Social Psychology (Psyc 336)



Social Psychology (Psyc 336)

Independent Study Section – Summer 2014

Instructor: Mark Stasson, Ph.D.

E-Mail: mark.stasson@metrostate.edu (Preferred contact method)

Physical Office: Midway Center, Suite 101 FAX: 651-999-5822

Mailing Address: Mark Stasson

Psychology Department, Metropolitan State University

700 E. Seventh St.

St. Paul, MN 55106-5000

Course Web Page:

Connect+ Site:

Competence Statement:

Understand, analyze, and apply the concepts of social psychology. Know the breadth of areas addressed by social psychology and understand the scientific basis of social psychological theories. Understand, be aware of, and respect the diversity of human experience and how it impacts social behavior. Use the principles of social psychology and awareness of diversity to understand the relations among individual, group, societal, and cross-cultural behaviors.

Course Objectives and Goals:

1. Understand and be able to apply social psychological theories and concepts. Demonstrate understanding and ability in written assignments.

2. Understand the scientific nature of social psychology and be able to us scientific principles to investigate social psychological phenomenon. Demonstrate understanding in reviews of articles, research experiences, and proposal.

3. Understand, be aware of, and respect the diversity of human experience and how it impacts social behavior. Demonstrate understanding in written assignments.

Nature of the Course

As an independent study course, the vast majority of learning is completed at one’s own pace in his or her usual environment. You should realize that this often requires more diligence than a “normal” scheduled class. Things work best if you show self-discipline, schedule a time to work each week, and keep up with the suggested schedule. If you need to get in touch with the instructor regarding any assignment or requirement, please contact him via e-mail (preferred).

Course goals and objectives are met through “LearnSmart” assignments for each chapter, research exercises, and Section Exams (one each 4 chapters). While most assignments are tied to a particular course chapter in the text, others are more integrative or global in scope. The assignment categories are designed to assist students in learning the material independently.

Course Materials:

Students need access to an online learning center called Connect+ and a textbook. An online version of the textbook is included within Connect+ or students can choose to also get a hard copy version of the book too.

The Metro State bookstore has both options: access to Connect+ only, or with loose leaf book.

Myers, D. G. (2013). Social Psychology (11th edition). McGraw-Hill.

Details about the book (what to get, where to shop) are available at

Optional: Connect+ has many more resources than what I have assigned for graded assignments. Please consider checking out (and using) all that Connect+ has to offer.

Assignment Categories

Category A. “LearnSmart” assignments. You should start by reading a chapter from the book. The “LearnSmart” module will take you through review quizzing on the chapter. This module is supposed to be adaptive to what you know (demonstrated through your answers) and then geared to help you learn through the questions it assigns. Each chapter has a required LearnSmart assignment (each worth 6 points) and it takes approximately 25-40 minutes for a well-prepared student, depending on the chapter and your individual style/preparation. I hope I am not cramping your style by asking you to study this way, but you will get some points for it (and you are still free to study your own way too).

Category B: Research Exercises. There are a variety of research demonstrations or exercises throughout the course. Some of them are built into Connect+, some are available on the Internet outside Connect+, and others will be more like “field” assignments in which you look for or apply social psychological concepts in your world. These exercises are intended to give you an understanding of the research and applications sides of social psychology. Many of these exercises will appear in the Connect+ schedule and some will be delivered by e-mail and the class website (). These exercises/demonstrations will total 104 points. Satisfactory performance will earn 100% of the points. Below are examples of some of the exercises outside Connect+.

** Internet Exercises (outside Connect+). Go to the website provided, go through the exercise, and write a summary of what you learned from the experience.

Internet exercise #1: The IAT (goes with chapters 5-6). This test supposedly measures our

“implicit” associations and attitudes. May or may not connect with what we do explicitly. Go to and read the introduction. Take one or more demonstrations, write a brief paper summarizing results within the context of textbook concepts.

