Welcome to the webpage for

Social Psychology

AK/HH/AS/SC/PSYC 2120 3.0 (Section M)

Correspondence Course

Winter 2008

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION:

The main website for this course can be found at: http://silver.yorku.ca/2008w-hhpsyc2120m-03 (this site should now be working properly)

The information provide below is all outlined in the course syllabus.

Before starting this course, please read the Welcome to Psychology (also available through the main website).

For the course the notes for WEEK 1, please click here.

For the course notes for WEEK2, please go to the main website, sign in, and select Week2. You will then need to click on the red link to access the notes.

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Steele

E-mail: steeleje@yorku.ca

Phone: 416-736-2100 ext. 22156
Office: BSB 331

Office hours by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Amanda Williams

E-mail: awillia@yorku.ca

Phone: 416-736-2100, ext. 20444

Office: Atkinson 026C

Optional Introductory Meeting: Thursday January 17^th from 7-9pm Vari Hall B

Course Web Address: http://silver.yorku.ca/2008w-hhpsyc2120m-03

ome information is also posted at:

http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/~jsteele/Psyc2120_Winter08_Correspondence.html

Syllabus: For a printable version of the course syllabus, please click here.

Required Text: Myers, D. G. & Spencer, S. J. (2006). Social Psychology (Third Canadian Edition). Toronto, Canada: McGraw-Hill Ryerson. Available from the York Bookstore - ISBN: 0-07-095202-7

Supplementary Website: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0070952027/student_view0/

Use the scroll-down menu on the left-hand side to select a chapter. From there you can go through sample multiple choice questions. I would also recommend that you purchase access to their eStudy Guide for optimal course preparation.

Course Description and Goals:

This course is designed to provide you with a detailed introduction to major theories and research in the field of social psychology. Social psychology can be defined as “the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another” (Myers & Spencer, 2006, p. 2). Throughout this course we will cover a wide range of topics of interest to social psychologists including social cognition (how we think about ourselves and others), conformity and persuasion, prejudice, as well as intimacy and attraction. The first goal of this course, therefore, is to provide you with the opportunity to learn more about the field of social psychology. We will examine how people influence, and are influenced by, their social environments and how seemingly minor changes in the social situation can have an important effect on individuals’ thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. A second goal is to allow you to learn more about those around you, and about yourself.

Course Requirements and Grading:

It is expected that you read every assigned chapter of the textbook as well as the weekly supplementary notes. The supplementary notes will occasionally cover material not mentioned in the textbook; some portion of each examination will cover material that is only available in the supplementary notes.

Course Grading Scheme:

Midterm 1: 30%

2 hours. Multiple choice.

Midterm 2: 30%

2 hour. Multiple choice.

Final Exam: 40%

3 hours. Multiple choice and short answer.

You must take the final exam in order to receive a grade in this course.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MISSING AN EXAM and/or LATE ASSIGNMENTS

Students are expected to write each test on the dates specified. If you are unable to come to the York Campus to write this exam, you will need to make other arrangement through the Centre for Distance Education. You can find more information about this option at: http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/DistanceEd/offsiteExam.htm.

There will be no make-up exams, except under extraordinary circumstances. If you miss an exam with no legitimate excuse, you will receive a grade of zero.

If you have a legitimate reason (e.g., death in the family, severe illness, etc.) for being excused from an exam, and have documentation to verify your absence (please see below), you may take a make-up exam in lieu of the missed exam. You must contact me at least one day in advance of the exam and provide documentation in order to be permitted to take a make-up exam. In the case of an emergency, contact me as soon as possible. Please note that in order to write a deferred examination, you must make personal arrangements with me. The nature of the makeup exam will be at my discretion; if Midterm 1 is missed, you might be asked to write a joint Midterm1/Midterm2 examination worth 60% of your final grade. Note also that deferred exams are held on a single common date determined by the Department of Psychology. No individualized testing is available unless arranged formally through one of the offices at the University (e.g., Counselling and Development Centre, Faculty of Arts; Counselling Centre, Atkinson).

