PSY 202: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Instructor: Connie Wolfe, Ph.D.
Office: 215 Moyer
Email: wolfe@muhlenberg.edu
Office Hours: see web page
Phone: 484-664-3686 (e-mail preferred)
Note: You are required to visit the class web page. Check often for revisions, updates, announcements, assignments, etc.
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/psychology/cwolfe/PSY202/PSY202.htm
Why Study Social
Psychology?
People's social behavior and social experiences are determined by many
causes. Social psychology is devoted to understanding what these
multiple sources of influence are and how they work. My aims for this
course are:
- to introduce you to the perspectives, topics, and methods of social
psychology;
- to help you develop an appreciation for social psychology's central
theme: the power of the situation;
- to foster your critical thinking skills in general;
- and, to help you learn to cultivate skill at analyzing complex social
events.
For our class to be an interesting and worthwhile experience,
its important that you:
-
Attend class and do all of
the assignments and readings for the days they are due.
-
Think critically about the readings and concepts: What are
their implications? What questions do they raise? Do the readings agree
with your observations or personal experience (if not, why)?
-
Be aware that class lectures and activities are meant to
supplement the text and additional readings. As such, class topics may
often overlap with reading material, but may also cover entirely unique
material. EVERYTHING, even assigned readings not covered in class, is
fair game for the course exams. You are also responsible for material
covered in classes you miss.
-
Actively participate during class. I would like for there
to be a substantial component of the course that involves active
discussions. Feel free to interrupt me, challenge me, bring interesting
examples in, and otherwise make your voice heard. Take advantage of the
opportunity to learn as much as possible and to have (intellectual) fun!
Required Readings
- Gilovich, Keltner, Nisbett
(2006). Social Psychology, 1st Edition. W.W. Norton & Company. Available in the
bookstore or via on-line sellers (try Better World Books).
-
Supplemental Readings will be posted (as
PDF files) on Blackboard or available at the library.
Optional
-
Study Guide: If the bookstore runs out of copies, request that they order it for
you. Note that some, but not all, of the Study Guide materials are available for free on the textbook's companion web site: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/psych/socialpsych/
Your Grade
OVERVIEW
Your grade will be determined by your performance on each
of the following:
- 65% Three Exams
- 30% Conformity & Obedience Response Paper, and Stereotyping & Prejudice Paper
- 5% Blog Reports
- Extra Credit - See below
*Note: You will not receive an
"A" or
equivalent on any homework assignment or paper that has more than three
grammatical, formatting, punctuation or other syntax errors. Common
errors are failing to follow assignment directions, failure to properly cite your sources,
noun-verb agreement, a confusion of "then" and "than," and failure to
use apostrophes appropriately. Proof-read and spell check everything
you hand in and work on these basic writing skills. Remember there are
writing tutors at the Writing Center who can help (as can I). If you
are working regularly with a writing tutor (or me) and I have
documentation of this, I will be more lenient.
ASSIGNMENT DETAILS
Exams (Exams 1 & 2 are worth 20% each; Exam 3 is worth 25%; 65% total)
There will be 3 exams in the course. Each exam will have 30-40
multiple choice questions and one short-answer question sampling from the topics addressed in-class,
from the textbook, and from supplementary readings and activities. You
should note that I like to ask questions that require you to apply
theories and terms. *See me ASAP
if you have a documented accommodation for extended test time.
Papers (30% total)
You will be completing
two paper assignments throughout the course. Instructions for each
assignment are (or will be) linked on the Course Schedule. The purpose of these papers is to test your
understanding of the material, but also to encourage you to engage in critical and in-depth thinking.
Blog Reports (20 possible points; 5% total)
At the beginning of the semester, you will choose two different general topic areas from the following list:
- culture & the self
- self-esteem
- cognitive dissonance
- conformity
- obedience
- cognitive biases and heuristics
- fundamental attribution error & self-fulfilling prophecy
- aggression
- altruism
- morality/justice/cooperation
- stereotyping & prejudice
For each topic area, you should search or browse through entries from the blogs listed below, and find an interesting, relevant entry that relates in some way to the material in the textbook and/or lecture. For the entry you choose, write a 1-2 page (typed, double-spaced) report explaining: 1) the most important or interesting points from the blog entry; 2) what concept(s) it addresses; and, 3) why it is interesting to you. At the end of the paper provide a reference for the blog entry formatted following these instructions linked here. You will also deliver a very brief (3-5 minute) report to the class. Papers that are well-written, coherent and accurate will be given 5 points. Reports that are well-spoken, coherent and accurate will be given 5 points. You will complete a blog report twice during the semester, for a total of 20 possible points.
Choose an entry from one of the following blogs:
Extra Credit
From any source, you may obtain a maximum of 3 percentage
points of extra credit. These percentage points will be added to your final course grade. I will inform you of extra credit opportunities
available to you as they arise (e.g., relevant talks on campus, etc.).
Throughout the semester, however, you may also obtain extra credit by
participating in the same studies the Introductory Psychology students
participate in for L.O.C. credit. You will receive one-quarter of a
percentage point added to your final grade in this course for each 20
minutes worth of research credit you participate in. To
obtain
this extra credit, you must turn in the same L.O.C. documentation
required for the Introductory Psychology students (including the
answers to the questions for each study). For information
about the L.O.C. requirement and to download the proper forms, visit http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/psychology/loc.htm
Course Grades
will be assigned as follows:
Extraordinary work: A+ (98-100%); A (93-97%); A- (90-92%)
Good work: B+ (88-89%); B (83-87%); B- (80-82%)
Satisfactory work: C+ (78-79%); C (73-77%); C- (70-72%)
Poor work: D (60-69%); F (<60%)
OTHER IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
Email and Class Web site
You are responsible for maintaining a functioning
email account - preferably the account the college provided to you.
