Coordinator:
M. Condon S-303
Phone: (312) 794-2582
 

Instructors:                                                 Office                               Phone#

R. Church                                                  S313D                               794-2586
S. Gaskins                                                  S307F                                794-2577
L. Hollis-Sawyer                                         S307E                                794-2889
TBA

Office hours are posted on instructors' office doors or you can call the Psychology Department office at 794-2595. Instructors have automatic answering systems on their phones to take messages when they cannot come to the phone.

COURSE MATERIALS:
Required Reading Material:
Psychology 4/e by Baron
Student Workbook for Psychology 4/e by Seta, Seta & Paulus

These books are available at Beck's in a variety of formats to suit your individual needs & preferences.
 

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN IN THIS COURSE:

I. Psychology

A. Information about current knowledge in all major fields of psychology
B. Basic vocabulary used in the study of psychology
C. Preparation for upper division courses

II. Life-long Learning Habits

A. Self-directed learning
B. Organization and allocation of study time
C. Independence from external controls on studying

III. Test-taking Skills for Multiple Choice Examinations

A. Analyzing compound stems and/or answers
B. Discerning exceptions
C. Solving analogies
D. Using principles in applied situations
E. Strategies for answer selection

COURSE SYLLABUS:

I. Nature of Unit Tests:

All unit tests are composed of ten multiple choice questions. There are five prepared forms for each unit. Additional forms are created as needed, since a student may repeat testing on a unit as many times as is necessary to achieve mastery and thus be eligible to go on to the next chapter. Mastery is operationally defined as 8 correct questions out of 10.

II. Numbers of Units Required:

Twenty test units (14 chapters) must be successfully COMPLETED in order to be eligible to take the final examination at the regular time. Questions from all twenty-five (25) units are included on the final exam. If a student wishes to take the early final they must COMPLETE all 25 units before taking that exam.

III. Initial Criteria:

In order for students to become accustomed to this method of learning, the regular mastery level of eight out of ten (8/1O) correct answers will be lowered for the first two units as follows:

Unit 1 (Chapter 1): mastery = 6/1O
Units 2 and 3 (Chapter 2): mastery = 7/1O
Unit 4 (Chapter 3) and following: mastery = 8/1O
 

IV. The "Go Back Later" Option

ONCE during the term the student may choose to move on to the next chapter and come back later to complete the chapter they are not currently mastering. This may only be done if the student has taken the chapter quiz at least 2 times.

Any skipped chapter that is not successfully completed before the end of the term will not be counted in the total of units completed by the student. Thus, for example, if a student wishes to take an early final, they would have to finish successfully all 25 units. Also if they need 20 units to be able to take the final exam and they have passed over a unit, they would have to complete through Unit 21 (Chapter 15).

V. Target Dates for Unit Completion:

In order for students to pace themselves comfortably throughout the term and complete the required chapters in adequate time, a schedule of suggested dates for completion of the units has been prepared. This schedule would prepare the student to finish in time to take an early final. Students may work ahead of this time schedule or, at times, fall behind. To encourage and reward students for maintaining this desired pace, a bonus point will be awarded for each unit that the student masters in step with, or ahead of, the schedule. Bonus points may be exchanged for credit on the final exam (see VI). Remember, these dates are guidelines not deadlines.

VI.Bonus Credits:

These may be earned in four different ways:

A. passing a unit by or before the specified target date
B. obtaining a perfect score on the first trial of a unit
C. by volunteering as a subject in department approved research

By finding and correcting errors in the tests, study guide or textbook (you must complete the provided form, sign it & have it countersigned by a faculty member). You will receive credit if, in fact, there is an error.

Bonus credits are added to your final examination score according to the following formulae and each type has a maximum number of credits that may be used.

5 time credits = one exam point -up to 5 exam points
3 score credits = one exam point -up to 8 exam points
2 experiment credits = one exam point -up to 2 exam points
2 correction credits = one exam point -up to 2 exam points

VI.Classroom Procedures:

During each class meeting that you choose to attend, you will either take a unit test, or consult with proctors or faculty for explanation of areas that were not clear in your reading. The following are some of the specific classroom procedures:

A. Students may attend class on any day and at either session.
B. If a student does not achieve mastery on a unit test, s/he must wait until the next class period (at a minimum) before retaking that unit.