If you produce a valid medical document, signed by a physician, stating that you were medically unable to take the exam, you will be able to take a makeup exam. If you miss an exam for non-medical reasons, you still must produce supporting documentation (e.g., death certificate, obituary notice, automobile accident report, airline ticket for emergency travel, etc.). Missing an exam for a vacation, etc., is not an acceptable reason. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN MUST BE WILLING TO STATE THAT YOU WERE MEDICALLY UNABLE TO TAKE THE EXAM, AND YOU MUST PRODUCE THE DOCUMENT WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE MISSED EXAM AND TELEPHONE THE PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT IN ADVANCE OF THE EXAM IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO TAKE THE EXAM. If you are ill or facing extreme personal circumstances and are unable to get the required documentation, I recommend that you consider dropping the course. Although this policy might sound harsh, it has been implemented to help benefit all of the students enrolled in the course.

WEEKLY TOPICS AND READINGS

I recommend that each reading be completed by or on the assigned date

Date Topic Reading

Friday Jan 4^th Introduction to Social Psychology Chapter 1

Friday Jan 11^th The Self in a Social World Chapter 2

Thurs Jan 17^th Optional Orientation Meeting

7-9pm, Vari Hall Room B (VHB)

Friday Jan 18^th Social Beliefs and Judgments Chapter 3

Friday Jan 25^th Behaviour and Attitudes Chapter 4

Thurs Jan 31^st Midterm 1 (2hours) Vari Hall B

7-9pm

Fri Feb 8^th Conformity and Persuasion Chapters 6 & 7

Friday Feb 15^th OFF (reading week)

Friday Feb 22^nd Group Influence & Intergroup Relations Chapters 8 & 13

Friday Feb 29^th Culture and Language Chapter 5

Thurs March 6^th Midterm 2 (2 hours) Vari Hall B

7-9pm

Fri March 14^th Stereotyping and Prejudice Chapter 12

Fri March 21^st Altruism & Aggression Chapters 9 & 10

Fri March 27^th Attraction and Intimacy Chapter 11

TBA Final Exam (3 hours) – during exam period

Please note: It is important that you show up for all exams on time as no late students will be allowed to write the exam following any student’s departure from the exam room. Exams will start promptly at the scheduled time. Please also ensure that your cell phone is turned off.

The multiple choice portion of each exam will consist of 90 questions with 5 response options each.

Midterm 1 will cover material from the textbook as well as lectures notes for chapters 1, 2, 3, & 4.

Midterm 2 will cover material from the textbook as well as lectures notes for chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, & 13.

The multiple choice portion of the final examination will cover material from the textbook as well as lectures notes for chapters 9, 10, 11, & 12 (this part of the exam is non-cumulative). Short-answer topics will be selected from the entire course content. Potential topics for the short-answer questions will be provided on the course website.

You will not be tested on Module A, B, or C

Some Additional Considerations:

The Psychology Department lists a number of student responsibilities and requirements, two of which are presented here.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that courses are selected in accordance with current degree/certificate and program requirements. Please check to make sure that the course that you enroll in fits with your degree requirements.

All students are required to satisfy all of the co-requisite(s) and prerequisite(s) for courses selected for enrolment. You may be de-enrolled from a course for which you lack the required co- or prerequisite(s). Do not rely on the enrolment system to block your enrolment from such courses. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that co- and prerequisite requirements have been satisfied. Please note that such de-enrolment could occur even after the course has started, leaving you with few or no options in terms of replacing the course. As noted on the website, the pre-requisite for this course is AK/HH/AS/SC/PSYC 1010 6.0 or AK/PSYC 2410 6.0, with a minimum grade of C. If you do not meet this requirement, you will want to drop the course and/or contact the Psychology Office (416-736-5117 or 416-736-5202) asap.

What should I do if I have questions about the course or course material?

If you’ve read through a chapter or posted course notes and you have outstanding questions, you should contact your TA for clarification. The best way to reach the TA is via email (Amanda Williams; awillia@yorku.ca). In the subject heading, please write “Psych 2120M question”. Amanda will do her best to respond within 72 hours, and will respond as quickly as possible close to exam dates. Responses will generally be cc:ed to me, and when appropriate, responses will also be posted on the course website. So you may want to check there when reviewing for exams, to see if there are responses that you find helpful. You can also post your question to the discussion section of the website, where students might provide a quicker response. Amanda and I will also take a look at this section regularly. Also, before getting started, please be sure to read the “Welcome to Psychology” document available on the course website.