See Canvas for All Due Dates When School Begins
Ways to Succeed in this Class:
One of the problems that can be inherent to on-line classes is getting behind on the material since face-to-face contact in a classroom is not present. To do well in this class, procrastination needs to be avoided. Therefore, each week, you should:
1) Follow the appropriate Module for the week
2) Go over the appropriate power point for the week
3) Read the lecture summary tied to the power-point (supplementary material)
4) Take the review quiz at the end of the week (Saturday or before)
5) Participate in the discussion(s) and comment on fellow students' thoughts for that week (Saturday or before)
6) Look at the appropriate study guide and make sure you understand the material and can answer the questions for the current week
7) Review the Objectives for that week making sure that you understand them
8) Read the corresponding textbook chapter as necessary
Optional: You may look at old lecture tapings under Media Gallery * if extra help is needed; please note that information is dated, scattered amongst several days and might not be relevant (Covid-19 instruction and masks for example)
* When viewing video lectures in Media Gallery, please Sort By: Creation Day – Ascending (instead of the default of Descending to be in the correct order)
Please note that you can always work ahead in this class and take quizzes, tests and complete assignments earlier than scheduled (e.g. you could take this class in the first 7 weeks if you desired, however, you cannot take it in the last 7 weeks)
Examinations: This course will consist of three examinations (including the Final examination). The tests will all be of the same format and will come from supplementary material, power-points, videos and material covered in the text. A study guide will be provided to help focus your study on preparation for the exam (but it does not cover all questions). An exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions (100 points). As you can see from the schedule, the final examination will not be comprehensive (on purpose anyway, sometimes material tends to build on itself). The tests will be administered through CANVAS under Quizzes (links will also be on the home page and within certain weeks). Please do not open the tests until you are ready to take them. There is only one try. No power-points, supplementary material, video clips, books or outside help is allowed. However, you may have notes on a 3X5 card (both sides typed or written) to help you on the exams. There is a time limit of 44 minutes which is about one minute per question. You will only be able to only see one question at a time. Please choose the best possible answers of the choices provided. EXAMS CANNOT BE MADE UP.
Weekly Quizzes: This course will also have 13 weekly quizzes which will be worth 9 pts each for a total of 117 points. The quizzes will consist of 3 multiple-choice questions from the current weeks’ material. You can take the quiz on any day during the current or future week’s material. Each question will be worth 3 points. The quizzes are open book and open note with no time limit. All questions are given at once. They are there to help you prepare for the exams in a timely fashion. However, you can only take them once.
Discussions: Every week one to three discussion topics (a total of 20 topics) will be included with the material (A total of 40 points will be offered). The discussion topics are there to help you engage with the material as well as with each other. Please do at least one entry for each topic (1 point). In addition, comment on at least one other student’s discussion submission (1 point). Discussions close at the end of the week (usually Saturday) and no points can be given afterwards. You cannot participate in discussions for past weeks. I may give extra credit for engaging others in productive discussions as well as for in-depth and thoughtful answers. You can do discussions ahead of time which is wise especially when unforeseen circumstances happen. Just remember that when you do discussions ahead of time you may need to wait to have another discussion to comment on. Don’t forget to comment on at least one other student’s discussion!
Reflection Papers: An important aspect of any psychological concept or principle is how it relates to your own life. You will have the opportunity to do two double-spaced two-page reflection papers (maximum font 12pt). The first paper is due, and the second paper is due. Specifically, take a particular idea, concept, or psychological principle that you recently learned and explain the applicability of it to your own life. Give at least three specific examples from your life. Each paper will be worth 15 points for a total of 30 points. I or my teaching assistant will be grading on depth of thought, critical thinking, three specific examples and originality. The possible topics are many but could range from availability heuristics, functional imaging of lying, to treatment of dissociative identity disorders. It doesn’t hurt to ask me or my teaching assistant beforehand if the idea or principle would be appropriate.
