LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY A240 SECTION 001
FALL 2003

Time and Location:  3:30 - 4:45 p.m. M & W in Room 471 of Monroe Hall

Instructor:  Dr. Kim Ernst
    Office: 430 Monroe Hall
    Phone: 865.3560 (Office); 865.3125 (Department Office)
    E-mail: kernst@loyno.edu
    Office Hours: TBA and by appointment
    Home Page: http://www.loyno.edu/~kernst

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Social determinants of individual behavior and of group interaction are examined with emphasis on current research literature.

COURSE CREDIT:  3.0 credit hours

PREREQUISITES:  The prerequisite for this course is Introduction to Psychology (PSYC A100).  Satisfactory completion of this course DOES NOT fulfill any Common Curriculum requirements.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  The primary objective of this course is to present a broad overview of Social Psychology. Other objectives are as follows: facilitate your understanding of human social behaviors and interactions; increase your awareness of applications of social psychological principles to everyday situations; facilitate your appreciation for human diversity; and prepare you for further study in psychology.

COURSE WEB SITE:   The course Web site contains a copy of this syllabus, assignments, announcements, lists of resources, and other materials.

CLASS FORMAT:  In the classroom, students will be exposed to some material from many chapters in the textbook. Some of this material will be covered in a standard lecture format and some topics will be presented as either videotaped material and classroom demonstrations or discussions.

TEXTBOOK:  I require only one textbook for this course.  The paperback study guide that accompanies the textbook is optional.  Each is available in the campus bookstore.

    Myers, D. G.  (2002).  Social Psychology (7^th ed.).  New York: McGraw-Hill.
    Bolt, M.  (2002).  Study guide for social psychology.  New York: McGraw-Hill.    

I have assigned chapter readings from the textbook.  I expect students to read the assigned material before class. Although I will not make specific assignments from the study guide, I strongly recommended that you complete the study guide activities and exercises to facilitate your learning of the textbook material.  In addition, the textbook is packaged with a CD-ROM and has an accompanying Web site.  The following URL is the home page for the textbook: http://www.mhhe.com/myers7
Each of these resources provides study materials including practice test questions.

ADDITIONAL READINGS:  I will distribute assignments, additional readings, and learning material in class,  place them on "Reserve" in the Monroe library,  or they will be available from the course listserv or Web site,  or from the Internet.

CLASS ATTENDANCE:  I expect punctual and regular class attendance.  Further, class attendance will be taken in some form (i.e., roll call or attendance roster) each time the class is scheduled to meet (this excludes exam days). Whatever the method used to take attendance, it is your responsibility to sign the attendance roster or to be present for roll call.  Students not present for roll call or who fail to sign the attendance roster will be marked "absent."  Also, I will mark "absent" students who are only present for roll call or who only sign the attendance roster and then leave the class period.  I will allow each student five absences without penalty.  For each absence beyond five, you will lose one letter grade.  Please note, I do not recognize absences from class as either "excused" or "not excused" absences.  If you miss a class period, you are still responsible for all information presented in class.

If, at the end of the semester you had perfect attendance, a bonus of six (6) points will be added to your cumulative point total; if you miss one (1) class, a bonus of three (3) points will be added to your total points earned.  If, however, you miss two (2) or more classes, you forfeit all bonus credit for class attendance.  Bonus points for class attendance will not factor into your midterm grade.

ETHICS:  Academic dishonesty, in any form (e.g., cheating, plagiarism) will result in the consequences outlined on pages 46-48 in the Loyola University Undergraduate Bulletin (2003-2005).  Please refer to this publication for full explanation of the University’s policy on academic dishonesty, integrity of scholarship and grades, the procedures for dealing with students who are suspected and/or found guilty of violating this code, and the consequences thereof.

EXAMS:  I will administer a total of four exams throughout the semester.  I have scheduled three of the four exams will be administered during our regular class meeting times and the fourth exam (Final Exam) during the Final Exam week.  The Final Exam is a comprehensive (i.e., cumulative).  Please refer to the "Class Schedule" (see last page of this document) for the exam dates. 

Each exam will cover the assigned reading material (textbook chapters), any additional assignments, and any information presented in class. Questions on all exams will consist primarily of multiple choice questions, although other types of questions may be used (e.g., short answers & fill-in-the-blank).  Please note that my exams require more than rote memorization.  That is, I expect students to understand the material and distinguish between and apply various concepts and theories.  Each in-class exam will be worth 100 points, approximately 50 questions each worth two points.  The Final Exam will be worth 100 points, 100 questions each worth one point.  You will need to bring a  no. 2 pencil to take all exams.  Exam grades will be posted on my bulletin board outside my office.  you may review your most recent exam and answers in my office during my office hours. 

I will not administer routine makeup exams.  I will make exceptions only in cases of emergencies, serious illness, or compelling circumstances.  To be eligible for a makeup exam, you must both: (1) notify me before the exam you miss, and (2) provide sufficient documentation concerning your absence.  You can take ONLY one makeup exam.  If you miss more than one exam, you will makeup one exam and receive zero points for any of the other exams you may have missed.  The date to take the makeup exam will be determined when you and I consider the circumstances.  Also, you will receive zero points for the missed exam until you take the makeup exam.  These provisions also apply to the Final Exam.

