General Psychology

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION               

 

Psychology 110 is an introductory course in general psychology designed to cover the breadth rather than the depth of the field of psychology.  Several topic areas will be covered including, but not limited to, History, Learning and Memory, Sensation and Perception, Social bases of behaviors and the Biological bases of behavior.  Thus, an integrated framework of the science of psychology will be explored and will allow the student to become a critical consumer of psychological information.  In addition, the thinking skills developed during the course are designed to aid the student outside the classroom as well as in other courses.

 

Instructor:        Doug L. Pruitt           

Office:             Rosenthal Hall “P”

Phone:            (270) 534-3279

E-mail:            DouglasL.Pruitt@kctcs.edu

 

 

Prerequisites/Corequisites: None

 

GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

By the end of the course the student will:

 

1. Gain an understanding of the major schools and systems of psychology

2. Be able to identify the assumptions, goals and methods of psychological research

3. Demonstrate an understanding of the nervous and endocrine systems and their role in behavior

4. Be able to describe the basic processes of sensation, perception, learning, memory, motivation and emotion

5. Describe the effects of the social environment on behavior

6. Demonstrate an improved ability to think critically about issues of concern to contemporary psychologists

 

COURSE REQUIREMENT, EVALUATION PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

 

Required text: Wood and Wood, "The World of Psychology", Fourth Edition, Allyn and Bacon, 2002.

 

COURSE INSTRUCTION

 

As a Web based course, the modes of instruction will include textbook, interactive Website through Allyn and Bacon, e-mail, and Web site.  Opportunities for discussion are built into the Web site in the conferencing area.  Use of the conferencing area is expected, this will enhance both the understanding and enjoyment of course material.

 

Questions and/or comments from the student are expected and encouraged.  Because of the introductory nature of the course, all questions or comments will have merit.

 

If students have any difficulty accessing the Web site or any questions regarding how to use the Web site, you are encouraged to e-mail or telephone the instructor as soon as possible.  There may be times when the server goes down and students will need to communicate with the instructor outside of Web site access.

 

GRADING

 

1.  Grades will be computed from an accumulation of test scores, and written assignments.

 

2.  The grading scale for the course will be as follows:

 

90%                A

80%                B

70%                C

60%                D

Below 60%    E

 

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Because attendance is not a factor, the student is expected to create a minimum of sixteen contacts during the semester.  Contacts are defined as any e-mail communication with the instructor, questions or answers posted in the conferencing area, and telephone calls to the instructor.  Extra credit points will be possible for additional contacts.  This is explained further in the "Grading" section of the syllabus.

 

Each student is responsible for obtaining knowledge of all assignments and any materials that have been posted on the Web site.

 

EXAMINATIONS

 

Four multiple choice examinations will be given during the semester.  Each exam will be designed to discriminate between individual student abilities on recall, application, and critical thinking involving the assigned subject matter.  It will be necessary to come on campus to take examinations.  The exam schedule and location are posted on this website.  If you have any concern about an upcoming exam or need to schedule a different time, you need to call or e-mail the instructor prior to the examination date.

 

Every student enrolled in this course is responsible for all tests given.  Absence during an assigned testing period does not automatically qualify for a make up examination. Students are responsible for scheduling a make up examination (if eligible) at the instructor's convenience.  Make up examinations will be alternate tests that will include both multiple choice and essay questions.  They are to be scheduled by the student at the convenience of the instructor.

 

Quizzes may also be given periodically to ascertain if the students have kept up with reading and to offer students the opportunity to determine if they are understanding the material prior to a Unit exam. The quizzes may or may not be graded.  There will be NO make up quizzes.  There are also practice tests on the interactive web-site offered through Allyn and Bacon.

 

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

 

1. Written assignments will comprise 20% of your final grade. It will include at least one article summary and opinion paper.  In addition, two "media" assignments will make up part of the 20% total.

 

A separate instruction link is provided outlining detailed requirements.  Each written assignment will be worth 15 points toward the final semester grade.  Two points will be deducted each week for late papers as well as papers that are not typed. The instructions for the written assignments are in the WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT heading on the website.

 

GRADING

 

Grades will be computed from an accumulation of unit test scores, written assignments, and extra credit points.  A simple percentage will be calculated by dividing the number of points obtained by the number of points possible.  This method will be used for both individual tests and the overall grade for the semester.  Tests may or may not be curved dependent upon the class performance (i.e., if one or more students obtains a perfect score on an exam, the exam will have no curve).

 

Five additional points may be added to the student's final grade related to contacts as discussed in the "attendance" section earlier.  For each five additional contacts logged in the conference area of the Web site, phone calls, or e-mail messages, the student will earn one extra credit point up to a total of five points for the semester. 

 

GENERAL EDUCATION AND COURSE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

 

1. WRITING:   To communicate effectively using standard  written English.

Writing assignments are required for the successful completion of this course.

