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PSYC 441:
Social Psychology
CHANGE IN MW OFFICE HOURS--2:30-3:30 |
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The aim of this course is to provide an overview of social psychological research and theory. Social psychology investigates the ways people interact with one another in groups as small as two people or as large as entire societies. The focus, however, is on the individual, not on the group. Social psychology is a multifaceted discipline encompassing such diverse topics of study as interpersonal attraction, prejudice, and health care. Course Goals This course meets the requirements for 3 credits of the Institutional Goal Requirement #3, Social and Cultural Stewardship. This goal reads as follows: “Students will demonstrate both social and cultural stewardship to foster individual creativity and to promote preservation and growth of culture and community.” As a result of taking this course you will complete the following Student Learning Outcomes: 1. Recognize relationships that exist among ideas. To meet student outcome #1, students will be able to recognize, describe, and compare theories used by psychology to understand social phenomena. This will be evaluated by multiple choice and essay tests. 2. Demonstrate an appreciation of the different ways in which people express their understanding of the human condition. To meet student outcome #2, students will explore social behavior in the context of gender, race/ethnicity, and social economic status. This will be evaluated by multiple choice and essay tests and papers. 3. Understand your responsibilities and choices as related to spatial, temporal, behavioral, cultural and/or institutional contexts. To meet student outcome #3, students will study social behavior in a variety of contexts and examine how this information impacts them. This outcome will be evaluated by tests and a paper.
Time Requirements: It is expected that you will devote three (3) hours each week per credit hour. This is a 3-credit course, ergo, you are expected to devote nine (9) hours per week on work related to this course. Three hours will be devoted to classroom work. Classes will involve lectures, media presentations, and discussions focused on presenting and understanding the concepts relevant to social psychology. The remaining six (6) hours will be devoted to reading materials and participating in exercises selected to elucidate these aspects. Reading assignments for the semester are listed below. Lecture topics are subject to change depending on class interests. Students are expected to read the material before coming to class. Chapter Pretests (10 points per pretest, total = 120): You are required to take a pretest for each chapter. These are available on WebCT. Go to http://webct.sdstate.edu/webct/public/home.pl to log onto WebCT. Use your 7-digit Colleague ID as user ID and password. You can change your password after you log in the first time. There are 10 questions in each pretest. The pretests are available now, but must be completed before the day we begin covering the chapter in class. You may take the pretest as many times as you wish. There is no time limit. Be sure to report any problems you find. Chapter Quizzes (15 points per quiz, total = 180 points): There will be 12 weekly multiple choice exams. These will be completed outside class. They are on WebCT. There will be 15 questions for each weekly exam. The exam will be posted following the class in which we cover the material. I will post the exam that afternoon, and it will remain available until December 12 at 4:00 pm. You may take the exam only once, and it will be timed. You will have 20 minutes for the exam--this is one minute per question plus 5 minutes for the test. Be very careful not to exceed the time as the program will not report your grade in that case. If you have a problem, send me an email immediately. I am willing to work with you to overcome any problems, particularly early in the semester. WebCT sends your score to the gradebook as soon as you submit the exam. You can view your grades on your personal gradebook in WebCT at any time. NOTE: On Tuesday, October 4, the class decided to have 3 50-point essays rather than two 75-point. Exam 2 will be on November 10. Essay Exams on Lecture (75 points per exam, total = 150): There will be two in-class essay exams. These exams cover class materials and outside readings for each section. You may bring one 8x10 page with notes on the front and the back to each exam. Your scores will be posted ASAP in your personal gradebook on WebCT. Optional Final Exam: A comprehensive final exam of essay questions worth 75 points will be given on Monday, December 12, from 4:00 to 5:40. THE FINAL EXAM IS NOT REQUIRED. You may substitute your final exam grade for your lowest regular exam grade (the two highest grades will be retained). If you miss one exam, the final exam will be the makeup. If you miss more than one exam, you may take a makeup for the subsequent exam. If you have a University-excused absence, I will arrange for you to take the exam on your trip. See me at least one week before the exam to make arrangements. Projects: Two additional assignments are required over the duration of the course. These are designed to help you understand how research is conducted in social psychology and how psychology impacts everyday events. These projects are worth 50 points each or a total of 100 points. Project 1: A Critical and Methodological Evaluation of a Journal Article--50 Points--In order to understand how social psychologists conduct and report research, it is important that you learn to read and to evaluate both the ideas the authors present and the methodology that they use. Reading in a textbook or hearing a lecture about methodological issues is a cleaner, neater process than recognizing problems with research that you are reading in a journal. This assignment is designed to focus your attention on these issues. More information is found in WebCT under the Assignments icon on the Homepage. Project 2: Social Psychology in the Real World--50 Points--Psychology is both an art and a science. So far this semester we have stressed the scientific aspect of social psychology. However, not all of you will practice psychology as a science, but all will experience the application of psychology in your everyday life. The purpose of this paper is to have you examine the ways that this course is applicable to your daily life. The material that you write about may be very personal. I pledge to you that I will not reveal the contents of your paper to anyone. More information is found in WebCT under the Assignments icon on the Homepage. Attendance: The Dean of the College expects that you will attend class on a regular basis. Repeated absences will affect your grade. GRADING Your final grade will be based on a total of 550 points, 180 from the 12 chapter multiple choice exams, 150 from the two essay exams, 120 from the 12 pretests, and 100 from the additional assignments. Your grade may, but will not necessarily, be increased by class participation. Grades will be assigned on the following basis:
Grades will be posted on the WebCT as soon as possible after an exam. Conduct The University Student Conduct Policy is followed for this class. This Code is found in the Student Policies Manual available in the President’s Office, the office of every dean, the University Police Department, and at the reserve desk of Brigg's Library. An overview of the code is found at this link. The Coordinator for Judicial Affairs (Phone: 688-4738, office: Young Hall) is available to answer questions. We follow the SDSU Academic Policy. If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please inform me and make the appropriate arrangements with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). The Office of Disability Services is located in 103 Admin. To schedule an appointment call (605) 688-4504.
Last Update:
11/29/2005
Published by the
PSYCHOLOGY
DEPARTMENT, South Dakota State University
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