Course Syllabus

DELAWARE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

TERM:  Fall 2016

 

General Psychology

 

CRN   PSY 140               Course Abbreviation – Section #30

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1. PROFESSOR CONTACT INFORMATION

 

         Instructor Name:  Dr. Rick Clifton

         Class Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00-9:25 am

         Classroom:  A210

         E-mail:  wclifton1@dccc.edu or wrclifton@gmail.com

         Office Hours:  By appointment

                

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION, COMPETENCIES & PREREQUISITES

 

        Description.  This course is a one-semester introduction to the basic principles and major theoretical approaches that are used to explain human behavior, with emphasis on understanding and application of such principles and theories as they relate to ourselves and our surroundings.      

 

   Learning outcomes.  Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

 

• Explain the nature of psychology and describe the methods used by psychologists to study behavior.
• Identify the major physiological structures involved in the study of behavior.
• Identify the principles of sensation and perception describing illustrative phenomena.
• Describe current theories of learning and thinking explaining their influence in education, life-span development and other life situations.
• Describe the major trends in explaining human emotion and motivation and how they are assessed.
• Identify the major theories of human personality and development.
• Evaluate the impact of major trends in analyzing ourselves, interpersonal and social relationships, and the origins, classification and treatment of mental disorders.
• Explain the relationship among physiology, perception, learning, cognition, motivation and personality, applying them to understanding life situations.

 

College competencies: 1, 3, 5, 7, & 10

 

Prerequisite:  Satisfactory score on the English and reading placement tests or successful completion of ENG 050 and REA 050

 

 

 

• COURSE MATERIALS

        

         Grison, S., Heaterton, T.F., & Gazzaniga, M.S. (2015). Psychology in your life, (2d ed.). NY: W.W. Norton & Co.

 

1. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 

            Eating in class:  Don’t. Bottled water, coffee/tea, and sodas are acceptable. Please clean up after yourself at the end of class.

              

1. ATTENDANCE

 

            This course meets for two 85-minute sessions each week. Successful participation in class requires you to read the assigned chapter in the text and to be prepared to discuss in class. Class attendance, therefore, is essential. I understand, however, that emergencies do happen. You are responsible for all work missed. If there is a problem, feel free to contact me to discuss it. If you have five unexcused absences, I will lower your final grade by one letter.

 

Please be aware of recent changes to the College Attendance & Withdrawal Policy.  Students who do not attend and/or log in to class during the first three weeks of class or who only attend the first day and/or log in once WILL BE ASSIGNED THE REGISTRATION CODE OF “NS” (NO SHOW) as of the 4^th week of classes.  Instructors do NOT withdraw students for non-attendance.  Students will be responsible for withdrawing themselves from their courses and may do so until the semester Student Withdrawal date (see your student handbook for information.)  Students who wish to be withdrawn from a class after the Student Withdrawal date will need to meet with the appropriate administrator.  Please refer to the Student Handbook for more details on this policy.

 

1. PLAGIARISM / ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY

 

The College regards academic dishonesty on the part of students as unacceptable behavior that could result in dismissal. Please refer to the Student Handbook for more details under “College Policies and Procedures” at http://www.dccc.edu/campus-life/helpful-links/student-handbook/college-policies-procedures

 

If you commit an act of plagiarism or academic dishonesty, you will receive a zero for that assignment.

 

• GRADES

 

                Grading criteria:

 

                                 Unit exams (three, each worth 15%)                         45%

                                 Final exam                                                                  20%

                                 Paper                                                                           25%

                                 Participation                                                               10%

 

                                 Paper:  To further appreciate and understand psychology, you will research and write a paper of 900-1500 words on a famous psychological or sociological experiment or study. The list of possible topics is attached to this syllabus. This paper is due on November 22^nd. Additionally, you will present your paper to the class on the dates indicated.

