PSYC 320: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Professor:

 
Print Print Syllabus

Traci Craig, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Idaho
Student Health Service 218
Moscow, Idaho 83844-3043

E-mail: tcraig@uidaho.edu

Course Description and Objectives
Theories, concepts, and research on the social bases of behavior and social interaction; topics of personal and social relevance, aggression, prejudice, altruism and helping behavior, interpersonal attraction, behavior in groups, conformity, attitudes, authoritarianism, and obedience to authority.

Required Text
Baumeister & Bushman (2011). Social Psychology & Human Nature, 2nd Edition, Cengage Wadsworth. (ISBN 0-495-60133-0)     Please note that the brief edition will not include the modules that we will be covering.  For those of you who would prefer digital text, you may order the text by chapter (or in whole) at https://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/isbn/9780495601333

The publisher also provides a companion site with a variety of study materials.  Registrations is free and it provides flashcards, practice quizzes, and other activities that may be useful to some students.  Get started at: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/index.html  In the upper right hand corner "sign up".  There is content available and no need for an access code.  Once you login search for the Baumeister and Bushman Comprehensive Edition in the "Find Your Textbook or Materials" search bar.  and go to the "companion site". Once you find the book, on the left side is an "access now" or a "save to home".  If you "save to home" then the next time you login you will automatically see the resources that are free and available to you.  Then you can access the free resources.  There is also an iPhone/iPad/iTouch/iTunes app, but some students find this to be of limited use. 

Outreach Course Fee:  
The Department of Psychology and Communication Studies charges a $35/credit hour course fee for all of our outreach courses (i.e., all WWW courses and all courses offered off of the Moscow campus).  We sincerely regret this charge.  The budget we receive each year is barely adequate to meet the regular teaching needs on the Moscow campus.  We are given no money for outreach.  The outreach program is supported solely by enrollments.  Without the fee, we would not be able to offer the courses.  We have certainly tried to keep the fee as small as possible and will continue to do so.  Please also keep in mind that the refund policy for special course fees is different than for regular course fees.  After 2 weeks in a regular semester (or one week in summer), if you drop a course, the bursar will not refund the $35 fee.  This is a university policy, not a departmental one.

Grading Requirements
There will be 6 quizzes and 6 critical thinking assignments in this course, one or the other for most lessons.  In addition you must do ONE personal reaction paper, the PHRP Training & certification assignment and 4 exams.  Be sure you read assignment details in Blackboard CAREFULLY!!

Late Work Not Accepted: You can complete assignments, quizzes, and exams any time prior to the deadlines. I strongly recommend staying two days ahead of the deadlines, since I do not permit (or even respond to) requests for make-up exams or make-up assignments for any reason. However, because unavoidable problems (e.g., power outages, medical emergencies) can happen, I will use only your best 3 exams, 4 quizzes, and 4 critical thinking assignments in computing your final grade. (Basically, this is the deal: I let you miss 1 quiz, 1 exam, and 1 critical thinking assignment before it starts to impact your grade, and in return you do not ask me to re-open assignments for you.)

Quizzes & Critical Thinking Assignments:  The course includes 6 quizzes and 6 critical thinking assignments. I will drop your lowest quiz score and your lowest critical thinking assignment score. Each quiz is worth 5 points for a total of 25 points from your best 5 quizzes.  For the quizzes you will have 15 minutes to complete 10 multiple choice items.  Each critical thinking assignment is worth 15 points for a total of 75 points from 5 these 6 assignments.  The critical thinking assignments involve a wider variety of experiences (some web based/some from your textbook) and will involve submitting written work in BlackboardSee Blackboard for details. 

Exams: There will be 4 exams in this course. I will drop your lowest exam score. Each exam will consist of primarily multiple choice questions with other formats added at my discretion. You will have one hour to complete 40 items. Exam points = 50 per exam for a total of 150 points from your 3 best exams. See Blackboard for details. 

Personal Reaction Paper: In addition, you must turn in 1 personal reaction paper assignment by the corresponding PR DUE DATES for 25 points for a total of 25 points from your PR assignment.  You may only do one personal reaction papers that will count toward your grade, but you can choose whether to do your paper using any of the five application modules by the due date for that module.  This paper should be 5-7 pages in length and apply the material to a personal detailed life experience that demonstrates the breadth of your knowledge on the chapters and lecture material covered in the courseSee Blackboard for details.  You should also use appropriate APA citation in your written work.  All work will be turned in via Blackboard.

PHRP Certification RequirementAn additional 25 points will be from your completion of the research certification requirement.  Details can be found on Blackboard.  This assignment will take considerable time and effort so plan accordingly. See Blackboard for details. 

Extra Credit Assignments: There are five possible extra credit assignments (25 points of extra credit available).  You can do them at any time prior to the end of dead week.  However, many of them involve visiting websites hosted off campus over which I have no control.  If the website closes, you will lose your opportunity for that assignment.  So doing the assignments sooner rather than later is encouraged.  All extra credit must be completed by 5pm on Friday of the last day of dead week.

No extra credit assignments will be accepted after 5pm on December 9, 2011 (Friday of dead week). 

(No extra credit will be graded if it is turned in after Friday at 5pm of dead week.)

No Late Work Accepted!!  See Late work policy above.  Due dates are listed on the schedule.  These dates will not be reiterated on blackboard so be sure that you make note of them now.  Work will not be counted as late unless it is turned in after the grace period (usually Sunday at midnight). This grace period does not apply to the final exam!!

Discussions are for your own edification!


Grading

Greater than 89.9999% = A  (270 points)
Greater than 79.9999% = B  (240 points)
Greater than 69.9999% = C  (210 points)
Greater than 59.9999% = D  (180 points)
Less than 59.9999% = F