded. Video and audio recordings will be used for educational purposes and made available to all students presently enrolled in the class. For purposes where the recordings will be used in future class sessions/lectures, any type of identifying information will be adequately removed. We may also use Zoom in class for group discussions. Recording will be paused for these activities. The chats will not be posted. You will choose to attend in person or via Zoom and mark that preference on Canvas at the start of the term. If you need to alter your choice at any time, please contact Dr. Drais-Parrillo. We want to support your decision and safety. We will track attendance in person and on Zoom and are happy to provide extensions and makeup work for excused absences. Please contact the grad TA or Dr. Drais-Parrillo about making up work. COVID Safety Information Students experiencing any illness and especially COVID-19 related symptoms should not attend class in person. You are always welcome to join via Zoom; however, your health should be first priority. Those students are strongly encouraged to contact a health care provider and their instructor as soon as possible to discuss reasonable accommodations. Students should remain at least six feet away from others in our classroom. Policies require all of us to wear masks appropriately to cover our mouths and noses while we are in our classroom. Students who do not want to distance themselves appropriately or wear a mask during class may not attend class in person. You may opt to attend class via Zoom. Attending this class in person without wearing a mask properly constitutes a classroom disruption, a violation of several articles of the student Code of Conduct (https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/support-safety-conduct/student-conduct/codeconduct), and a violation of policy AD 57 (https://policy.psu.edu/policies/ad57). Anyone in the classroom who is not wearing a mask appropriately will be asked to do so or to leave. I am required to end class if anyone refuses this request. Failure to comply may result in a conduct violation. Students who believe they should be granted a health or safety exception to this policy should consult with Student Disability Resources about reasonable accommodations and present their accommodation letter to me if an exception is granted.

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Course Information on CANVAS We will post course information on Canvas. This will include the syllabus, assignments, and other course documents. This should always be your first stop for information. AFTER consulting Canvas, use the following as a guideline for your questions/concerns: Contact Dr. Drais-Parrillo Contact Grad TA Contact Undergrad TA quizzes & exams activities & case studies class absences Flipd & surveys Clicker questions Zoom difficulties personality project make-up work class schedule If you are not sure whom to contact, contact all of us.

Communicating with Your Instructor and Teaching Assistants We are here to offer assistance. You are welcome to make an appointment to meet with us or email us at any time. We will do our best to respond to you within 48 hours of your contact. The best way to contact us is via Messages in Canvas. All correspondence should include PSYCH 238 in the subject line. Comment on Attendance and Course Work It is strongly suggested that you attend class, in-person or via Zoom. However, we are aware that emergencies or unforeseen circumstances may occur that can prevent attendance in class. Students are responsible for course material presented the day of the absence including assignments. Students will be expected to adhere to original deadlines for assigned work and exams unless alternate arrangements have been made with the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to contact us about absences and to make-up any assignments or assessments missed as a result of an absence. Please complete a make-up request form for any missed work, including clicker questions and class quizzes. The form is available on Canvas. For full credit, all make-up work must be submitted within one week of returning to class following an absence. Before contacting the grad TA, complete the form and be sure to list what it is you missed and why. The form is available on Canvas as are the activities by date. If you cannot find the activities or simply need to confirm what happened in class, email a UTA. Extended Absences and Student Resources During your enrollment at Penn State, unforeseen challenges may arise. If you ever need to miss an extended amount of class in such a circumstance, please notify your instructor so you can determine together the best course of action to make up missed work. If your situation rises to a level of difficulty you cannot manage on your own with faculty support, reach out to the Student Care & Advocacy office by phone at (814863-2020) or email them at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Many students at Penn State face personal challenges or have psychological needs that may interfere with their academic progress, social development, or emotional wellbeing. The university offers a variety of confidential services to help you through difficult times, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, 6

consultations, online chats, and mental health screenings. These services are provided by staff who welcome all students and embrace a philosophy respectful of clients’ cultural and religious backgrounds, and sensitive to differences in race, ability, gender identity and sexual orientation. Counseling and Psychological Services at University Park (CAPS) (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/counseling/): 814-863-0395 You can also seek help from: The Office of Student Affairs (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/) Career Services (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/career/) The Gender Equity Center (https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/genderequity/) The LGBTQA Student Resource Center (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/lgbtqa/) The Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response (http://titleix.psu.edu/) The Penn State Educational Equity (http://equity.psu.edu/) The Multicultural Resource Center (http://equity.psu.edu/mrc) and University Health Services (http://studentaffairs.psu.edu/health/) Religious and Cultural Observances Individuals who have religious or cultural observances that conflict with classes or class assignments should inform the instructor or TA as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule. Class Cancellations In the event that classes are canceled by the University, we will pick up where we left off when classes resume. Work that had been assigned (e.g., readings, lectures, assignments and/or tests) will be due at our next class meeting. If we must cancel class for unforeseen circumstances, we will send an email to you prior to our class time. We will attempt to give you as much advance notice as possible. As with college cancellations, at our next class meeting we will resume where we left off and all work will be due. Students with Disabilities Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact the Student Disability Resources. For further information regarding policies, rights, and responsibilities please visit the Student Disability Resources (SDR) website at: www.equity.psu.edu/student-disability-resources/. Instructors should be notified as early in the semester as possible regarding the need for reasonable accommodations. Student Conduct Some of the topics discussed in our class may be of a sensitive nature. While students may disagree with others, all students, while engaged in classroom activities and electronic correspondence, shall respect the rights of others. 7

Our class discussions and correspondence must remain scholarly. It will be tempting to vent and seek relationship advice given the nature of our course. While I encourage sharing experience as a learning tool, I want to discourage our classroom from becoming a therapy session. There are wonderful counselors available at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). They are located on the fifth floor of the Student Health Center. Call between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday, to schedule an appointment (814-863-0395). In addition, our classroom is not a bedroom, a lunchroom, or a place to conduct online shopping, etc. (No one wants to watch you sleep or hear you snore.) Talking in class during lectures is also very distracting for everyone. Please silence your cell phones when you come to class and put them out of sight. Similarly, I permit computers and tablets in class for completing assignments, but that privilege will be revoked if you are performing activities unrelated to class and distract your peers. Technology in the Classroom Laptop and tablet use will be permitted in our classroom. I would rather not ban devices, so I encourage you to use them wisely and purposefully. In terms of notetaking, research suggests that the process of handwriting and formulating notes in your own words is always more effective than typing lectures verbatim. On the other hand, we will complete activities in class, and making submissions on Canvas using tablets or laptops can be beneficial. In addition, we may use Zoom for breakout discussions among students regardless of physical location, so a tablet, laptop, or smartphone may be needed. If you need a laptop, consider contacting PSU IT to request one. Diversity Statement I consider this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect. All members of this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming and inclusive environment for every other member of the class. Penn State is “committed to creating an educational environment which is free from intolerance directed toward individuals or groups and strives to create and maintain an environment that fosters respect for others” as stated in Policy AD29 Statement on Intolerance. ...