PSYC1 Syllabus PDF

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Intro to Psychology syllabus in Fall quarter 2019...

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PSYC 1 Introduction to Psychology

Fall 2019 MW 5:20-6:55 PM Media Theater M110

INSTRUCTOR Professor Campbell Leaper

GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT Tess Shirefley

E-Mail: [email protected] Office: Room 355 Social Sciences 2

E-mail: [email protected] Office: 202 Social Sciences 2 Walk-in Office Hours: Monday 2:30-3:30 and Tuesday 10:30-11:30.

Walk-in Office Hour: Monday 10:30-11:30

Also: you can request an appointment for a different time.

Teaching Assistant (TA) TESS SHIREFLEY is the teaching assistant for the course. She is a psychology graduate student who conducts research on how children’s gender socialization shapes their interest in science. TA Tess Shirefley is a good resource for help about the course content, the assignments, or questions about online materials for the course. She will have regular walk-in office hours when you do not need an advance appointment to see her for help. Also, you may request a special appointment with her if you have a schedule conflict with the office hour. To request an appointment, please send TA Shirefley an email ([email protected]), and indicate all of your available days/times. (Please see email guidelines later.) Please note the TA will be able to make only a few appointments per week. Course Overview Psychology is the scientific study of thinking, emotion, and behavior. The course will review scientific theories and research in psychology. Science is based on testing ideas (hypotheses) about the world (including humans) using objective methods, and then revising those ideas as the evidence either confirms or contradicts them. In all scientific fields, it is necessary to replicate (repeat) findings to know that perhaps the original result was not due to specific circumstances that do not generalize. Hence, in all scientific fields from physics to anthropology, some ideas that are accepted at first later become rejected. What distinguishes the scientific approach is the ability to revise one’s explanations based on the best available evidence. This course will offer an overview of the field of scientific psychology. Understanding humans is very complicated. Our behavior is influenced by a multitude of factors! A few examples include the functioning of the nerve cells in our brains, the ways of thinking that we develop, the social pressures and opportunities that we experience, and the larger cultures in which we live. We will address these and other facets of human psychology in the course! Required Textbook The course will use Scott Lilienfeld’s E-textbook (Revel version), Psychology: From Inquiry to Understanding (Pearson Publisher). It is an interactive textbook, which you will be able to access on your computer or phone. Also, it costs much less (approximately $89) than your typical textbook. You can purchase the E-textbook through the UCSC Baytree Bookstore. In addition to the reading, there will be required online homework assignments and quizzes administered through the E-textbook. Thus, you are required to purchase your own copy. Please note: You are responsible for learning assigned reading and the classroom materials (lectures and films). The class lectures will primarily explain the major topics covered in each assigned textbook chapter. If textbook material is not covered in lecture, however, you are still responsible for learning it. Also, some material might be covered in class that is not in the textbook. If you have any questions about using the E-textbook, please contact TA Tess Shirefley.

Canvas: Course Web Site Canvas is the online platform that UCSC uses for courses. Once you purchase the E-textbook, you will be able to access it via Canvass. Also, we will use Canvas to post the syllabus, additional readings, and homework. Furthermore, it will be used to administer quizzes and midterm exams. Please visit the following link to begin accessing your Canvas account for the course: https://canvas.ucsc.edu/ If you have any questions about using Canvas during the course, please contact TA Tess Shirefley. Email Announcements Class announcements will be sent to your @UCSC email address. You are responsible for regularly checking your email messages to get these notices. If you use a different email provider, please be sure to setup your UCSC email so it forwards messages to your preferred email provider. Please contact TA Tess Shirefley if you need help doing this. Email Guidelines Please observe the following guidelines when sending email to Professor Leaper or TA Tess Shirefley. • • • • •

