to Introduction Psychology
Psychology 101 (Section 001)
University of Waterloo
Winter 2012
COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor:
Class Meeting:
Office:
Office Hours:
Phone:
E-mail:
Course Website:
Richard Ennis
Tuesday, 6:30 - 9:20 p.m., HH159
PAS 3017
Thursday, 10:30 - 12:00
519-888-4567 ext 35333
[e-mail]
(Note: I do NOT use or check the LEARN email)
http://learn.uwaterloo.ca
Teaching Assistants:
Adam Petrashek
Kyle Mueller
Randall Gillis
Student surnames: A to H
Student surnames: I to P
Student surnames: Q to Z
Course Resources
Required Textbook:
Myers, D. G. (2010). Psychology: Myers in Modules (9th Ed.). New York: Worth Publishers.
The official text is the 9th edition of Psychology: Myers in Modules written by David Myers. The
modules are basically just small chapters. There is another version of Myers text called simply
Psychology. It contains the identical information but in longer (and fewer) chapters. It is also the 9th
edition. It is an acceptable text for this course but, beware, that chapter titles and page numbers will
be different. The 8th edition in Modules is acceptable and a list of readings is available on LEARN.
Beware: There are various other Intro Psych texts also titled Psychology but written by other authors.
Be sure you purchase one of the versions written by David Myers.
Study Guide:
The publisher-supplied Study Guide is not necessary but is recommended. It acts like a private tutor
to enhance your understanding of the text material. Regard the Study Guide not as an extra task to
master, but as a friend to help with the text.
Course Websites:
The website for this course provides lecture outlines, learning objectives for lectures and instructions
for research participation, as well as other helpful information. You can log into the course site
through the UW -LEARN system.
There is also a publishers website for the text (www.worthpublishers.com/myers) that offers a wide
range of helpful items, such as critical thinking exercises, quizzes, study aids, links, and
demonstrations. Regular visits to this site will prove beneficial.
PSYCHOLOGY 101 (001)
Course Syllabus
Page 1
Course Objectives
A primary objective of any "introductory" course is simply that: to introduce you to the subject matter
of the discipline and to familiarize you with the vocabulary and concepts. Psychology is the study of
human experience: the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that we experience as we interact with our
world. You already have several years of experience in psychology based on your own observations
and knowledge about yourself and your environment. In this course you will see how research has
been applied to test intuitive assumptions about human life. You will find that many of your beliefs
about human existence are scientifically supported; but you will also find many beliefs are refuted by
the evidence.
Certainly, as a student in this course, you will receive a more comprehensive understanding of
yourself and your world. I also hope that you will develop greater skills of critical thinking that will
make you a better consumer of psychological information. Unfortunately, there is a lot of "pop"
psychology practiced in our culture and popularized by the media. At best, these pseudosciences are
a harmless diversion; at worst, they are billion-dollar industries that exploit the ignorance and
gullibility of the populace. By the end of the course you should be able to differentiate between
legitimate psychology and the "pop" pretenders.
Finally, I hope that you will derive some personal benefits from the course by reaching a deeper
understanding and acceptance of yourself and others. Hopefully, this class will enrich your personal
relationships and contribute to your success in your future endeavors.
Examinations and Grading Scheme
Midterm Exams:
There will be one midterm exam on February 14 that will consist of 76 multiple-choice items worth
38% of your final grade. The midterm will be administered in two sittings during class time: students
with surnames A to Le from 6:30 to 7:45 and surnames Li to Z from 8:00 to 9:15 pm. Refer to the
Overview of Exams contained in this syllabus for more detailed information.
Final Exam:
The final exam will be scheduled by the university. The final exam will be 2 hours in duration and will
consist of 116 multiple-choice items. The final exam will account for 58% of your final grade. The
final exam will test lecture material from the entire course and text material not tested on the
midterm. Refer to the Overview of Exams contained in this syllabus for more detailed information.
The exam period is April 9 to 21. Keep this time available. Alternate times will NOT be provided due
to conflicts with travel, vacations, etc.
Deferred Testing:
The deferred midterm will be held on Friday, February 17, 9:00-10:15 a.m. It will be provided for
students with exceptional circumstances. I will insist on supportive documentation. You must
contact me within 24 hours of the regularly scheduled midterm. The deferred test will NOT
contain the same items as the scheduled test, therefore I cannot guarantee they will be equal in
difficulty with the scheduled tests.