If you are observing a religious holiday or must be away on official university business (e.g., an athletic event, professional conference, student government, etc.) I will attempt to make some arrangement so that you can take the exam early.  You must, however, inform me at least 2 weeks before the exam to make appropriate arrangements.

PAPER:  I require only one paper; see the last page of this document for the due date.  This paper is worth 100 points.  The purpose of this paper is for you to apply and integrate social psychological principles.  In brief, you will be required to view a feature film (available in the Monroe Library).  You also will be required to analyze the psychological principles and research that are relevant to the film’s content and critique the accuracy of the film’s portrayal of these topics. You will then submit your analysis of the film as a typed paper.  I will provide detailed guidelines in class.

The general guidelines listed below apply to this paper.
1.  Papers must be submitted by the start of class on the due date.
2.  Late papers will receive zero points.
3.  Written work must be typed in a standard typeface (i.e., Times or Arial; a 12-point font).
4.  Margins should be 1-inch at the top, bottom, left, and right of every page.
5.  Lines should be double-spaced.
6.  The document must be stapled in the left upper corner.
7.  Do not include a title or cover page.
8.  This work is to be conducted independently, unless specified otherwise. 

EVALUATION AND GRADING:  Your final course grade will be based on your test performance on the four exams and paper.  Each in-class exam will count equally toward your final course grade.  Final course grades are based on the percentage of total points earned. Midterm grades are determined by your performance on Exam 1, only.

Source                        Points                N                Total Points
Exams 1, 2, 3           100 points        3                300
Paper                         100 points        3                100
Final Exam               200 points        1                100 
                                                                                    500 points   

I will use the following grading scale when a letter grade must be assigned (i.e., midterm & final course grades):

              Percentage of Total Points - Letter Grade
                                 90 - 100%                  A
                                 88 - 89%                     B+
                                 80 - 87%                     B        
                                 78 - 79%                     C+
                                 70 - 77%                     C
                                 68 - 69%                     D+
                                 60 - 67%                     D
                                 <60%                           F

One exception to the scale above is that "+" (plus) grades will not be assigned to midterm grades.  I will assign an "I" (incomplete) grade only when compelling circumstances exist and sufficient and valid documentation is provided by the student.

COURSE LISTSERV:  I expect students enrolled in this course to participate in the course listserv.  A listserv is an electronically based (i.e., e-mail) discussion group.  The primary purpose of the course listserv is to provide communication between subscribers.  For example, I can send one e-mail message to the listserv and everyone subscribed will receive my message.  Similarly, when some subscriber posts a question to the listserv any subscriber can send a reply.  This way, everyone subscribed can participate. I will use the listserv to make relevant announcements; check your e-mail regularly.  Students subscribed to the listserv will also participate by posting relevant questions to other student subscribers.  Questions might concern class lectures, textbook material, assignments, and the like.  In previous semesters, students have also used to the listserv to form study groups and arrange group study times before each exam.

To subscribe to the course listserv,
1. Send an e-mail message to: majordomo@loyno.edu
2. On the first line of your message body type: subscribe psyca240001
3. Then send the e-mail

Soon after sending the e-mail, you will receive an e-mail message from the system administrator.  If you were successful, this e-mail will contain detailed instructions concerning the listserv mechanics.  Please know that when you send an e-mail to the listserv, every subscriber will receive a copy of your message.  Thus, if you want to send something "private" to me, use my individual e-mail address (i.e., kernst@loyno.edu).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• You should keep up with all the reading assignments.  When you do not understand the material, it is your responsibility to communicate this to me.  Please ask questions.
  
• If you do not have an e-mail account, you should obtain one from the Office of Information Technology, on the 5th floor of Monroe Hall, during the 1^st week of the semester.
  
• Students with disabilities who wish to receive accommodations in this class should contact Disability Services at x2990 as soon as possible so that warranted accommodations can be implemented in a timely fashion. Disability Services are located in Academic & Career Excellence Center, Monroe Hall, Room 405.
  
•  Papers are expected to be submitted on time.  Please retain all work that is returned to you.  This practice is valuable for your reference and re-submission if requested by the course instructor.  Also, I strongly recommend that students "save" their work on two disks.
  
• Students should use a word processing software (e.g.,  WordPerfect®, Microsoft Word®) to complete assignments.  Students should visit the computer labs on campus during the 1st week of the semester to familiarize themselves with the availability of the software programs, locations, and hours of operation. 
  
• The staff of the J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library provide workshops on a variety of subjects dealing with electronic information resources and the technologies needed to access and present them.  Visit the library to speak with a librarian or go to the library's Web site, http://www.lib.loyno.edu/li/instruction.htm for more information.
  
• If my office hours conflict with your schedule, please talk with me so that we can schedule an appointment that will be more convenient for you.
  

        Record your exam scores below.

        Exam 1 Points Earned                __________/100
        Exam 2 Points Earned                __________/100
        Exam 3 Points Earned                __________/100
        Subtotal                                           __________/300
        Paper                                                __________/100
    
        Additional Credit                         __________

        Exam 4 Points Earned                __________/100
                    Final Exam

         Total Points Earned                    __________/500             

DATES FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS and UNIVERSITY HOLIDAYS:

CLASS SCHEDULE:

DISCLAIMER: The schedule and procedures in this course may be modified or altered at the discretion of the course instructor if circumstances warrant changes. Any changes will be announced in class. 08.25.2003

courses page
Ernst's home page
Psychology Department
Loyola University

Last Update: 2003-08-30