Aspire DCPW

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

SYLLABUS – Spring 2008

Course Description:

An examination of a scientific field that seeks to integrate the disciplines of sociology and psychology. The student will discover how people think, feel and behave in social situations by exploring social perceptions, social cognition and social influence. Other major concepts that will be taught include: attitude development, self-concept, interpersonal attraction, and aggression. Application of social psychology concepts to individual and group situations will be required.

Course Learning Outcomes: How it will be met

1. To gain an understanding of the integration of social psychology.	Lecture
2. To increase knowledge of theories and common research methodology employed by social psychology.	Lecture, Individual Paper
3. To able to apply knowledge and understanding to practical social settings in every day life.	Individual Research Project and Individual Paper w/ presentation
4. To be able to answer questions about social behavior and thought.	Midterm and Final Exam

Course Textbook

Baron, Robert A.; Bryne, Donn; Johnson, Blair T., Exploring Social Psychology - Fourth Edition.

Boston: Allyn and Bacon Publishers.

Course Requirements:

Attendance and active participation in class* 50 points

Observation Papers on Attribution & Prejudice 50 points

Midterm Exam 100 Points

Assignments (Social Impact Paper 100 pts & Presentation 50 pts) 150 Points

Final Exam 200 Points

Total Points Possible 550 Points

550-495 pts = A; 494-440 pts. = B; 439-385 pts. = C; 384-330 pts = D; >329 pts = F

Course Policies and Practices

A student’s grade may be adjusted for late arrival, early departure and/or in light of classroom cooperation and behavior. In-class activities cannot be made up. Midterm and Final make-ups are available if there is an emergency situation. To facilitate discussion and pass the tests, read and outline the text assignments before class. In order to create an environment in which discussions can occur effectively, one rule must be observed: Be polite and respectful of others.
Grade Development (All work must be submitted to the satisfaction of the instructor in order to pass this course)
Text messaging during class will result in completing a one-page paper on lecture topic of that hour.

Projected Course Sequence

Class Date Reading & Assignment Due Topic

March 22 Introduction

Chapter 1 Understanding Social Behavior

Chapter 2 Social Perception

Chapter 3 Cognition

Chapter 4 The Self

Chapter 5 Attitudes

April 5 Attribution Paper due MIDTERM DUE Chapters 1-5

Chapter 6 Prejudice & Discrimination

Chapter 7 Attraction

Chapter 8 Influence

Chapter 9 Helping & Hurting

April 19 FINAL EXAM Chapters 6-9 Presentations

Paper Due

Social Impact Paper and Individual Project

Many aspects of our social interaction have changed in the last 5-10 years. Each student will identify a social change and define its social impact on society. Five-ten minute presentations on your findings will be given the last day of class. Using observation, journal articles or books, each individual will research:

A. the nature, causes, consequences on society of the chosen topic

B. how this subject influences our society

C. how this subject influences you personally

You may gather data on your topic through the Correlational or Experimental method of research. However, you must have the instructor’s approval of your Experiment before you carry out the research. You will then write a 5-10 page (not including the title or reference pages) Social Impact paper describing each of the 3 parts (A, B, & C) listed above for your topic.

Your paper should be organized in the following manner to meet APA or MLA requirements:

1. Title page with Running Head (page 1)

2. Page numbers in top right corner, with running heading (abbreviated title) each page

3. Introduction without heading but with running head by page number (Page 3+)

Include a research question or hypothesis.

Include any references you may use: (For example: If you use the terminology in the text book Exploring Social Psychology, be sure to cite it as a source.

4. Main text - Use headings to organize your paper. Include your references as in above examples or other appropriate APA or MLA style parenthetical notations required for other sources you use.

5. Block quote - single space without quotation marks unless it is not a block quote.

6. The last two sections of your paper should include a:

Conclusion - summarizing the main points of your paper. Cite references.

Discussion - Respond to your original hypothesis or thesis on your topic. Did your

findings support your original hypothesis or answer your research question? Cite references. No new information here!!!

How does this subject influence you personally?

7. Reference page - Center the title on the last page and document at least 5 references, including author or editor, year, title, publisher, and location of publisher.

You will be graded on how well you cover the topic, either positively or negatively. Be sure to discuss how this topic influences you personally in the Discussion section. Reserve your opinion for the final section titled “Discussion.” Give attention to each area above A, B, and C, as applicable to your perspective of the topic.

Include in your paper the appropriate Social Psychological definitions and terms as covered in lecture and your text book, as well as concepts and theories related to the topic. The time allotted for the presentation is 5-10 minutes per person.

Each student is expected to be thoroughly familiar with his or her chosen topic such that your presentation is present in an interesting manner, rather than read to the class. You may use whatever teaching tools are available (i.e.: PowerPoint, videos, overheads, etc.). Try to be creative (use class participation, role play, etc.) Points will be given based on how well you organize and present the information to the class.

Plagarism will cause you to fail the course! Any 3 words taken together from another source must be in quotation marks cited correctly. If you paraphrase, it must be entirely in your own words, again correctly citing the source if the ideas belong to another author. You may NOT present the work of another author as though it were your own. The sources of your citations will be checked.

* All late papers will be graded down 20 points per day.

Forming Attributions Observation Assignment

An attribution is a theory of how we explain others’ behavior. In studying diverse populations, it is important to understand how we may make errors or assumptions about others, based on these attributions. We may attribute behavior to internal dispositions in terms of enduring traits, motives, and attitudes. We may also attribute the behavior to external situations, cultural norms or expectations. A fundamental attribution error is the tendency for observers to underestimate situational influences and overestimate dispositional influences upon others’ behavior.

Observe an individual of a diverse population, other than your own family, interacting with others. Describe the behavior you are observing in objective terms by writing a two-page paper, which includes responses to the following directives or questions:

A description of the behavior you observed.

To what do initially you attribute the behavior?

What factors might have shaped this behavior?

Is there gender, cultural, demographic or ecological contexts to consider? Please explain.

What, if any, personal prejudices or tendencies to judge did you notice on your part?

If you made a fundamental attribution error, what effect did this have on making an objective observation?

Were you accurate in your attribution?

If not, what will you change in your understanding about evaluating another persons’ behavior in the future?

If possible, after you have written down your observation and attribution, interview with the individual to ascertain if your observations were subject to any attribution errors. If you are unable to interview the person, predict which of the attribution errors is most likely to have occurred in this observation.