SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
(PSYC 440 -01):
Fall 2005
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10:00am-10:50am
Bowman Hall Room 315
Office Hours: WF 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
TR 9:00 am - 10:00 am
(or any other time if I am in my office and free)
Office: 215 Bowman Hall
Phone: Office: 828-5438
Home: (to be used judiciously): 828-0486
e-mail: rcyoung@bridgewater.edu
website: http://www.bridgewater.edu/~rcyoung/
Final Exam Date & Time: Saturday, December 12th, 2005 from 10:30am – 12:30 am
Required Text: Baron, R. A., Byrne, D., & Branscombe, N.R. (2006). Social Psychology, 11th Ed.
Allyn & Bacon
Course Objectives: The purpose of this course is threefold: 1) to explore the core aspects of social psychology as a field of empirical inquiry, 2) to examine theories, explanations, and specific studies of social psychological phenomena in a critical manner and 3) to prepare you for a possible future in the realm of social psychology.
Assignments: Three (3) non-cumulative exams during the semester and one (1) cumulative exam given during the scheduled final exam period will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the material. One (1) 5-10 page paper proposing a research project will enable you to become more familiar with the research process and may inspire an actual research project for the future. One 7-10 page original paper will give you the opportunity to apply your knowledge of social psychology in thought provoking and creative ways. Lastly, one (1) reaction paper will give you a chance to apply concepts from class to a selected movie and/or TV shows.
Evaluation:
Point Earning Opportunity Date Number of Points Possible
Reaction Paper (Remember the Titans) 9/21/05 10
Exam #1 9/23/05 100
Exam #2 10/19/05 100
Research Paper Due 11/04/05 100
Exam #3 11/14/05 100
Application Paper Due 12/02/05 100
Exam #4 (Final Exam Date) 12/12/05 100
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Total Points 610
Determination
of your Final Grade:
Your
final grade will be determined by the number of points you earn in the course.
Grade
Breakdown
Grade % of points received #
of points received
A
92.5%
or better 565 or better
A- 89.5
- 92.4% 546 - 564
B+ 86.5
- 89.4% 528 - 545
B 82.5
- 86.4% 504 - 527
B- 79.5
- 82.4% 485 - 503
C+ 76.5
- 79.4% 467 - 484
C 72.5
- 76.4% 443 - 466
D- 59.5
- 62.4% 363 - 381
-The four
(4) exams you take in for this course will be worth 100 points each. The final
is a partially cumulative exam.
-No one will
be admitted to any exam after the first person has completed his/her work.
-Make-up exams will be given only due to EXTRAORDINARY circumstances.
- Students
missing exams due to athletic events or other approved performances will be
given the exam at a special time. All
students who will miss a class for athletics, etc… MUST tell me of their
absences in advance!
If you miss
an exam for an invalid (or undocumented) reason, you will receive a 0 for that
exam. Accepted documentation includes doctor’s notes, funeral notices, etc. In
exceptional cases, with fair warning, I may choose to give a student an exam
earlier than its scheduled date.
Classroom
Policies
1)
Academic Dishonesty Policy:
Just so that we are all
clear, Academic dishonesty will NOT be tolerated! Students must work
individually on all writing assignments and exams. All written work MUST be your own. This means you are not to copy
ideas from other students or sources (including the internet). This also means you should not discuss your
ideas with other students to prevent the appearance of impropriety, nor should
you have fellow students give you feedback on your ideas. If you want
constructive criticism, you should get a draft to me or meet with me before the
due date. All cases of academic
dishonesty (e.g., cheating on an exam, plagiarizing sources) will result in an
honor council hearing.
2)
Attendance and Participation Expectations:
Attendance
at all of my classes is expected (and to your benefit!) Students who miss class
are
responsible for all material covered in that class. As you are all adults, you
can make your own decision about attending, but without fail, students who miss
any of my classes perform more poorly on the exams! Ignorance of class material
or of changes to this syllabus covered in class is NOT a valid excuse for
anything. I expect my class to be
energetic and full of participation. I
will do my part, but you should do yours as well, including reading that
assigned material prior to class so that you can answer my questions and raise
your own.
3)
Written work policy:
All written
work must be typed and must meet the following guidelines:
1 inch
margins all the way around
12-point
font
Double-spaced
Left-margin
justified
Stapled
(please do NOT use any plastic covers)
Any violation of these simple rules
will cost you 5 points on the assignment.
Note: This syllabus is subject to change!
Any changes will be announced in class
SCHEDULE
Week
& Dates Topics Readings
1)
8/31, 9/2, Love
& Interpersonal Attraction Ch. 8 & Ch. 7
2)
9/5, 9/7, 9/9 Attraction
& Misattribution of Arousal Ch
8. & Ch. 7
3) 9/12, 9/14, 9/16 Prejudice,Stereotypes & Stereotype Threat Ch. 6
4) (9/19 - No Class: Evening Movie), 9/21, 9/23
Review Session in class: 9/21
Reaction Paper due 9/21
**********EXAM
#1 9/23**********
5) 9/26, 9/28, 9/30 The Lewian Approach & Social Influence Ch. 9
6) 10/3, 10/5, 10/7 Social Influence (cont.) & Groups Ch. 9
7) (10/10- No Class: Fall Break), 10/12, 10/14 Deindividuation, Bystander Behavior , Ch. 10
Social Loafing, Group Think & Ch. 12
8) 10/17, 10/19, 10/21 Attitudes & Behavior Ch. 4
Review Session: in class 10/17
**********EXAM
#2 10/19**********
9) 10/24, 10/26, 10/28 Attitude Change & Persuasion; Ch. 4
Cognitive Dissonance
10) 10/31, 11/2, 11/4 Social Perception & Attributions; Ch. 2
Research Paper Due 11/4
11) 11/7, 11/9, 11/11 Attribution Errors Ch. 2
12) 11/14, 11/16, (11/18 – No Class Evening Movie) Social Cognition Ch. 3
**********EXAM
#3 11/14**********
13) 11/21, (11/23, 11/25 – No Class: Thanksgiving) Discuss Movie Application Paper
14) 11/28, 11/30, 12/2 Social Cognition & The Self Ch. 5
15) 12/5, 12/7 Wrap-Up & Course Evals
Final Exam (Exam #4): SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12th @ 10:30 am