Research Participation: Given that the topics we will be covering in psychology often stem directly from research studies, it is important to see how this information is collected first-hand. To meet this objective, this course requires that you participate in research occurring here in our department by signing-up through the online research system called SONA. A total of six credits is required. Each research credit will be worth 10 points for a total of 60 points.
There are specific details on Canvas describing how to sign up for these studies through SONA. Please start early as research studies get sparse towards the end of the semester (however, you can’t start until). The credits should be completed by. Please note that you do not have to turn anything in to get the credits. SONA sends me a report of credits completed.
In addition, please note that pending credits will usually count. Pending just means the researcher hasn’t entered the credits, or they are checking to make sure you showed up if it was an in-person experience. In addition, I will offer extra credit for going over the minimum six credits. Extra credit will be worth 1 point for each credit over 6 credits. (For example, if you do 8 credits of research participation you would receive 62 points). You can get a maximum of 10 extra credit points (this would be a total of 16 credits). If you choose to not participate in the research studies, an alternative assignment will be provided.
Project (AI analysis or Presentation (100 pts.) You may choose whether to do an AI analysis on a psychological disorder or prepare a presentation (you are not actually presenting it). Either option can earn you up to 100 points. Either option is due before or on
AI (Artificial Intelligence) Analysis Option: (100 pts). The purpose of this assignment is two-fold. First, sometimes it is difficult to gain empathy for someone with a psychological disorder if we focus entirely on symptoms and treatment. Second, perhaps AI can help generate fictional scenarios to help us better understand the difficulties surrounding abnormal behavior. This assignment will try to utilize AI in a beneficial manner for those purposes along with an analysis provided by you on what is successful or unsuccessful in this AI generated material. You will be asking AI to detail a week in the life of a fictional person with a specific profession, age, and psychological disorder (found in DSM 5). The AI response should be at least one page (and no more than three pages). You will be doing this exercise three times (with different ages, professions, and psychological disorders). Feel free to ask more detailed questions to improve your AI scenarios (that is why I’m having you do it three times). When you get your results, take time to examine them and then do a two-to-five-page analysis answering the following specific questions based on class material. This analysis covers all three scenarios.
Question 1: Is the detail given realistic? Could more details be present?
Question 2: What are the strengths of these results (what is good about the scenarios)?
Question 3: What are the weaknesses of these results (what doesn’t seem to work)?
Question 4: Are there stereotypes, misconceptions, or inaccuracies present and if so, what are they?
Question 5: Do the results give you greater empathy for individuals with the disorder? Why or why not?
If you don’t already have an account, make one to utilize AI. For example, you can make a free account to utilize AI using ChatGPT by going on their website and creating the free account. They usually require your name and birthdate. An example of a possible question to ask AI is, “Detail a week in the life of a 40-yr old engineer with obsessive-compulsive disorder”. Of course, you should change the age, psychological disorder, profession etc. Feel free to add more details to the question to improve the output such as “include sample conversations in the scenario” etc. Please include the question that you asked for all three scenarios. Finally, make sure that you include a good summary or concluding paragraph.
The documents you submit to Canvas should be double-spaced and 12 pt. font. Please submit the three AI generated scenarios, questions asked to AI to get the scenarios, and your 2–5-page analysis. Please turn in the AI assignment on or before If you are using an Apple product, please use save as to save as a .docx or .pdf. My computer cannot read .pages files.
I will grade the AI analysis as follows:
AI material (30 pts) Three detailed weekly scenarios of fictionalized individuals coping with specific psychological disorders is presented
Questions (10 pts) Detailed, appropriate and creative questions asked to improve output
Organization (20 pts) Exhibits a structure that is clear and consistently observable, skillfully encoded and uses proper conventions. Grammar and spelling are accurate.
AI analysis (30 pts) All five questions are answered thoroughly in analyzing the AI output.