Use your @UCSC email. You need to use your UCSC email so that we know you are a registered student in the class. Include your first and last name in your email (see example below). There are hundreds of students in the course, and we need to know who is contacting us. Include “Psych 1” at start the subject line. An example might be: “Psych 1 – request appointment”. This will help us recognize the email is from a student, which will lead to a faster response! Make your email messages short. (We receive many email messages every day.) Please be polite in your email. If you are upset about something or wish to explain a personal matter, please visit Professor Leaper or your TA during their walk-in office hour. If you are unable to make those times, you may request an appointment to discuss in person. For example, you might write: Dear Professor Leaper: I am experiencing a personal difficulty. I am unavailable during your walk-in office hour, and I would like to arrange an appointment to discuss this with you. Sincerely, Sirinda Slug

Additional Classroom Policies Kindly observe the following classroom policies: • • •

Please turn off your cell phone (and silence smart watches) before the start of class. Please limit use of laptops to taking notes; please do not use laptops for email, web surfing, or games during class. If you wish to use your laptop, you must sit in the front section. Please arrive on time to class. It is distracting to the instructor, TA, and other students when students arrive late. (Also, you might miss important material.) Of course, we realize there will be occasional days when a student might be late. Lecture Attendance and Lecture Notes

You are expected to attend class and to take notes on the class lecture and films. Also, you are responsible for knowing any announcements in class. (If you need to miss a class due to observance of a religious holiday, please arrange to meet TA Tess Shirefley in her office to copy missed lecture notes.) Educational research finds that students who attend class and take notes are more likely to learn and to do better in a course.* For this reason, the lecture slides will not be posted. Also, you may not take photographs of the lecture slides or record the lectures with your phone or other devices (more on this later). However, you may visit TA Tess Shirefley in her office to copy missed notes by hand.

* RESEARCH ADDITIONALLY SUGGESTS THAT STUDENTS LEARN AND REMEMBER LECTURE MATERIAL BETTER WHEN THEY TAKE NOTES BY HAND RATHER THAN TYPING THEM ON A LAPTOP (SEE STUDY TIPS IN APPENDIX). WHEN TAKING NOTES BY HAND, STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ACTIVE IN THEIR THINKING ABOUT THE MATERIAL.

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Recording Lectures or Selling Course Notes Please note that you may not take photographs of the lecture slides or record the lectures with your phone or other devices. Also, you may not sell your lecture notes. Faculty lectures are considered protected property. Therefore, it is a violation of campus policy and state law (1) to record lectures or (2) to sell course lecture notes without the instructor’s consent. The following is from the Dean of Undergraduate Education about selling notes: “Please note that students may be disciplined for selling, preparing, or distributing course lecture notes for any commercial purpose, whether or not the student themself took the notes. The unauthorized sale of lecture notes (and handouts, readers or other course materials) is a violation of campus policies (Student Judicial Handbook, sections 102.17 and 102.018). Judicial action for violating campus policies may include disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal, which may have serious effects on your academic careers. The sale of classroom notes is also a violation of state law (Cal. Educ. Code, section 66450) and may be associated with civil penalties of up to $25,000 depending on the number of offenses. It may also constitute copyright infringement subject to legal action.” Students who are found recording lectures or selling lecture notes will be referred to the Dean of Students.