Check your email often. If you wish to send me email, please
note that I have spam-protection software which may automatically
delete your message if you are using a domain other than muhlenberg.edu.
Note: You must also check the class web site
regularly for schedule revisions, assignments, etc. (http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/psychology/cwolfe/PSY202/PSY202.htm)
Sustainability Practices
I
encourage you to print all assignments or readings double-sided or print
on
the back of scrap paper. I encourage you
to use whatever practices you can to reduce the amount of paper used on
campus. Please also remember to recycle discarded paper AND to consider
placing usable, one-sided discards in a scrap pile next to public
printers so that others may also re-use paper. The printers in Moyer
Hall may be loaded with scrap paper already; this practice is
encouraged. Also note that Muhlenberg now uses single-stream recycling. Thus, you can put cans, bottles, and paper in any recycling bin you see.
Teaching Philosophy
I want you to learn about psychology, and grow to love learning. I'll
do my best to facilitate that. Please remember, however, that how much
you get out of this class (or any class), is largely up to you. With
respect to grading and assignments, I try to treat students fairly and
provide as much information as I can regarding grading criteria,
expectations and deadlines. However, I am also very strict regarding
these issues. I will do my best to assist you but you must alert me to
potential problems early on and stick to any alternate plans we make.
I’m happy to discuss ideas, or review outlines or drafts for
any assignment. I’m also happy to help you prepare for tests
or double check your understanding of the material. However, please
remember I can be much more flexible if you discuss problems with me
before an assignment is due - not after. Please keep me informed of
ways I can help you get as much as you would like to out of this class.
I’d like this class to be a positive experience for each of
you!
Late Assignment Policy
-
Assignments are due at the
beginning of our class meeting on the due date. After that point, the
clock starts at 1 day late.
-
Except in the case of documented
emergency situations:
-
Your grade will be lowered by 1 letter grade each day a response paper is late.
-
I will not give credit for any assignment more than 5 days late.
-
Missing any quiz, exam, or in-class presentation
appearance will result in a zero for that assignment.
- If you have a documented emergency and
you contact me as soon as humanly possible about a missed test, you
will be allowed to take a (different and more difficult) make-up during
finals week. Also, contact me immediately about missed assignments and
we will make arrangements.
- "A Virus Ate My Homework” ~ "My Internet
is Broken"
Computer problems do not relieve your responsibility for turning in
work on time. I suggest that you aim to have each assignment completed
one full day before it is due to allow for all the various last minute
problems that may arise. Note: Pen drives fail (really,
they do). Make back-ups of all your work. Also - please note that the
computers in Moyer Hall are not regularly monitored by the OIT staff (as
are other computer labs on campus). As such, there is no guarantee that
any computer or printer will be working when you need it to! Leave
plenty of time to make a run to Ettinger or the library to print
Power Point slides or assignments. Now you know.
Academic Honesty
- I encourage you to
talk to me about difficulties you are having with the exams or
assignments. Avoid the temptation to cheat by keeping up with your
coursework, by anticipating problems and by communicating with me about
any problems you are having. I will be happy to help you learn how to
properly cite sources, etc., and I remind you that extensions may be
available if you ask (in a timely fashion). You are expected to know
and follow the Academic Behavior Code of Muhlenberg College (http://www.muhlenberg.edu/mgt/deanst/handbook/Iabc2.pdf). You
are responsible for keeping drafts, references, disk and backup copies
of all of your written assignments until final grades are
completed. Any cheating will be reported to the Dean, and
strictly dealt with via a failing grade on the exam, assignment, or a
failing grade for the course depending on the severity of the
infraction.
-
All work in this class should be your own work. You should
note that paraphrasing is not
an appropriate way to use sources in a paper. Even some types of
paraphrasing you may have been told were acceptable in other courses
are not acceptable here. You are required to follow
the guidelines about paraphrasing described at the following web site: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/psychology/paraphrasing.htm.
Feel free to ask me if you are uncertain how to use your sources. If
you engage in inappropriate paraphrasing, you will have to re-write the
assignment or your grade on the assignment will be lowered by 2 letter
grades. You will not be allowed to re-write the final paper, so inappropriate paraphrasing will result in an automatic 2 letter grade deduction. Note: persistent and egregious patterns of inappropriate paraphrasing will be reported to the Dean of Students as academic dishonesty (plagiarism).
Personal Reactions to
Topics
Sometimes certain material covered in a psychology class can bring up
personal feelings and reactions you may want to talk over with an
objective and sympathetic listener. If this is the case, you may want
to contact one of the counselors on campus by calling 484-664-3178.
Classroom Needs
If you have any specific needs (e.g. related to vision, hearing,
learning, or medical conditions, etc.) or any religious or cultural
practices that I can help accommodate, please let me know by the second
week of class so I can make the appropriate arrangements. In
particular, if you feel you may need an accommodation based on the
impact of a disability should contact me the first week of class to
privately discuss your specific needs. You should also contact The
Office of Academic Support Services (x3433). Remember, you need to tell
me what you need and give me reminders in enough time to arrange it.
I’d like to make this class one in which everyone can learn
and develop a passion for psychology!