SAN JACINTO COLLEGE-CENTRAL

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 2301/ TR Classes
SPRING SEMESTER 2014
Instructor:

Professor Sherry Ash, M.A.

Email address:Sherry.Ash@sjcd.edu
Phone: 281-476-1501 X 1341
Office: C2 .218B
Office Hours: MW: 8:30-11:00 TR: 8:00-8:30, 1:15-1:45

COURSE OUTLINE
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is the first course that serves as an introduction to the discipline of psychology. It is also the first class in psychology for
students seeking degrees in academic programs. The primary objective of all introductory psychology courses is to explore the subject
matter of the field; to become familiar with broad concepts within the field of psychology; to understand the terminology and some of
the research findings upon which our knowledge of human thought and behavior is based.
The course provides a survey of the field of general psychology. Students are introduced to methodology, behavior, physiology,
learning, cognitive processes, human development, social relationships, abnormal behavior, and therapies. This course is a
prerequisite for all advanced psychology courses and applies to most degree plans transferring to other colleges and universities.
A goal of this class is to emphasize development of critical thinking skills and to better prepare you to be a more cautious and
analytical consumer of information that is proclaimed to be scientific or to be based on research.
I.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

A. Demonstrate familiarity with the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and historical trends in
psychology.
B. Understand and apply basic research methods in psychology, including research design, data analysis, and
interpretation.
C. Use critical and creative thinking, skeptical inquiry, and, when possible, the scientific approach to solve problems
related to behavior and mental processes.
II.

GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES:

A. CRITICAL THINKING: Students will develop habits of mind, allowing them to appreciate the processes by which
scholars in various disciplines organize and evaluate data and use the methodologies of each discipline to understand the
human experience.
B. COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Students will communicate ideas, express feelings and support conclusions
effectively in written, oral and visual formats.
C. EMPIRICAL & QUANTITATIVE SKILLS: Students will develop quantitative and empirical skills to understand,
analyze and explain natural, physical and social realms.
D. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: Students will develop habits of intellectual exploration, personal responsibility
and physical well being.

III.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
a. Textbook: Hockenbury and Hockenbury, (2013). Psychology 6th ed. New York: Worth..

IV.

TENTATIVE CALENDAR
a. Examination Schedule (Subject to change)
i. Test One Chapters 1,2,3- February 6
ii. Test Two- Chapters 4,5,6- March 3
iii. Test Three- Chapters 7,8,9,11- April 8
iv. Final Exam- Chapters 12, 13,14- Week of May 6
**You will need 4 Scantrons total (886-E LOVAS)

b.

Testing Information
i. All tests will be multiple-choice and short answer items that cover the material presented in the textbook and in any
class activity.
ii. IMPORTANT!!! If you miss an exam for any reason, prepare to take a comprehensive exam in place of the
final. This will count for two grades (one for the missed test).

c.

Key Dates to Remember

1. Martin Luther King Day- January 20-Campus Closure
2. Last Day to Withdraw with a W- April 10
3. Campus Community Day- February 18- NO CLASS
4. Spring Break- March 10-16
5. Article Review Due- April 10

V. Final Course Grade is computed on the following standard:

270-300 = A
Excellent
240-269 = B
Good
210-239 = C
Average
165-209 = D
Passing
Below 165 = F
Failing
VI. Points awarded as such:
4 Exams X 50= 200
14 Homework X 4 = 56 (6 points extra credit)
Article Review = 50
VII. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance is important. Regular class attendance is REQUIRED, not optional, and such is viewed as a requisite to a
comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and SUCCESS in this course. Research has shown that attendance in college
classrooms is positively correlated to grades earned.
VIII. Homework: There will be fourteen (14) homework assignments. Each assignment is a precursor to in -class lectures.
Homework will be posted on Blackboard each week. You must complete the homework and turn it in at the beginning of the class
prior to the discussion of that chapter.
IX. CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Since every student is entitled to full participation in class without interruption, all students
are expected to be in class and prepared to begin on time. All wireless phones, lap tops, or other devices that generate sound must
be turned off or silenced and placed out of sight when you enter the classroom. Disruption of class, whether by latecomers, noisy
devices, or inconsiderate behavior, will not be tolerated. Repeated violations will be penalized and may result in expulsion from
the class. Students are expected to abide by the Student Code of Conduct.

X. WITHDRAWAL POLICY: STUDENTS WISHING TO DROP COURSES MUST DROP THEMSELVES OVER THE WEB. FACULTY
WILL NOT DROP STUDENTS. Students should consult with a Counselor/Advisor before dropping courses. Students starting
college for the first time in fall 2007 or after may only receive six grades of W ( grade received from a course dropped after the
census date) from all Texas public colleges and universities attended. Grades of W in College Prep courses or courses taken while
in high school will not count in the six grades of W. After six grades of W are received, students must receive grades of A, B, C,
D, or F in all courses. There are other exemptions from the six-drop limit and students should consult with a Counselor/Advisor
before they drop courses to determine these exemptions.
XI.REPEAT RULE:If a course is subject to the repeat rule, a student may take the course two times and pay the regular tuition.
The third time, the student will be charged an additional $50.00 of tuition per credit hour for the third or subsequent time taken.
XIL.HONESTY CODE: As a student at San Jacinto College, you are expected to exhibit honesty, integrity and high standards in
your academic work. Members of the college community benefit from an open, honest educational environment. We are all
responsible to encourage and promote academic integrity, a code of moral and artistic honesty. Students should refer to the
Student Handbook for policies and procedures on Cheating and Plagiarism.