 

                     A = 90-100%; B = 80-89%; C = 70-79%; D = 60-69%; F = <59%

 

• STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

 

Delaware County Community College policy complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students requesting academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services and are responsible for picking up their accommodation letters at the beginning of each semester and presenting them to their instructors. I am available to discuss the approved accommodations that you may require in this course.  If you have any questions, contact Ann Binder, Director of Disability Services, at 610-325-2748 or by email at abinder@dccc.edu. Students on Branch Campuses can contact Jennifer Uber, Assistant Director of Disability Services, at 484-237-6251 or by email at juber1@dccc.edu.

 

1. LEARNING COMMONS

  

The Delaware County Community College Learning Commons serves as a center for students, faculty and staff in a dynamic space that supports the College’s commitment to student success.  Library Services, Writing and Tutoring Services and Technology Services are available to active students and may be accessed on a walk-in basis or by appointment.

                    

The Learning Commons locations are:

 

Marple Campus, Fourth floor of Founders Hall

Downingtown Campus, Room 218

Exton Center, Exton II, Room 234

Pennocks Bridge Campus, Room B-135

Southeast Center, Room 108

Upper Darby Center, Room 114

 

Many textbooks and course materials are available to borrow from the Learning Commons’ circulating and reserve collections.  Librarians can help you with your research, citations, and using library services.  Go to dccc.edu/library or to the Library tab in delaGATE.

                    

1. TUTORING RESOURCES

 

Students who would like tutoring or help with planning, editing or documenting written assignments can schedule a session by visiting the Learning Commons at any location.

Tutoring is usually available for subjects in Math and Biology, as well as writing-intensive courses such as Sociology, English and History.  Tutor schedules are available in the Learning Commons.

 

 

 

1. ASSESSMENT STATEMENT

 

Delaware County Community College is committed to the continuous improvement of its courses and programs.  The assessment of student learning outcomes is an essential component of that effort.  Student work in this course may be used to determine the extent to which the course competencies, program outcomes, or college academic learning goals are being met.  Student work will be used in a way that preserves the anonymity of the student.  If a student’s work is used for assessment purposes, the fact that a student’s work has been used for assessment will have no impact, positive or negative, on a student’s grade.

 

• DCCC’s Commitment to Diversity

Students are expected to show respect for their classmates, themselves, and their instructors by conducting themselves with maturity, demonstrating sincere interest in the ideas of others, and employing good manners.

 

Students are expected to show appreciation for the diversity of backgrounds and skills of their classmates.  Violations of equal educational opportunities should be reported according to procedures given in the Student Handbook.  General complaint and sexual harassment complaint procedures are detailed in the Student Handbook.

 

• IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

No part of my lecture can be recorded (audio or video) without my written permission.  If you require this particular academic accommodation, you must register with the Office of Disability Services at the beginning of each semester and then provide me with the official accommodation letter.

 

In general, cell phones, i-pods, texting devices, laptop computers, and all other electronic devices and technologies with calculation software, memories, or communication capabilities may NOT be used during testing and must be removed from the desk and put away. 

 

Cell phones in class:  Don’t. Really. Don’t. Turn off your phones or set the ringer to vibrate only. Do not text in class.

• SCHEDULE OF IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

TENTATIVE OUTLINE OF COURSE TOPICS/LEARNING ACTIVITIES     

                         Dates                          Topics                                                                                     Readings

 

30 Aug - 1 Sep            Syllabus, Course Overview                                                    Chapter 1

                                    Thinking Critically About Psychology

 

1- 13 Sep                     The Biology of Mind:                                                            Chapter 2

The Brain, Peripheral Nervous System,                   

Central Nervous System

 

13-20 Sep                    Consciousness and Dreams                                                    Chaps. 3 & 5

                       

22 Sep                        Exam 1

 

27-29 Sep                    Gender & Sexuality: Nature, Nurture, Human Diversity         Chapter 10

 

4-11 Oct                      Learning                                                                                 Chapter 6

