Introduction to Social Psychology - 830:135
Spring, 2008
Instructor: (Almost Dr.) Gary Allen
Lecture: M
& W 7:30 - 8:50
Classroom: PEN 401
e-mail: gmallen629@comcast.net
(
Office:
Armitage Hall, room to be
announced
Office hours: M & W, 6:30 - 7:20
Course Description and Objectives
This course provides an introduction
to and a survey of research and
theory concerning humans as they influence and are influenced by their social
environment. This will include
consideration of how groups form and operate, how social relationships
influence communication; how attitudes form, change and influence our
behaviour; issues of social and interpersonal perception and how these
perceptions affect our judgement and behaviour; and we will examine how aspects
of larger social and interpersonal systems and settings, such as the family and
the organization, affect how we behave there and elsewhere. You will become aware of these issues and how
they affect you in everyday life and how this knowledge can be applied to
change your and others’ behaviour.
Required
Smith, E. R., and Mackie,
D. M. (2007). Social Psychology (3rd Ed).
Occasionally, additional readings will be assigned in
class and will either be handed out in class, or left on reserve in the library…and
YES, they will be on the test!
Please read all assigned readings before we talk about them in
class.
General Course Requirements
Attendance and Class Participation: Class attendance and participation is
expected, however you are adults and will make that decision on your own; I
will tell you that my experience teaching this class has shown me that there is
a correlation between attendance and grade…take that for what it’s worth. Most classes will include discussions and/ or
exercises designed to increase your understanding of the material and assure
your success in this course. And since I
intend to have fun in the class you will be missing out if you miss class.
Thus, this component of your grade (10%) will be based on the following criteria: 1) Did
you attend class? 2) Did you contribute to the intellectual
climate in class (by listening and participating in discussions and exercises)?
Exams: You will be evaluated on your
understanding of the material by taking three exams, each worth 30% of your final grade.
Each exam will include questions based on the readings and lectures;
these exams will be multiple choice in format.
While these exams are not EXPLICITLY cumulative, it will become apparent
to you that everything we talk about will build on previous material, so…I
think you get my drift about cumulativeness (cumulativnation???)…if not, I’m
saying you should review all material as you prepare for the exams. IF you
need to miss a test, please let me know or tell someone in the Psychology
office (856-225-6520) in advance; do not come in the next class period and tell
me that something came up (l do realize that emergencies happen, but I will be
asking for MAJOR evidence of the
emergency before accepting your version of events…I mean, it’s not that I’m not
a trusting person or anything, it’s just that…oh…never mind). Tests will be
made-up the next class day, and will be exclusively short-answer/essay.
Grading:
Attendance and participation: 10%
1st Exam: 30%
2nd Exam: 30%
3rd Exam (Final): 30%
TOTAL 100%
Policy on Academic Honesty
The discipline of Psychology is built on the belief and requirements
that those in the field will act in an ethical manner at all times. This includes the requirement that we treat
patients, research subjects and other professionals in a manner consistent with
the ethical principles espoused by our field (you can see these principles at http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.pdf). I will expect that everyone in this class, as
a future professional, will follow these principles. The university also has a policy on academic
honesty (http://ctaar.rutgers.edu/integrity/policy.html) and I encourage you to
familiarize yourself with this policy - we
will be following these policies in this class.
Class Schedule
|
Week |
Topic(s) O’ The Week |
|
|
1/23 |
Introduction to me and the class |
|
|
1/28 - 1/30 |
What is Social Psychology and why should it matter to me? |
S & M, |
|
2/4 - 2/6 |
Social Psychological Research - how to ask and answer the questions we
need asked and answered |
S & M, |
|
2/11 - 2/13 |
The Self - Concept, Awareness, Esteem…well, you get the idea…. |
S & M, |
|
2/18 - 2/20 |
Person Perception - processes and outcomes (or why’d he do that? What do we do about it?) |
S & M, |
|
2/25 - 2/27 |
Perceiving Groups of Others - How we use perceptions to guide
treatment of others |
S & M, |
|
3/3 - 3/5 |
TEST 1 (3/3); Self-other
distinctions and their effects (3/5) |
S & M, |
Week |
Topic(s) O’ The Week |
|
|
3/10 - 3/12 |
Groups and their influence - Do we do what others want us to do, or
what WE want to do? |
S & M, |
|
3/17- 3/19 |
SPRING BREAK - No
classes (BOO, HISS!!!!) |
Follett’s guide to |
|
3/24 - 3/26 |
Individual and Group Norms - When does what kick in and how can I make
sure I don’t get kicked? |
S & M, |
|
3/31 - 4/2 |
Attitudes and behaviour - do we do what we should based on what we
think? (HINT: NOPE…Why not?) |
S & M, |
|
4/7- 4/9 |
Attitudes and behaviour - do we do what we should based on what we
think? (HINT: NOPE…Why not?) |
S & M, |
|
4/14 - 4/16 |
TEST 2; Control of subject
variables in research |
M & S, |
|
4/21 - 4/23 |
More subject controls - what’s the difference between random
assignment and selection? |
M & S, |
|
4/28 - 4/30 |
Use of data - how can we show that our findings are meaningful? |
Handouts |
|
5/5 |
Putting more of this all together Final Paper Version Due |
|
|
5/8 - 5/14 |
FINAL EXAM |
|