Psy 105: Introduction to Psychology

Instructor

• Name: David Allbritton
• Email: [email protected]

Course Syllabus

• Location: Online
• Meeting Time: Mondays at noon
• Due Dates: Assignments due Mondays at noon; start early in the week for success.

Textbook

• Title: Myers, Psychology: 10th Edition in Modules
• Alternative: 9th Edition acceptable.

Course Description

• Introductory course covering major areas in psychology:
  • Learning
  • Memory
  • Intelligence
  • Nature vs. Nurture
  • Human Diversity
  • Development
  • Language
  • Thinking
  • Personality
  • Social Psychology
• Emphasis on scientific methods in psychology.

Liberal Studies Program

• Psy 105 is a prerequisite for many psychology courses.
• Can fulfill Liberal Studies requirement in Self, Society, and Modern World.

Course Learning Goals

• Evaluate psychological claims using critical thinking and scientific reasoning.
• Distinguish scientific reasoning from anecdotal evidence or pseudo-science.
• Apply psychological theories to real-world issues.
• Identify key psychological concepts and theories.

Grading Breakdown

• Course Pre-test: 40 pts
• Weekly Discussion Board/Written Assignments: 570 pts
• Weekly Quizzes on Textbook Readings: 250 pts
• Final Project: 100 pts
• Course Post-test: 40 pts
• Research Participation Requirement: -166 to +33 pts
• Total Possible Points: 1000

Letter Grade Cutoffs

• A: 93.33%
• A-: 90%
• B+: 86.66%
• B: 83.33%
• Late assignments: Not accepted; missed assignments cannot be made up.

Assignment Details

1. Pre-test: Completion required; score does not affect grade.
2. Weekly Discussion Assignments: Collaborative; graded individually based on originality, relevance, and timeliness.
   • Rubric for grading includes:
     • Promptness
     • Delivery of Post
     • Relevance of Post
     • Expression Within the Post
     • Contribution to the Learning Community
3. Weekly Quizzes: Multiple attempts allowed; only highest score counts.
4. Final Project: Apply course concepts to personal experience; 4-7 pages.
5. Post-test: Completion required for assessment; does not count towards grade.
6. Research Participation Requirement: Mandatory; participation in studies contributes to understanding of psychology.

Expectations for Students

• Active participation and timely completion of assignments essential.
• Suggested time commitment: 10-12 hours/week outside of class.
• Civility and respect required in online communications.

Instructor Expectations

• Timely responses to questions; monitoring of student progress.
• Not all discussion posts will receive instructor feedback.

Resources for Questions

• Course Q&A Forum: Post general questions.
• FAQ Tab: Explore course-related queries.
• Technology Help: Contact for tech issues.
• Email Instructor: For private discussions.

Academic Dishonesty

• Strict policy against cheating and plagiarism.
• Plagiarism includes failure to cite sources or self-plagiarism.
• Use automated programs to check for any form of plagiarism.

Support for Students with Disabilities

• Confidential discussion regarding accommodations encouraged.
• Contact the Center for Students with Disabilities for support.

Course Schedule Overview

• Module 1: Course Introduction; Learning (classical conditioning)
• Module 2: Learning (operant conditioning; modern learning theory)
• Module 3: Memory (basic concepts, key findings and theories)
• Module 4: Memory (reconstruction and reliability)
• Module 5: Intelligence; Nature vs. Nurture
• Module 6: Development
• Module 7: Language and Thought
• Module 8: Personality
• Module 9: Social Psychology (social thinking; social influence)
• Module 10: Social Psychology (social thinking; social relations)