Internet exercise #2: Examine the website for the Stanford Prison Experiment at by going through the “slide show.” Answer 4 of the discussion questions to get credit for this exercise. (goes with chapter 12, but also connects with others)

Internet exercise #3: Learn about Jigsaw Groups at . Summarize how you could use a jigsaw group in some area that interests you. Look at the related “Links on Cooperative Learning and School Violence” page – briefly summarize two topics listed there (connects with chapters 5 and 8)

** Media Research Project. Apply a social psychological concept to explain something in a movie, book, TV show, song or other popular media product.

** Social Influence Observation. There is a social influence observation project that allows you to select one of three options. It will be described in more detail online.

Category C: Section Tests. The textbook has 16 chapters. These will be divided into four Sections, with four chapters in each Section. There will be a multiple choice test on each section. Each test will have about 50 items and must be taken in a proctored environment. Most will probably take them at the Metropolitan State University Testing Center (see their website at or contact the Center at 651- 793-1460). Locations and times vary. In any event, it is best to schedule times to take each Test by contacting the Testing Center at 651-793-1460 (just showing up does not work out well). The textbook web site has practice quizzes/tests!!

The Metro State Testing Center will work with testing centers at other locations such as community colleges or libraries (see website above). They will arrange to help you take exams at a proctored environment that works for you if you are not able to make it to Metro State.

NOTE: The practice quizzes on the text website are useful study aids.

The Four Sections of the Course/Text

Section 1: The Self and Social Thinking (Chapters 1-4)

Section 2: Culture, Influence, and Groups (Chapters 5-8)

Section 3: Long-Standing Applications: Attraction, Prejudice, Helping, Hurting (Chapters 9-12)

Section 4: Newer Application Areas: Peace, Clinical, Forensic, Sustainability (Chapters 13-16)

Please note that if you develop strong interests in one or more of these areas, the Psychology Department offers more specialized courses in many of these areas.

Evaluation

Grades will be assigned on the basis of the number of points earned throughout the course.

The LearnSmart Assignments (16 Chapters, 6 points each) are worth a total of 96 points.

The Research Exercices/Demonstration will be worth a total of 104 points.

The Tests for Sections 1 through 4 are worth 100 points each (total of 400 for 4 sections)

The TOTAL number of points that can be earned is 600.

Your course grade will be based on the number of points you earn in the course, you will receive the highest grade for which your points qualify (see scale below):

AA@ grade: at least 552 points (92%) AA-@ grade: at least 540 points (90%)

AB+@ grade: at least 528 points (88%) AB@ grade: at least 480 points (80%)

AC+@ grade: at least 468 points (78%) AC@ grade: at least 420 points (70%)

AD@ grade: at least 360 points (60%) “F” grade: less than 360 points

Schedule

The suggested schedule is to finish one section of the course about every three weeks. This schedule would allow a student to take off a week or two during the term (e.g., around the 4th of July, for example). This is Independent Study so each student can move at her or his own pace. In fact, one of the more difficult parts of Independent Study is setting a schedule and sticking to it. I strongly recommend that you set aside time at least twice a week to do your work. If this was a lecture course, you’d spend 4 hours in class and maybe 8 hours studying outside class each week. So, expect that you need to spend 12 hours per week on this course (as you would for other courses!). When will you do it? – try to set the times now.

The University has a “grade entry” deadline that is at the end of the “regular” term (around August 16th), so that is your deadline to finish everything. Certainly, you can finish sooner – that would be a good idea if you have a lecture course that requires assignments during finals. A suggested schedule is presented below. Of course, you may move at your own pace and finish quicker (or use the full period – but try to avoid procrastination, which is the biggest pitfall in an independent study course).

SUGGESTED SCHEDULE Summer, 2014

Section/Dates Suggested Test Date

Section 1: Self and Social Thinking (Chapters 1-4)

May 10-May 31 Test May 29-June 4

Section 2: Culture, Influence, and Groups

June 1-21 Test June 19-25

Section 3: Long-Standing Applications: Attraction, Prejudice Helping, Hurting

June 22-July 19 (includes some break time for 7/4) Test July 17-23

Section 4: Newer Application Areas: Peace, Clinical, Forensic, Sustainability

July 20-August 10 Test August 8-14

All Work is Due August 16th

***** Look for more complete list of small assignments (LearnSmart, Research Exercises, etc.) within Connect+ ******

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