Research Participation: 4% + 2% bonus
The remaining 4% of your grade will be based on participation in research. You can also earn an
additional 2% in bonus marks. More detailed information is presented below and on LEARN.
PSYCHOLOGY 101 (001)
Course Syllabus
Page 2
Class Format
There are two sources of material for the course: the textbook and the lectures. The lectures will
focus on specific topics and are not meant to provide coverage of all material in the text. Lectures will
elaborate and build upon (not duplicate) the text material, therefore, it is recommended that you
attend class meetings and complete the readings beforehand. A proposed schedule of lectures and
related readings is included.
Be aware that you are responsible for your class attendance. There will be several announcements
made in class regarding exams, course material, research participation, etc. If you are not in
attendance you will still be held responsible for being aware of these announcements. Further, I will
not respond to emails that ask me to repeat information presented in class or any other information
contained in this syllabus.
One of the "secrets" to success in university is keeping up with your courses. Try not to fall behind!
If You Are Having Trouble With The Course
The instructor and teaching assistants are here to help. If you are experiencing difficulty
understanding the material or you are concerned about your exam performance, seek help as soon
as possible. We can assist you with the material and provide helpful guidance for studying. The Arts
Undergraduate Office, PAS 2439, also has advisors to help with study skills, note-taking, exam
prep, course selections, etc. If you attend lectures regularly, study the text, and seek help when
needed, there is no reason you should not pass the course.
PSYCHOLOGY 101 (001)
Course Syllabus
Page 3
Course Schedule
Date
Topic
Modules in 9th Ed
Jan 3
Introduction to Science of Psychology
1-3
Jan 10
Developmental Psychology
13 - 15
Jan 17
Neuropsychology
Sensation & Perception
4 - 6, 11
18, 20 - 22
Jan 24
States of Consciousness
8 - 10
Jan 31
Learning
Memory
23 - 25
26 - 30
Feb 7
Thinking and Intelligence
31, 33 - 35
Feb 14
Midterm Exam
Feb 22
READING WEEK: No Class
Feb 28
Motivation and Emotion
36 - 40
Mar 6
Personality
45 - 47
Mar 13
Social Psychology
56 - 59
Mar 20
Disorders & Therapy
48 - 55
Mar 27
Disorders & Therapy
48 - 55
A to Le: 6:30 - 7:45
Li to Z: 8:00 - 9:15
See Exam Overview
Final Exam Period
April 9 - 21
DO NOT MAKE TRAVEL PLANS OR OTHER COMMITMENTS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD!
PSYCHOLOGY 101 (001)
Course Syllabus
Page 4
Overview of Exams
(subject to change)
TOPIC
Midterm
Final
No. of
items
Text
Lecture
Text
Lecture
Introduction
Modules 1 - 3
11
6
3
0
2
Development
Modules 13 - 15
19
9
5
0
5
Neuropsychology
Modules 4 - 6, 11
19
9
5
0
5
Sensation & Perception
Modules 18, 20 - 22
13
8
3
0
2
Consciousness
Modules 8 - 10
19
9
5
0
5
Learning
Modules 23 - 25
19
9
5
0
5
Memory
Modules 26 - 30
15
8
7
Thinking & Intelligence
Modules 31, 33 - 35
15
8
7
Motivation & Emotion
Modules 36 - 40
15
8
7
Personality
Modules 45 - 47
15
8
7
Social Psychology
Modules 56 - 59
16
8
8
Pathology & Therapy
Modules 48 - 55
16
8
8
TOTAL ITEMS
192
116
VALUE
38%
58%
DATE
Feb 14
TBA
DURATION
PSYCHOLOGY 101 (001)
76
75 minutes
2 hours
Course Syllabus
Page 5
Research Experience
Guidelines for Psychology 101
Experiential learning is considered an integral part of the undergraduate in program Psychology. Research
participation is one example of this, article review is another. A number of undergraduate courses have been
expanded to include opportunities for Psychology students to earn grades while gaining re search experience.
Since experiential learning is highly valued in the Department of Psychology, students may earn up to 4% of their
final mark in this course through research experience (i.e., course work will make up 96% of the final mark and
research experience will make up the other 4% for a maximum grade of 100%). In addition, for those students
who wish to sample a wider range of these experiences, a further "bonus" of up to 2% may be earned and will be
added to the final grade if/as needed to bring your final grade up to 100%. In total, students may add up to 6%
to their final grade.
The two options for earning research experience grades (participation in research and article review) are
described below. Students may complete any combination of these options to earn research experience grades.