Academic Integrity UCSC policy is as follows: “All members of the UCSC academic community have an explicit responsibility to present as their original work only that which is truly their own. Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty are contrary to the ideals and purposes of a university and will not be tolerated” (UCSC, see link below). In addition, helping another student cheat or plagiarize constitutes academic dishonesty. Students who violate academic integrity will be reported to university officials. They are subject to failing the course. The university may impose additional penalties such as suspension for one or more quarters--or expulsion from the University of California. For more information about the university’s rules regarding student misconduct and discipline, visit: https://ue.ucsc.edu/academic-misconduct.html When we encounter plagiarism, students often plead that they didn’t “intend” to copy the author’s wording. The university does not consider that an acceptable excuse. Any student who violates academic integrity (such as cheating or plagiarism) may receive an “F” in the course. In addition, the student will be reported to university officials. The university may impose additional penalties such as barred enrollment for a quarter or expulsion from the University of California. Proper Citation and Quotation Required If you elect to do the alternative assignment instead the Research Participation requirement, you will be writing short papers. Please be sure to avoid plagiarism when writing your paper. If you use another author’s wording (more than a few words in a row), you must put it in quotation marks and cite the source (author, year, page number) using APA style. In general, however, you should use quotes sparingly and write mostly in your own words. For information about citation practices, visit UCSC Library web page: https://guides.library.ucsc.edu/citesources PLAGIARISM involves representing someone else’s words and ideas as your own. To avoid plagiarism, be sure to do the following: 1. CITE SOURCES: First, when you are using an argument based on something you read, the author(s) and year should be cited using APA style. Here is an example: Children are more likely to succeed in school subjects that they consider important (Harter, 2012). 2. QUOTE ANOTHER AUTHOR’S WORDS: If you use another author’s wording, you need to put it in quotation marks and cite the source (author, year, page number). Here are two examples: According to Chen and Chavez (2010, p. 100), “young children regularly stereotype people based on their gender.” Researchers have found “young children regularly stereotype people based on their gender” (Chen & Chavez, 2010, p. 100). If you need help with your writing, including with avoiding plagiarism, please take advantage of the Learning Support Services (described later in the syllabus).

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BASES FOR COURSE GRADE A. Research Participation (or Alternative Assignment) Requirement The Psychology department requires that all Psych 1 students participate in five (5) total hours as participants in research projects. (An alternative writing assignment is also possible, which must be done by students under 18 years of age.) Please carefully read the directions that appear later in the syllabus in Appendix A. The Psychology Department’s policy is that students cannot pass the course unless they complete this requirement by Friday, December 6 (the last day of classes). B. Syllabus and Study Tips Quiz You must complete THE SYLLABUS AND STUDY TIPS QUIZ (administered on Canvas) by Wednesday, 10/9, 10:00 AM. Carefully review this syllabus and the Study Tips (see Appendix B at end of syllabus) before taking the quiz, and then double-check check it while you are taking the quiz. If you miss more than one question on the quiz, you will be asked to take it again. Otherwise, your course grade will be dropped 5%. The purpose of this quiz is to help ensure that students understand the course requirements. C. Weekly Quizzes (10%) Educational research shows that repeated, low-stakes quizzes help with students’ learning. They help students practice the material. Also, they give students’ get sense of the kinds of questions asked on the exams. Thus, you will have weekly online multiple-choice quizzes covering the prior week’s reading and classroom material. Please be sure to read and study the material before taking the quiz. We will drop your two lowest quiz scores. If you miss a quiz in a given week, it will count as one that you get to drop. (There will be no make ups.) The quizzes will count 10% toward your course grade. D. Periodic Homework Assignments (5%) Every few weeks, you will be assigned an online short writing assignment based on the textbook reading. Your lowest homework score will be dropped. If you miss a homework assignment in a given week, it will count as one that you get to drop. The homework will count 5% toward your course grade. E. Midterm Exams (20%) There will be two multiple-choice midterm exams. The first midterm exam will count 5% toward your grade, and the second will count 15% toward your grade. Also, the second midterm exam will be cumulative covering material since the start of the course. (See Schedule later in syllabus for dates.) Note: Taking Quizzes and Midterm Exams The quizzes and midterm exams will be administered online. To minimize the likelihood that students share answers while taking a quiz or an exam, the following will occur: (1) The questions will appear in random order for each student. (2) You will need to answer the questions in the order presented. (3) The quizzes exams will have a time limit. F. Final Exam (65%) On Thursday, 12/12, 4:00 PM, there will be a multiple-choice final exam covering reading and class material from the entire quarter. On the midterm and final exams, we do an item analysis to see how many students got each question incorrect. If any questions appear too difficult, students’ scores will be adjusted by adding points. The final exam will be held in the classroom. You may bring one piece of paper with notes on both sides. The final exam will be weighted 70% toward your course grade. Some students do not like when a final exam counts so much toward the final grade; however, this helps to make it so students can make significant improvements over the course and pick up their grade. (Students may not request a different date or time for the final exam. A make-up exam will be allowed only in the event of a medical or personal emergency.)