XIII.EMERGENCY CLOSURE: In the event the College needs to be closed for any situation, such as inclement weather,
students and employees should check the College website at www.sanjac.edu or call (866) 504-5853 for the most immediate
and current information. The College will also engage the emergency notification plan which sends a voicemail, text message,
and/or email to each student/employee who opt in. The College will also contact local media but the most reliable, accurate and
current information will also be found on the College website or at the toll-free number listed above. Official communications
with students is through their SJC email account. Students are encouraged to register for SJC Alert for instant notifications
regarding closures, etc.

XIV.DISABLITY STATEMENT: If you have a disability that may affect your ability to learn the material in this course, please
contact the Special Populations Director through the counseling office.

XV.COMMUNICATION: I will respond to ALL emails, texts, and voice messages I receive within 24 hrs., usually sooner. If
you do not get a reply to an email you send me, then I did not get it, or there is a problem on your end, and you need to re-send it
or call me.

XVI. TECHNOLOGY: I will be posting announcements, Power Point lectures, and grades
on Blackboard (Bb). You must have a valid email on record with SJC and check it regularly so that
dont risk missing important messages from any of your professors or administrators on campus!! If
you need assistance logging onto Bb, please see me and I will direct you accordingly.

January 14

Syllabus- Chapter 1-Theories

January 16

Ch1- Theories Hockenbury, pp 1-14

HW 1-Due

January 21

Ch1-Research - Hockenbury,pp 15-39

HW 2-Due

January 23

Ch 2- Biopsychology- Hockenbury, pp 45-61

HW 3-Due

January 28

Ch 2- Biopsychology- Hockenbury, pp 62-78

February 30

Ch 3-Sensation- Hockenbury, pp 89-100

February 4

Ch 3-Sensation-Perception, pp116-125

February 6

TEST 1

February 11

Ch 4- Consciousness, Hockenbury, pp137-149

February 13

Ch4- Consciousness, Hockenbury, pp 151-175

February 18

No Class

HW4- Due

HW5 Due

February 20

Ch 5- Learning, Hockenbury, pp 195-209

HW 6 Due

February 25

Ch 5- Learning, Hockenbury, pp 212-231

February 27

Ch 6- Memory, Hockenbury, pp 246-261

March 3

TEST 2

March 5

Ch 6- Memory, Hockenbury, pp 262-279

March 10-16

SPRING BREAK

March 18

Ch 7- Intelligence, Hockenbury, pp 312-324

HW 8 Due

March 20

Ch 8- Motivation/ Emotion, Hock. pp 333-351/361-364

HW 9 Due

March 25

Ch 9- Lifespan, Hockenbury, pp 375-391

HW 10 Due

March 27

Ch 9- Lifespan, Hockenbury, pp 392-415

April 1

Ch 11- Personality, Hockenbury, pp 457-472

April 3

Ch 11 Personality, Hockenbury 472-498

April 8

TEST 3

April 10

Ch 12- Social Psychology, Hockenbury, pp 499-519

April 15

Ch 12- Social Psychology, Hockenbury, pp 520-531

April 17

Ch 13- Stress, Hockenbury, pp 539-556

HW 13 Due

April 22

Ch 14- Psychological Disorders, Hockenbury, pp571-583

HW 14 Due

April 24

Ch 14- Psychological Disorder, Hockenbury, pp 584-602

April 29/May 1

TBA

May 6

Final Exam Psyc 2301.110- 8:35 AM

May 6

Final Exam Psyc 2301.114- 10:10 AM

May 5

Final Exam Psyc 2301.108 2:55

HW 7 Due

HW 11 Due

HW 12/Article
Review Due

CRITERIA FOR JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW

Students will be required to turn in one journal article review
The journal article must be current (no earlier than January, 2011)
The journal article must come from professional, scientific journals.
The article must be a research article. (EACH ARTICLE MUST HAVE SECTIONS
LABELED METHODS; RESULTS; and DISCUSSION.)
Topics for the article must be selected from topics covered in chapters 1-15 of your text.
Each student must turn in their review and a complete copy of the article to receive credit.
Students must answer the following questions concerning each article:
(Guidelines for answering these questions are on pages 6 of this handout.)
1) What is the psychological theory?
2) What is the purpose/hypothesis of the article?
3) What research methods were used by the researcher? (See Chapter 1)
4) What were the conclusions of the researchers?
5) How does the information in the article pertain to the text and/or class discussion?
Students must use their own words. Quotes from the article are not acceptable.
All reviews must be TYPED. Any articles that are not typed will not be accepted!
The article and the student's response must be STAPLED or PAPER CLIPPED together.
WORK THAT IS LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!!! IF A STUDENT IS ABSENT,
THEY SHOULD MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR WORK IS
TURNED IN BY THE ASSIGNED TIME. ABSENCE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LATE WORK!
If you have any questions about this assignment, please contact me immediately.

