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Course Syllabus
Course Information
Course number: PSY 3331.501 www.turnitin.com
Course title: SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Class ID: 3373840
Term: FALL 2010 Password: SITUATION
Meeting times: Tuesdays 7-9:45pm, GR 4.428
Course Description
This course presents an introduction to the field of social psychology. We will examine theory and research
as well as practical applications to social problems. In addition to learning how social psychologists do research, we
will learn about how we think about the social world, how we come to understand other people and ourselves, self-
justification and the need to maintain self-esteem, influencing thoughts and feelings, influencing behavior, influence
in social groups, interpersonal attraction, why people help, why people hurt other people, and causes and cures of
prejudice. Special attention will be paid to what social psychology can offer to the solving of social problems in
these areas and in the areas of health-related behavior and beliefs and the law.
This course is appropriate for students interested in psychology, the health professions, law, political science,
business, advertising, human services, education, communications, gender studies/women's studies, history, public
administration, and sociology—essentially, this course will be interesting to all who are or live among human
beings. Course requirements will include class attendance and participation, exams, and multiple writing
assignments. Satisfies the Core Curriculum Social and Behavioral Science requirement.
IMPORTANT: I want to help you do well in this class! To get the most benefit from your time in this class, read
the material to be discussed before we discuss it in class. You will find classes to be much more interesting and
involving if you come prepared to discuss each day's topic.
Notice that there may be times when you have more than one assignment due on a particular day. You will need to
plan ahead so that you do not fall behind.
Please do not make video and/or audio recordings of class sessions without my explicit
permission. Video and/or audio recordings of class sessions made with or without
permission may not be distributed in any way. This includes but is not limited to
postings on the internet, websites, eLearning, or email.
"Learning is not the product of teaching. Learning is the product of the activity of the learners."
—John Holt
My job is to guide your learning activity by giving you credit for engaging in the behaviors that will help you learn.
The chart below shows how the assignments will help you to achieve the course objectives:
PSY 3331
Methods of assessing achievement of objectives
AUG 31
Research methods—How do we figure out why people do what they do?
Journal entries for Chapters 1 & 2 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-1 DUE at www.turnitin.com 6pm;
Class ID: 3373840, Password: SITUATION
SEP 7
Social cognition—How we think (or more often, don’t)
Social perception—How we understand others (or more often, don’t)
Journal entries for Chapters 3 & 4 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-1 Text Entry DUE 6pm
SEP 14
7-8:15 EXAM 1 (Chs. 1-4)
Self-knowledge—How we understand ourselves (or more often, don’t)
CPR-1 Calibration & Review BEGIN 6pm
SEP 21
Self-knowledge, continued
Self-justification—How we protect ourselves from reality (whether we should or not)
Journal entries for Chapters 5 & 6 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-1 Calibration & Review DUE 6pm
SEP 28
Self-justification, continued
Social psychology and health—How does what we think affect what we feel?
Journal entry for Chapter 15 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-1 Results available; CPR-2 Text Entry BEGINS 6pm
Plagiarism tutorial Certification of Completion DUE in class
OCT 5
Attitudes and attitude change—How do we decide how we feel?
Journal entry for Chapter 7 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-2 DUE at www.turnitin.com 6pm
LAST CHANCE to turn in your plagiarism tutorial Certification of Completion
OCT 12
7-8:15 EXAM 2 (Chs. 5, 6, 15, 7)
Conformity and compliance—Why we go along to get along
CPR-2 Text Entry DUE 6pm
OCT 26
Group processes, continued
Social psychology and the law—How can social psych help us understand (and improve) our legal system?
Journal entry for Chapter 16 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-2 Calibration & Review DUE 6pm
NOV 2
Prejudice—Why do people hate each other?
Journal entry for Chapter 13 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-2 Results available; CPR-3 Text Entry BEGINS 6pm
NOV 9
7-8:15 EXAM 3 (Chs. 8, 9, 16, 13)
Aggression—Why do people hurt each other?
CPR-3 DUE at www.turnitin.com 6pm
NOV 16
Aggression, continued
Attraction, friendships, and relationships—Why do people like each other?
Journal entries for Chapters 12 & 10 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-3Text Entry DUE 6pm
NOV 23
Prosocial behavior—Why do people help each other?