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Grading The following criteria will be used to assign grades in the course: A = 90% - 100%. B = 80-89%. C = 70-79%. Not passing (F) = 0-69%. In addition, plus and minus grades will be given. Passing the Course To pass the course, you must (1) attaining an overall course score of at least 70% and (2) complete the research participation requirement (or alternative assignment) by Friday, December 6. Also, violations of academic integrity, such as cheating or plagiarism, may lead to failing the course. Also, as explained above, if you do not attain a satisfactory score on the Syllabus and Study Tips Quiz, your course grade will be dropped 5%. (You will have the opportunity to retake the quiz within a limited time period if you do not get a satisfactory score.) Learning New Material Takes Practice Keep in mind that learning any complex material requires time and effort. Just as athletes and musicians must practice hours each day to develop their skill, students need to practice too. For most students, this includes reviewing material several times. The structure of the course with frequent quizzes and exams is designed to help you do this. Imposter Syndrome A common experience for many new students is known as “the imposter syndrome,” whereby they doubt that they belong in college. Although this is seen in students from all kinds of backgrounds, it is often seen among students who are the first generation in their family to attend college. However, about 40% of UCSC students are first-generation college students! And this is wonderful! One way to help counter the imposter syndrome is to seek social supports (for example: getting involved in a student organization, studying with classmates). Also, it’s helpful to visit the instructor, the teaching assistant, or tutors if you need assistance (especially in large classes like this one!). Learning Support Resources: MSI & SGT The campus Learning Support Services provides the following learning supports for PSYC 1 students. The following descriptions are from the web pages (links below) for these services: Modified Supplemental Instruction (MSI): MSI provides a weekly meeting time where students have the opportunity to work with their peers and practice material from the course. In MSI, students can expect to acquire effective learning strategies, work with peers to understand difficult course material, and build relationships with their classmates. Sessions are facilitated by trained peer Learning Assistants who utilize collaborative activities to ensure peer-to-peer interaction in small groups. https://lss.ucsc.edu/programs/modified-supplemental-instruction/index.html Small Group Tutoring (SGT): Small Group Tutoring provides a small interactive setting for students to be comfortable to engage in conversations about course material with other students. Each session is led by a current UCSC undergraduate student who has taken the course and done well in it. Tutoring sessions are 1-Hour long and generally have a capacity of 6 students. When students sign up for tutoring, students make a commitment to attend tutoring weekly for the entire quarter. All students can sign up for up to 2-Hours of tutoring a week per course they are enrolled in. https://lss.ucsc.edu/programs/small-group-tutoring/index.html Tutors assigned to PSYC 1 Hannah Martin ([email protected]) Nelida Ponce ([email protected])

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DRC Accommodations If the Disability Resource Center (DRC) has authorized accommodations for you in the course, please visit Professor Leaper in his office with your Accommodation letter by the end of Week 2 of classes to review your needs. You may visit during his office walk-in hour or you can arrange an appointment for a different time. Need Help? If you are having any kind of trouble learning the material or doing well in the class, please go see Professor Leaper or the TA Tess Shirefley as soon as possible. Also, if you’re experiencing medical, emotional, or other personal difficulties during the quarter, please let us know. We’ll see if we can find ways to help! Also, a list of various Campus Support Resources for students appears later in Appendix C.

Lecture Schedule and Reading List appears begins on next page. Appendices appear afterwards: A. Research Participation or Alternative Assignment B. Study Tips C. Campus Support Resources

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LECTURE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS* (Subject to Change) The dates for specific lectures will likely change as the quarter progresses.

WEEK 1 Reading Assignments Chapter 1: “Psychology and Scientific Thinking”

Mon

9/30

Introduction to Course

Wed

10/2

Psychological Science

Complete Quiz #1 (Week 1 material) by Monday 10/7 at 3 PM Complete Syllabus & Study Tips Quiz by Wednesday 10/9 at 3 PM

WEEK 2 Reading Assignments Chapter 2: Research Methods” Chapter 3: “Biological Psychology” Comp...