Option 1: Participation in Psychology Research
Research participation is coordinated by the Research Experiences Group (REG). Psychology students may
volunteer as research participants in lab and/or online (web -based) studies conducted by students and faculty in
the Department of Psychology. Participation enables students to learn first-hand about psychology research and
related concepts. Many students report that participation in research is both an educational and interesting
experience. Please be assured that all Psychology studies have undergone prior ethics review and clearance
through the Office of Research Ethics.
Educational focus of participation in research
To maximize the educational benefits of participating in research, students will receive feedback information
following their participation in each study detailing the following elements:
Purpose or objectives of the study
Dependent and independent variables
Expected results
References for at least two related research articles
Provisions to ensure confidentiality of data
Contact information of the researcher should the student have further questions about the study
Contact information for the Director of the Office of Research Ethics should the student wish to learn
more about the general ethical issues surrounding research with human participants, or specific
questions or concerns about the study in which s/he participated.
Participation is worth 0.5 participation credits (grade percentage points) for each half -hour of participation.
Researchers will record students participation and will advise the course instructor of the total credits earned by
each student at the end of the term. Study scheduling, participation and grade assignment is manag ed online on
the SONA website. All students enrolled in this course have been set up wit h a SONA account. It is VERY
IMPORTANT that you get an early start on your studies. Detailed instructions on how to access SONA and for a
list of important dates and deadlines, click on:
http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~regadmin/regparticipant/sonainfo/#SonaSignUp
More information about the REG program is available at:
http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/~regadmin/regparticipant/
PSYCHOLOGY 101 (001)
Course Syllabus
Page 6
Option 2: Article Review as an alternative to participation in research
Students are not required to participate in research, and not all students wish to do so. As an alternative, students
may opt to gain research experience by writing short reviews (1 to 2 pages) of research articles relevant to the
course. The course instructor will specify a suitable source of articles for this course (i.e., scientific journals,
newspapers, magazines, other printed media). You must contact your TA to get approval for the article you have
chosen before writing the review. Each review article counts as one percentage point. To receive credit, you must
follow specific guidelines. The article review must:
Be submitted before the last lecture in this course. Late submissions will NOT be accepted under
ANY circumstances.
Be typed
Fully identify the title, author(s), source and date of the article. A copy of the article must be attached.
Identify the psychological concepts in the article and indic ate the pages in the textbook that are
applicable. Critically evaluate the application or treatment of those concepts in the article. If inappropriate
or incorrect, identify the error and its implications for the validity of the article. You may find, for example,
misleading headings, faulty research procedures, alternative explanations that are ignored, failures to
distinguish factual findings from opinions, faulty statements of cause -effect relations, errors in reasoning,
etc. Provide examples whenever possible.
Clearly evaluate the application or treatment of those concepts in the article.
Keep a copy of your review in the unlikely event we misplace the original.
PSYCHOLOGY 101 (001)
Course Syllabus
Page 7
The Official Version of the Course Outline
If there is a discrepancy between the hard copy outline (i.e., if students were provided with a hard copy at the first class)
and the outline posted on LEARN, the outline on LEARN will be deemed the official version. Outlines on LEARN may
change as instructors develop a course, but they become final as of the first class meeting for the term.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic
departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic
integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please registe r
with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term.
Concerns About the Course or Instructor (Informal Stage)
W e in the Psychology Department take great pride in the high quality of our program and our instructors. Though
infrequent, we know that students occasionally find themselves in situations of conflict with their instructors over course
policies or grade assessments. If such a conflict arises, the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs (Dr. Colin Ellard) is
available for consultation and to mediate a resolution between the student and instructor. Dr. Ellards contact information
is as follows:
Email: [e-mail]
Ph 519-888- 4567 ext 36852
A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable
may have grounds for initiating a grievance. See Policy 70 and 71 below for further details.
Cross-listed course:
Please note that a cross-listed course will count in all respective averages no matter under which rubric it has been
taken. For example, a PHIL/PSCI cross-list will count in a Philosophy major average, even if the course was taken
under the Political Science rubric.
Academic Integrity:
Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo are
expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.
Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic
offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an
offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about rules for group
work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate
Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under
Policy 71 Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should
refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm
Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair
or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances,
Section 4, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm
Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions
and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be
established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm
Academic Integrity website (Arts): http://arts.uwaterloo.ca/arts/ugrad/academic_responsibility.html
Academic Integrity Office (University): http://uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity/
PSYCHOLOGY 101 (001)
Course Syllabus
Page 8