Psychology 331 Introduction to Social Psychology Spring 2006 Instructor: Dr. Lora E. Park E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (716) 645-3650 ext. 342 Office: 344 Park Hall Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:15am-12:15pm, or by appointment Time of Course: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30-10:50am, 114 Hochstetter Hall Teaching Assistants: Chris Bartak Office: Park Hall Phone (716) 645-3650 E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: Wednesdays 10am-12pm in 306 Park Hall Erika Braun E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (716) 698-3320 Office Hours: Mondays 12:45-2:45pm in 282 Park Hall Required Text: Baron, R. A., Byrne, D., & Branscombe, N. R. (2006). Social Psychology (11th edition). New York: Allyn & Bacon. Websites: http://www.mypsychlab.com - Course website (Course ID: park07904) This website will give you valuable access to practice exam questions, interactive demos pertaining to topics covered in lecture and the text, video clips of relevant topics, and more. See last page of syllabus for instructions on how to access this website Course Objectives: Social Psychology is the study of how people’s attitudes, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the social environment. The major objectives of this course are: 1) to demonstrate the powerful influence that the situation has on people’s attitudes, feelings, and behaviors; 2) to present and evaluate the major theories and research findings in social psychology; 3) to discuss how social psychological research can be applied to real-life events and important social issues.Course Details Role of Teaching Assistants The teaching assistants are here to help you. If you have any questions about the course material, questions about your grades or exams, or any other course-related concerns, please contact one of the teaching assistants or make a point to attend office hours. Course Requirements and Grading Exams. There will be 3 exams. The exams will not be cumulative. Chapters and material that will be covered on each exam are listed in the syllabus. Each exam will contain 50 multiple choice questions. Exams will be given on February 14, March 23, and April 27. (50 points each) Final Grades. Total Points = 150. Final grades will be computed by summing your scores across all of the assignments. The grade distribution is as follows: 141 – 150 = A 131 – 134 = B+ 116 – 119 = C+ 101 – 104 = D+ 135 – 140 = A- 125 – 130 = B 110 – 115 = C 90 – 100 = D 120 – 124 = B- 105 – 109 = C- 0 – 89 = F Makeup Exams As a general policy, there will be no makeup exams given unless under extreme circumstances beyond your control. In all cases, you must provide written documentation of the reason for missing the exam. Documentation of the reason for your absence must be presented within one week of the exam to the instructor. Delays beyond one week will result in the loss of one letter grade per day. If your excuse for missing an exam is approved by the instructor, you will be informed of this and will then need to contact one of the teaching assistants to schedule a makeup exam which may be in a different format than the original exam (e.g., essay format). Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Any student enrolled in PSY 331 who has a documented disability and who wishes to discuss academic accommodations should contact the course instructor during the first week of class. Students also should contact the Office of Disability Services, 25 Capen Hall, phone 645-2680. Students who qualify for special accommodations for exams must provide notice directly to the instructor at least one week in advance and are responsible for scheduling their examinations at the same time as the rest of the class. Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism) will not be tolerated. Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will be immediately brought to the academic affairs office. Please be attentive to such issues when you are taking exams for this class.Grading Issues Grades for each exam will be posted online within a week of the exam date. After the return of each exam, you will have two weeks to go over your exam with your teaching assistant if you wish. If you have a dispute with the way your exam was graded, a written explanation of why your answer is the correct answer (and why the given answer is incorrect) must be submitted within one week of the exam to the instructor who will make the final decision. PSY 331 versus PSY 224 PSY 331 was previously listed as PSY 224. Students who have taken PSY 224 and take this class will be considered repeating the class. They will not receive additional credits for this class. Standard university repeat policy will be applied and the second class grade will be the one calculated in students’ GPA. Incomplete Grades As stated in the Undergraduate Catalog, a grade of incomplete (“I”) may only be given to students who have not completed all of the assigned work in a course if: 1) they have a passing average, and 2) there exists a well-defined means by which the course requirements can be completed. The grade of “I” must be removed within a period of fifteen months. Students may not re-register for a course in which they have a grade of Incomplete. For more information, please see the Undergraduate Catalog or ask your instructor.CLASS SCHEDULE (Note: This schedule may be subject to revision.) Part 1: Introduction to Social Psychology and Social Thinking Day Class Discussion Assigned Reading 1/17 Introduction to Social Psychology Chapter 1 1/19 Intro to Social Psychology and Research Methods Chapter 1 cont. 1/24 Social Cognition Chapter 2 1/26 Social Perception (guest lecture) Chapter 3 1/31 Social Perception Chapter 3 cont. 2/2 The Self Chapter 5 2/7 The Self Chapter 5 cont. 2/9 Social Psychology and Health Module A (pp. 519-534) 2/14 EXAM 1 Part 2: Social Influence: Attitudes, Conformity, and Group Processes Day Class Discussion Assigned Reading 2/16 Attitudes Chapter 4 2/21 Attitudes Chapter 4 cont. 2/23 Social Influence Chapter 9 2/28 Social Influence Chapter 9 cont. 3/2 Groups Chapter 12 3/7