C. Unit tests will be given on:

MTWR from 11:00 AM to 11:50 AM
MTWR from 5:40 PM to 6:50 PM

D. New tests will not be distributed in the last 20 minutes of any class period.
E. Faculty are available for tutoring not only during class times but also during their regular office hours. Faculty office hours are listed on their office doors, and on the department office door (S-313F).

F. Many students find it efficient to prepare two units at a time, so that if they pass the first test, they may take another during the same class period.

VIII. The Final Examination

ONLY those students who successfully COMPLETE a minimum of twenty (20) units may take the final examination. In order to pass the course, you must receive a grade of 51 or better on the final, no matter how many tests beyond 20 you may have completed. The final exam helps determine your course grade. For details of grading, see the chart at the end of this syllabus. The exam covers chapters 1 through 17 and the Appendix.

Any student successfully COMPLETING all twenty (25) units on or before MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1999 may take an early final as soon as s/he is finished by an individually scheduled appointment, arranged with the course coordinator. This must be taken on or before THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1999.

If a student COMPLETES all 25 units after MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1999 but by MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1999, s/he may take the group early final at 11:00 AM or 5:40 PM on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1999 in the regular class period. Arrangements for these early finals must be made in advance with the coordinator.

If students are not satisfied with the grade obtained on the early final, they may take the regularly scheduled class final examination on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1999, from 10:00 - 11:50 AM or 6:00 - 7:50 PM. The higher of the two grades will be used.

VIII. Grades:

The chart in section X gives the formula for computing the course grades. PLEASE remember the YOU ARE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for:

A. COMPLETING at least 20 units on or before the last day of class, and
Passing the final examination WITH A SCORE OF AT LEAST 51, OR,
complying with the conditions for receiving an incomplete ("I") grade, (see section IX) OR,
officially dropping this course at the records office on or before the official University Drop Date.

Failure to complete one of these options will result in a recorded grade of "F" for the course.

IX. Policy regarding Incomplete Grades [I]:

Anyone anticipating the need for an incomplete grade must contact the coordinator in person, by THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4 which is one week before FRIDAY NOVEMBER 12, 1999, the last day for dropping classes. Except for documented medical reasons for not doing so, there will be absolutely no exceptions to this provision.

No Time bonus points will be able to be used in calculating the final grade if an I is taken. Any other bonus points earned up to the maximum allowances will, however, be counted.

I grades MUST be completed in the next REGULAR academic term.
The grade of "I" will be granted in this course ONLY under the following conditions:

A. An incomplete will be granted if the student meets the regular university policy regarding DOCUMENTED medical emergencies over a protracted period of time, OR,

B. An incomplete will be considered on an individual basis providing:

1. The student starts testing within the first week of the term.
2. The student has attempted an average of three trials per week.
3. The student has demonstrated regular completion of all exercises in the assigned Student Workbook.
4. The student can demonstrate that s/he has had an ongoing tutoring relationship with a particular faculty member or student proctor (as evidenced by a statement signed by the particular faculty member or proctor).

C. Only the coordinator, not the "instructor of record", may grant the "I" grade. The student must see the coordinator by Thursday, NOVEMBER 4, 1999, to arrange for an Incomplete Contract unless it is a medical emergency which occurs after this date.

Please be aware that no Incomplete will be granted, or even considered, for "forgetting" to drop by the University date or for last minute attempts to complete that are thwarted by external circumstances. There is plenty of room in the schedule for handling illnesses/ job crises/ family problems etc. provided you begin early in the term and proceed evenly and appropriately up to the time of the necessary hiatus.

X.    COURSE GRADE DERIVATION CHART
 

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
 

Thursday November 4, 1999 Last day for arranging an Incomplete.
Friday November 12, 1999 Last day for officially Dropping a Class
Monday November 15, 1999 Last day to qualify for individually scheduled early finals.

Thursday November 18, 1999 Last day to take an individually scheduled early final (ALL 25 UNITS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15 FOR PERMISSION TO TAKE THE INDIVIDUAL EARLY FINAL EXAMINATION).

Monday November 22, 1999 Last day to qualify for group early final.

Wednesday, November 24, 1999 Date of Group Administration of Early Final. (ALL 25 UNITS MUST BE COMPLETED BY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22 TO QUALIFY TO TAKE THE EARLY FINAL EXAMINATION).

Monday December 13, 1999 Last day for unit tests.

Tuesday December 14, 1999 Final examination (minimum of 20 units must be completed for admission to this exam).

TIMES:

10:00 - 11:50 AM
6:00 - 7:50 PM