PSYCHOLOGY 310 -
003
SOCIAL
PSYCHOLOGY
Spring 2008 TR -- 8:00 9:15
Office Location:
Office Hours: Tue. Thur. 11:00 am 12:00 noon
Friday 9:00 am
11:00 am
And
by appointment
Phone: 953-6785
E-mail: spicercv@cofc.edu
Required Textbook:
Myers,
David G. (2008). Social Psychology
(9th ed.).
This course is an introductory level survey of the major
classic and contemporary theories and research in social psychology. One
definition of social psychology is that it represents "an attempt to
understand and explain how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individuals
are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others" (Allport, 1985). Defined more broadly, social psychologists
study social behavior (i.e., how individuals think of themselves and others,
how they influence one another and how they relate to each other). Correlational and especially experimental
studies are the means through which social psychologists learn about social
behavior. Thus, you can expect much of the content of this course to concern
research studies of social behavior.
The class meetings will consist of lectures,
discussions, and demonstrations. The lectures basically will be coordinated
with the reading assignments. Sometimes the most important information for a
given topic will be presented in lecture and at other times key information
will be presented in the textbook. Therefore, both attending the lectures and
keeping up on the reading assignments will be essential for adequate
performance in the course.
Students
are expected to attend all regularly scheduled classes. More than two unexcused absences may result
in the student being dropped from the class.
PREREQUISITE
Students must have
completed Psychology 103 (Introduction to Psychological Science).
Exams:
Five exams will be given over the course of the semester. Each exam will
include objective and/or essay questions. The exam questions will be based on
material covered both in reading assignments and in lectures. Each exam will be
worth 100 points.
Make-up
examinations: If you know that you are going to miss an exam, you must
contact the instructor to make arrangements to take the exam before the
scheduled time of the exam. If you miss
an exam due to other reasons such as illness, you must deliver to the
instructor a written medical excuse signed by a physician on official
stationary. Only students who miss an
exam and have excusable reasons that can be documented (e.g., a doctor's
official stationary) will be allowed to take an alternative version of the exam
(of equal length and difficulty to the regularly scheduled exam).
Written Papers: You
will write one paper for this course on a topic that you select from the list
below. You will choose a topic from the list then go to the library and copy
three (3) research articles from peer-reviewed journals, related
to your topic and published since 1998. Each article must have a Method section,
a Participants/Subjects section, and a Results section. You will read the
articles and write a paper based on what you have read. Articles not of a
social psychological nature are not acceptable.
Within
your paper you are to first define the topic or phenomenon you have chosen.
Additionally, you will provide a clear representation of the problem (s)
investigated, the hypothesis/hypotheses tested, the method (s) of data
collection, the characteristics of the sample (s), a clear representation of
the findings and a clear representation/explanation of your thoughts about the
findings and the article. The above should be completed separately for each
article.
Your
paper will be worth a maximum of 100 points. Highly thoughtful, well-written,
and informative papers will be given a score of 90-100. Papers that are very
good, according to the criteria just listed, will be given a score of 80-89.
Satisfactory papers will be given a score of 70-79, papers that leave quite a
bit to be desired will be given a score of 60-69, and unsatisfactory papers
will be given a score of 59 or less. Any
evidence of plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment.
The
paper assignment is being used in this course for three significant reasons.
First, it will provide students with practice at academic writing. Second, it
also will provide an opportunity for students to read more in depth about a
topic of their interest. Finally, the
thought and effort required for completion of the paper will help students
better learn, understand, and appreciate the applicability of topics covered in
the course.
The due date for the paper is March 27th. Papers will be turned in at the beginning of
class on the due date. Late papers
will not be accepted and the student will earn zero credit for the assignment.
In the case of an excused absence that is
unanticipated (e.g., sudden, extreme illness), the instructor will determine
the time and day that the work must be completed. In all cases of excused
absences that are planned (e.g., college sponsored trips), assignments must be
turned in prior to the absence.
TOPICS FOR PSYCHOLOGY 310 PAPER
1. Locus of
Control 13.
Racism
2. Learned
Helplessness 14. Sexism
3. Social
Loafing 15. Stereotypes
4. Fundamental
Attribution Error 16. Stereotype Threat
5. Social Facilitation 17. Self-Concept
6. Cognitive Dissonance 18.
Frustration
7. Obedience
19. Self-fulfilling
Prophecy
8. Conformity 20.
The Just World Phenomenon
9. Persuasion 21.
Self-Esteem
10. Self-handicapping 22.
Bystander Effect/Apathy
11. Groupthink 23. Aggression in Humans
12. Eyewitness
Testimony 24.
Altruism/Helping Behavior
Students may earn up to 600 regular points.
Exam I - 100 points
Exam II - 100 points
Exam III - 100 points
Exam IV - 100 points
Written Paper -
100 points
Final grades for the course (Old system) New System
C- = 70
72 1.7
D+ = 67
69 1.3
D = 63
66 1.0
D- = 60
62 0.7
F = 59
or less 0.0
If there is a student in this
class who has a documented disability and has been approved to receive
accommodations through SNAP Services, please feel free to come and discuss this
with me during my office hours.
General Internet Resources for Social Psychology
www.socialpsychology.org/
·
The Social
Psychology Network, maintained by Scott Pious at
www.wesleyan.edu/spn/expts.htm
·
This site allows
users to participate in current online social psychology experiments (e.g.. interpersonal relations and social perception) being
conducted around the world. This site provides a great opportunity for students
to learn about and take part in social psychology research.
www.gasou.edu/psychweb/resource/bytopic.htm#io
·
This site maintains
lists of articles related to psychology, psychology departments on the web,
psychology journals on the web, and other megalists
of psychology resources.
www.apa.org/students/brochure
·
This site,
maintained by APA, discusses career options in psychology and provides
suggestions for high school, college and graduate students on preparing for a
psychology career.
(Subject to modification)
WEEK OF TOPIC CHAPTER
January 7 Introducing Social
Psychology Chapter
1
January 14 The
Self in a Social World Chapter
2
January 21 Social Beliefs and Judgments Chapter
3
January 28 EXAM I: Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Behavior
and Attitudes Chapter
4
February 4 Behavior and Attitudes Chapter
4
Conformity Chapter 6
When/why/who conforms? Classic studies (Ash and Milgram)
February 11 Conformity Chapter
6
Persuasion Chapter
7
Factors that influence
(who/what/how, to whom).
Principles of persuasion
February 18 Persuasion Chapter
7
EXAM
II: Chapters 4, 6, and 7
February 25 Group Influence Chapter
8
What is a group? Soc. facilitation/loafing; Group
polarization/think
March 3 NO
CLASSES: SPRING BREAK
March 10 Prejudice: Disliking Others Chapter 9
March 17 Aggression: Hurting Others Chapter
10
What is it? Theories of; Influences of; Reducing aggression
March 24 Attraction and Intimacy: Liking and Loving Others Chapter 11
Friendship (things that influence); love (Types);
Ending relationships
****Paper Due Date: March 27, 2008 at the start of class.
March 31 Helping Chapter
12
LAST DAY OF CLASS: April 23rd (Wenesday)