Journal entry for Chapter 11 due in eLearning 6pm.
CPR-3 Calibration & Review BEGINS 6pm
NOV 30
7-8:15 EXAM 4 (Chs. 12, 10, 11)
Review exam
CPR-3 Calibration & Review DUE 6pm
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2: CPR-3 Results available 6pm
I want to help you be successful in this course in every way I can BEFORE the end of the semester.
After November 30, the course is over. At that point, I cannot give you extra points or additional assignments.
Midterm grades will be calculated by dividing the total number of points earned by the total possible
points that could have been earned on Exam 1 and Exam 2 [(Exam 1 raw score + Exam 2 raw
score)/100].
Because your learning is my principal concern, I may make changes to this syllabus—assignments,
exams, timelines, etc.—if it will facilitate your learning. All changes will be discussed in class.
NOTE: Please be sure to acquire missed lecture notes, assignments, handouts, and
announcements from a classmate—NOT from me. You are responsible for all
information given in class. This includes any changes to the syllabus, content and format
of exams, and details given regarding assignments. But please come see me for extra
help any time!
Application Journals
1. You will have 15 opportunities to earn up to 30 points toward your final grade by submitting, in eLearning, a
personal experience journal entry corresponding to each of the assigned readings. Each entry will
demonstrate how some event from your personal experience can be understood using a specific theory or
concept from the chapter (bold-faced “glossary” terms). BE SURE TO UNDERLINE (or italicize or in
some way clearly emphasize)THE CONCEPT (e.g., informational social influence) IN YOUR PAPER THE
FIRST TIME IT APPEARS. Important Note: Select a concept relevant to a specific MAIN IDEA of the
chapter. If you’re not sure what I mean, ask me (the term “social psychology” is much too broad to be useful
here, for example, as are “aggression” and “conformity,” but you could select the more specific terms
“instrumental aggression” or “minority influence”).
2. The goal of the journal is to provide you with an opportunity to elaborate on and apply ideas presented in the
reading. Give a real-life example of something that you read about, for example. In the process, you might
also share your reactions to the reading material, critically evaluate an issue, or relate a personal concern or
experience to course content. Journals will be graded on thoughtfulness and thoroughness, but not on the
specific views you express. The equivalent of about one-half to one full page, double-spaced, will be
sufficient—please do not write more than one page. You can receive 0-3 points per entry (0=incorrect or
incomplete; 1=complete but lacking depth or organization; 2=adequate; 3=complete, organized, and
demonstrates insight/critical thinking). The quality of your writing DOES COUNT. Please use correct
grammar and punctuation, and a clear, coherent writing style. You will lose points for failing to proof-read
(and correct!) your work. A paper with errors cannot earn more than 1 point.
3. Higher quality entries typically include critical thinking, which could incorporate any combination of the
following elements:
Identifying values, biases, and assumptions;
Analyzing arguments and counterarguments;
Analyzing the kinds and quality of evidence;
Critical thinking about research, critical writing and reading;
Drawing conclusions.
I will give you the contact information for the TAs in class—please write it down and keep it safe! You also can
email the TAs using eLearning.
Remember: You will need to complete two Research Exposure Credits for each core course
in which you are enrolled this semester.
It is your responsibility to keep track of your grades, so that you know where you stand at all times. Feel free to
verify your grades with the TA or with me, at my office (not in class), any time until the last exam. I can help you
more effectively if you check your grades in eLearning first, then come see me for any verification or clarification
(or anything else).
Journal grades:
Ch. 1 ____ Ch. 5 ____ Ch. 8 ____ Ch. 12 ____
Ch. 2 ____ Ch. 6 ____ Ch. 9 ____ Ch. 10 ____
Ch. 3 ____ Ch. 15 ____ Ch. 16 ____ Ch. 11 ____
Ch. 4 ____ Ch. 7 ____ Ch. 13 ____ ____
Accuracy in assigning and recording grades is of utmost importance. I encourage you to keep
track of your grades and let me know when you would like for me to check over the grading of
any exams or assignments within THREE WEEKS of when the grade was assigned. It
becomes much more difficult to verify your grades as time goes on, so please do not wait until
the semester is over.