JOURNAL SOURCES
Note: You must use professional journals and your articles must have sections labeled Methods, Results,

and Discussion.

SELECTING A JOURNAL ARTICLE USING COMPUTERS ON CAMPUS

Go to the college Web Page

Click on Current Students
Under Welcome click on Libraries
On the left hand side under Libraries click on Online Resources
Click on Social Science (the second to last one)
Click on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection (It is the 12th one).
You will be asked for your name and Student ID (G number)
Type your topic in the search box
Where it says Limit your Results check the following boxes
Full Text.

Peer Reviewed.
Leave the Publication box blank.
In the Published Date boxes type Jan 2011 to 2014.
In the Number of Pages first box, click on less than. In the second box type 10.
Click the Search button.

Scroll through the articles until you find an article that interests you.
Click on the Full Text button. (If there is no full text button, then the full article is not
available on line).
The article will appear. Read the article. If the article has sections labeled Methods, Results,
and Discussion AND you understand the article, print the article.
Remember that your articles must come from professional journals and be a research article.
Many of the articles are NOT are not from professional journals and are NOT research
based. TO BE SURE THAT YOUR ARTICLE IS FROM A PROFESSIONAL JOURNAL,
ASK YOUR PROFESSOR.
Now you have your article and are ready to begin writing your paper.

REVIEWING THE ARTICLE

YOU MUST ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS USING YOUR OWN WORDS. DO NOT USE
QUOTATIONS FROM THE ARTICLE!
Write this article as though you are writing for a CRITICAL English professor.

I. State the psychological theory (school, perspective). Determine the psychological theory of the
study (psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, biological, positive psychology, crosscultural or evolutionary.) Give a definition of the theory (IN YOUR OWN WORDS!!!!). Be sure to list
information from the article that supports your choice. (For information about psychological theories,
refer to chapter one of your text.) Note: Because the researchers are observing behavior does not
mean that the theory is behavioral. Behavioral theory refers to operant conditioning, classical
conditioning, and observational learning or modeling. See chapter 5.
II. State the hypothesis or purpose. This information is found at the beginning of the article. Usually
the hypothesis or statement of a problem appears at the end of the review of the literature, most often
in the last or next to last paragraph. The words that indicate that it is a hypothesis are, "We will
examine. . ." or "Our hypothesis is . . ." In a statement of a problem, the researcher may say, "We
plan to see if a relationship...," "We proposed to observe...," or "The problem we proposed to
study..." You must use your own wordsdo NOT use quotes).
III. Method. State the research design or type of study and identify the data collection procedure.
This information can be found in the Method section of the article. Determine if the research is
descriptive (case study, naturalistic observation, laboratory observations, surveys, tests), correlation,
experimental, or developmental. Descriptive designs involve the systematic observation and
recording of existing behavior. Correlation designs determine if there is a relationship between two or
more variables. Experimental research designs involve the manipulation of an independent variable
and the measurement of a dependent variable. Experimental group designs include one or more
experimental and control groups. Remember, the independent variable is the only difference between
the experimental group and the control group; the dependent variable is the data the researcher
collects. Developmental designs include cross-sectional designs, longitudinal designs, and mixed
designs (e.g. sequential designs). For more information on research methods, refer to chapter 1 of
your text.)
IV. Conclusion. Summarize the Discussion section. In this section, the researcher should discuss the
results of the study and relate them to the hypothesis or purpose. (The researchers found that . . .)
At this point you may wish to comment on the value of the study.

V. Relationship to text and/or class discussion. This section should be one to two paragraphs. It
should demonstrate your understanding of the article as well as your understanding of class
discussion and/or text material. You will integrate information in the article with information from
class discuss and/or the text. You may also include your opinion about this topic in this section. It is a
good idea to use the subject index in your text to look up the topic in your text.
VI. Please use APA format. The format directions can be found on the following web site:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
NOTE: PLAGIARISM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. ALL INFORMATION MUST BE STATED IN
YOUR OWN WORDS. PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN A GRADE OF "O."

GRADE DETERMINATION FOR RESEARCH ARTICLE REVIEW

The distribution of points for your journal article review is as follows:
Current Article
5
Appropriate Topic
5
Scientific Journal
5
Research Article
5
Identification of Theory
5
Identification of Hypothesis
5
Research Methods Utilized
5
APA format
5
Relationship to text/discussion
5
Grammar and Mechanics
5
50