Conclusion (10 pts) A good concluding paragraph is present
Presentation Option: You may choose to prepare one presentation using power-point (.ppt or .pptx) or other presentation software (you are not actually presenting it) on a relevant topic in psychology (100 pts). One of the most effective ways to learn something is to prepare a meaningful presentation. The presentation will be on an individual basis. Choose a topic that is relevant to psychology. Be very specific with your subject. For example, you could choose PTSD in children or dissociative disorders etc. Please be creative, don’t hesitate to use personal experience as well. The minimum number of slides should be 20. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me beforehand. Please turn the presentation on or before. Submit the presentation using Canvas. Please make your last slide a works cited, references or bibliography slide detailing where your information is coming from (not as concerned about images). Please format your references in APA style (or MLA if you are more familiar with that style). If you are using an Apple product, please use save as to save as a .ppt, .pptx, or .pdf. My computer cannot read .key files.
I will grade the presentation as follows:
Organization (20 pts) Exhibits a structure that is clear and consistently observable, skillfully encoded and uses proper conventions. Grammar and spelling are accurate.
Research (psychological studies - 30 pts) Results of studies and/or case studies show thorough understanding of psychological content.
Supported statements (10 pts) Demonstrates proper and skillful use of a variety of high-quality sources.
Good use of illustrations, pictures, and/or video clips (20 pts) The product is clear, effective and compelling, with no distracting errors.
Creativity (20 pts) Clearly expresses a unique idea and/or perspective. Personal experience is present.
Artificial Intelligence: AI can be a useful tool. It is especially useful for generating ideas on a topic or citing specific information. However, I do not want you to use AI to generate content solely for the purpose of completing assignments without any effort put forth on your part. AI does have weaknesses such as making up references, being inaccurate, wording content at graduate college Ivy-League level etc. AI is especially bad at trying to relate personal experiences such as asked for in reflection papers.
Grading: This is the performance standards that I will use.
A = 94-100%
A- = 90-93%
B+ = 87-89%
B = 83-86%
B- = 80-82%
C+ = 77-79%
C = 73-76%
C- = 70-72%
D+ = 67-69%
D = 63-66%
D- = 60-62%
F = below 60%
Note: A UW will be given if two or more tests are missing, or one exam in combination with the project is missing.
Point Totals:
Attendance Survey 3 points
Quizzes (every week – due Sat.) 117 points
Discussions (every week – due Sat.) 40 points
Reflection Paper 1 15 points
First Exam 100 points
Reflection Paper 2 15 points
Project 100 points
Second Exam: 100 points
Research Participation 60 points
Final Exam Due: 100 points
Total points possible 650 points
Notice: I will strive to grade all work in a timely manner (at worst 3 weeks).
The Southern Utah University Psychology Department values our students irrespective of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion, nationality, capabilities, or disabilities. Our faculty and staff are committed to the intellectual, physical, and emotional health of all members of the campus community. Should anyone experience problems or issues with depression, anxiety, grief, discrimination, alienation or marginalization, helplessness or hopelessness, or thoughts of suicide, we implore you to seek us out. Our commitment is to listen, and help you find the resources you need.
https://www.suu.edu/caps/pdf/crisis-resources.pdf SUU Land Acknowledgement: SUU wishes to acknowledge and honor theIndigenous communities of this region as original possessors, stewards, and inhabitants of this Too’veep (land), and recognize that the University is situated on the traditional homelands of the Nung’wu (Southern Paiute People). We recognize that these lands have deeply rooted spiritual, cultural, and historical significance to the Southern Paiutes. We offer gratitude for the land itself, for the collaborative and resilient nature of the Southern Paiute people, and for the continuous opportunity to study, learn, work, and build community on their homelands here today. Consistent with the University's ongoing commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, SUU works towards building meaningful relationships with Native Nations and Indigenous communities through academic pursuits, partnerships, historical recognitions, community service, and student success efforts.