 

2.  READING:  To understand, analyze, summarize and interpret a variety of reading materials. Students will fulfill this competency by reading their textbooks and any supplemental reading materials on reserve in MLRC Library or posted on the website.

 

3.  INTEGRATED LEARNING:  To think critically and make connections in Learning across the disciplines. The student will fulfill this competency by using critical thinking skills when they analyze problems on examination, review current research, and form their own opinions.  Examinations and written assignments will be assessed for cognition, analysis, and synthesis.

 

4.  CREATIVE THINKING:  To elaborate upon knowledge – developing thoughts, processes and/or products that are new to the student.  Students will fulfill this competency by demonstrating the ability to evaluate psychological issues and reach conclusions by their exam performance and also by their contributions to topics for class discussion.

 

5.  ETHICS/VALUES:  To demonstrate an awareness of ethical considerations in making value choices.

Academic offenses such as cheating, plagiarism are described in the course syllabus.  Students will become aware of the different origins of culture, ethics and values through reading material, and test items.

 

6.  SOCIAL INTERACTION:  To demonstrate an awareness of self as an individual, as a member of a multicultural society, and/or as a member of the world community.  This competency will be fulfilled by reading and discussing the material in the textbook relating to the individual influences of family and society.

 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

 

The student may officially withdraw from class up to and including the date posted on the college calendar with a “W” grade.  When withdrawing prior to the posted date, this may be accomplished through the use of an e-mail message.  Please check the college calendar for these dates at the beginning of the semester.

 

SPECIAL EXAMINATION:

 

A student may take a special examination if he/she appears to have sufficient background knowledge in the field.  The minimum passing point for the special examination is 75%.  A grade of Pass/Fail will be assigned.  Examination may only be taken at the discretion of the instructor.  At no time will a student qualify to sit for the challenge examination merely because they have completed a high school course in psychology.

 

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE 

 

UNIT ONE

 

I.          What is Psychology?           

A.        Introduction and the importance of critical thinking

B.        Historical perspectives on psychology

C.        Psychological Methods

 

II.          Physiological Psychology

A.        Neurons and how they communicate

B.        The central nervous system

C.        The endocrine system

 

UNIT TWO

 

III.         Sensation and Perception

A.        The senses and how they work

B.        How we perceive the world

 

IV.        Learning

A.        Classical Conditioning

B.        Operant Conditioning

 

 

UNIT THREE

 

V.        Memory

A.        Remembering (recall vs. recognition)

B.        Models of memory

C.        Forgetting

 

VI.        Intelligence Testing

A.        Intelligence and its measurement

 

UNIT FOUR

 

IX. Personality

A. Motivation & Emotion

B. Psychological Disorders

C. Human Sexuality

 

MAKE-UP EXAMS  

 

Students are responsible for ALL tests given.  Make-up examinations will be given only under EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.  Documentation of exceptional circumstances will be required if the student is to be given a make-up exam.  The student is responsible for scheduling a make-up examination at the instructor's convenience.

 

PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED STUDENTS:

 

Every effort will be made to ensure classroom and laboratory accessibility for all students.  For maximum assistance all students requiring special classroom accommodations due to a verified disability should contact the Disability Resource Office at least two weeks prior to the first day of class.  Once documentation is complete, they must contact faculty to discuss and agree upon reasonable accommodations for the class.  The ADA accommodation form will be forwarded to the faculty within one week of receipt in the Disability Resource Office.

For more information, contact Gail Ridgeway at (270) 534-3406.

 

THE KCTCS CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT is in effect for this class.

 

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) faculty and students are bound by principles of truth and honesty that are recognized as fundamental for a community of teachers and scholars.  The college expects students and faculty to honor, and faculty to enforce, these academic principles.  The college affirms that it will not tolerate academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, violation of academic rights of students and student offenses.

 

Students may refer to the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct, Article II for more information on academic rights, academic offenses, and the student's right to appeal.

 

PLAGIARISM

 

“To take and pass off as one's own ideas, writings, etc. of another”

 

Cheating or plagiarizing can take many forms on the college campus.  Beginning college students frequently are not fully aware of what is considered plagiarism.  For this reason, the following list has been drawn up.

 

1.         Examinations

 

A.        Copying answers from another student.

B.        Bringing notes, etc. to class.

C.        Asking someone for the answers to test questions.

 

2.         Written Assignments

 

A.        Copying from books or magazines without quotation marks.

B.        Copying passages from books, altering a word here or there.

C.        Having someone else write the paper for you.

D.        Copying a paper someone else has written in the past.

E.        Rewording the exact same idea found in a book or magazine.

 

The student who seeks this type of help, as well as the student who knowingly gives this kind of help, is guilty of plagiarism and will receive zero credit points for the examination or paper.