 

13 Oct                         Exam 2

 

18 Oct                         No class – faculty inservice

 

20-25 Oct                    Memory                                                                                  Chapter 7

 

27 Oct – 3 Nov           Thinking & Intelligence                                                         Chapter 8

                       

8-15 Nov                     Motivation and Emotion                                                        Chapter 9

 

17 Nov                        Exam 3

 

22 Nov                        Self and personality                                                               Chapter 13

                                    Papers due

 

Nov. 24                       No Class: Thanksgiving Break

 

29 Nov – 8 Dec           Paper presentations

 

Dec. 12-17:                 Final exam

 

Please let me know in advance if assignment due dates conflict with religious observance. 

 

 

 

Famous psychological or sociological experiments or studies

 

Select one of these experiments/studies or find one on your own (get my approval before you start researching/writing). You must read (use Google Scholar) the original publication as part of your research. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT, NOT, NOT AN ACCEPTED SOURCE FOR YOUR RESEARCH.

 

You should use this format in both your paper and presentation: 

 

1. Background data: a short (SHORT!) biography of the researcher(s), and date and location of the experiment/study.

 

2. Research design: list the researcher(s) goals or research question(s), and the methodology used. Include a brief description of the experiment/study.

 

3. Results of the experiment/study.

 

4. Implications of the experiment/study: consider the ethical implications of the study/experiment (could we conduct this experiment today?) as well as applications to everyday life. Apply to specific situations, if possible (e.g., the effect of learned helplessness in the classroom).

 

5. Why is this experiment/study important or relevant to the study of psychology?

 

The paper must be typed and you must use APA format.

 

 

Famous experiments or studies

 

1. Triplett's experiment on social facilitation (competition study)

 

2. LaPiere’s hospitality study

 

3. Henri Tajfel’s minimal group paradigm study

 

4. Hamilton & Gifford’s illusory correlation study

 

5. Latane and Darley’s bystander study

 

6. Phineas Gage

 

7. Seligman’s learned helplessness study

 

8. Blue eyed and brown eyed students study (Jane Elliott)

 

9. Levile’s good Samaritan study

 

10. Nisbett & Wilson’s pantyhose study

 

11. Nisbett & Wilson’s halo effect study

 

12. Little Albert study

 

13. Pavlov’s dog

 

14. Asch conformity study

 

15. Robbers cave experiment

 

16. Surrogate mother experiment

 

17. Milgram experiment

 

18. Kitty Genovese case

 

19. Stanford prison study

 

20. Bobo doll experiment

 

21. Festinger & Carlsmith’s study of cognitive dissonance

 

22. Lepper & Greene’s reward study

 

23. Stasser & Titus’ study of group decision making

 

24. Chartrand & Bargh’s chameleon effect study

 

25. Bargh et al. study on stereotypes

 

26. Huesmann et al. study on the effect of TV violence

 

27. Anderson & Bushman’s study on the effect of media violence on society

 

 

 

 

 

About your instructor

 

Dr. Rick Clifton is a retired US Army combat arms officer, former middle and high school principal, adjunct university instructor, and international educational consultant. He most recently worked as the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Defense in the Republic of Georgia and Professor of Psychology at the Georgian National Defense Academy, where he also edited the Academy’s professional journal. He spent over two years in Baghdad, Iraq, as a consultant and subject matter expert at the Iraqi National Defense University and at Baghdad University.

 

Rick holds a PhD in Psychology with a specialization in Educational Psychology, a Master of School Administration degree specializing in Educational Leadership and Curriculum & Instruction, and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science. He is also a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff College, and is a diplomate of the Defense Strategy Course.

 

He has 125 parachute jumps, is a former Georgian national backgammon bronze medalist, and has earned a second degree black belt in Shotokan karate.

 

Rick and his wife, Debbie, a Licensed Professional Counselor, live in Thorndale.