PSY105: General Psychology Lab — Fall 2008

This course examines and applies the methods and techniques of scientific inquiry used in psychology, including computer-simulated demonstrations, small group discussion, and written assignments. You will gain hands-on experience with a sample of the phenomena studied in PSY101 (General Psychology) and other psychology courses.

Course objectives

Students will acquire an understanding of the requirements of empirical investigation including the need for objectivity and the establishment of appropriate controls.
Students will acquire basic skills in data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
Students will develop question answering and discussion skills through participation in recitation sessions.
Students will develop writing skills through the completion and review of written assignments.
Students will acquire a rudimentary understanding of the use of computers in psychological research and practice.

classroom: Beaumont Hall 105.
instructor: Dr. J. Stephen Mansfield
email: steve.mansfield@plattsburgh.edu
phone: 564-3384
office: 206a Beaumont Hall
office hours: Monday 12–1pm, Wednesday 1–2pm, Friday 12:30–1:30pm, and at other times by arrangement.
class time: Class meets once a week — the day and time depends on your section as follows:

Section	Class time	Teaching Assistant
A	Mon 12pm	Justine McNeice
B	Mon 12pm	Victoria Callanan
C	Mon 1pm	Sophie Lukowski
D	Mon 1pm	Erica Olmstead
E	Wed 12pm	Justine McNeice
F	Wed 12pm	Victoria Callanan
G	Wed 1pm	Sophie Lukowski
H	Wed 1pm	Erica Olmstead
I	Fri 12pm	Justine McNeice
J	Fri 12pmVictoria Callanan
K	Fri 1pm	Sophie Lukowski
L	Fri 1pm	Erica Olmstead

Text

Mansfield, J. S. (Fall 2008). General Psychology Laboratory Manual
The manual can be purchased at the college store or downloaded (free) in PDF from the course web page. Please be sure you have the Fall 2008 edition!

You must bring the manual with you to lab each week.

How this course works

After the introductory week, this course consists of 13 labs. The procedure for each lab is the same…

Before class you must read the introductory material in the lab manual.
You should check the course schedule to make sure that you prepare for the correct lab.
Arrive to class on time.
If you arrive a little late you will not be allowed to take the mini quiz. If you arrive more than a little late you will not be allowed to do the lab.
The lab session will start with a short quiz based on the introductory material in the lab manual.
Each quiz contributes 1pt to your grade for the lab. Typically the quizzes will have two to four short-answer or multiple-choice questions. If you have read and understood the introductory material for the lab you will have no trouble answering these questions.
Log into the class web site using your username and password.
Your username is your last name. You will give me a password during the first class meeting of the semester. If you forget your password, or have trouble logging on for any reason, please contact me immediately so that I can help you.
Follow the instructions in the lab manual to perform the tasks required to collect your data.
Hopefully the instructions will be pretty clear. However, ask your TA for help if you have any problems.
If applicable, enter your data into your personal data sheet.
We will keep your data sheet for you in a binder in the lab office.
If you finish before the other students, review the discussion questions in the lab manual.
You may also look over the homework questions (they are listed at the end of the lab manual.)
The TA will lead the group in a discussion and interpretation of the lab.
It is important that you make a substantive contribution to this discussion. The TA will grade your contribution, and this will be worth up to 3pts towards your grade for the lab.
At the end of the discussion rate your own contribution to the discussion and hand your rating sheet to the TA.
The rating sheet requires you to assess and briefly describe your contribution.
Complete the online lab-evaluation form.
I appreciate your honest opinion and assessment of how useful, interesting, and educational you found each lab.
After lab is complete, answer the homework questions by following the homework link on the course web site.
A short homework assignment (worth 6pts) is due for each lab. The assignments can be accessed from your personal PSY105 web page, and they are also printed at the end of your lab manual so that you do not need to be at a computer to see what the questions are. You should follow the rules below concerning submitting your homework.
Your homework must be submitted before the start of your next lab.
Late work will be accepted until one week after the deadline, but 10% of the available grade will be automatically deducted from your score for each day or part of a day (including weekends and holidays) that the work is late.

Your grade

Each lab activity is graded out of 10 points as described below. At the end of the semester I will drop your lowest scoring lab.

At any time during the semester you can log in to the class web site to view your quiz, discussion, and homework grades, and to review the comments and feedback on your homework assignments.

Lab notes quiz (1pt)

Before each lab, you are expected to read the introductory material in the Laboratory Manual and to review the instructions. There will be a short quiz on the introductory material on the at the start of each lab session. Do not arrive late for lab, otherwise you will not have time to complete the quiz.

Lab discussion (3pts)

After each lab activity is completed, there will be a group discussion based on questions presented in the lab manual. You are expected to contribute to the discussion.

Homework (6pts)

Assignments: A short homework assignment is due for each lab. The assignments can be accessed from your personal PSY105 web page. The assignments are also printed at the end of your lab manual so that you do not need to be at a computer to see what the questions are.
Submitting homework: Homework must be submitted via the link on your personal PSY105 web page. When you submit your homework, you will see a web page indicating the time and date you sent the assignment, along with a record of the work you sent. You must save this page (either save it on your computer or print it out) as proof that you completed the assignment, in case a discrepancy arises.
Spelling and grammar: Points will be deducted for poor spelling and grammar, so please make sure you proofread everything you turn in. You are advised to use a word processor (e.g., Microsoft Word) to type your answers, and then copy them into the web page. This way you can use a spell checker before submitting your assignment. This also allows you to save your work as you go, so that you do not lose everything in the event of a computer or software crash.
Homework deadlines: Each homework assignment must be submitted by the beginning of class one week after the lab is completed. For example, if you conduct Lab 1 on Monday at 1:00pm, you must submit the homework for Lab 1 no later than the following Monday at 1:00pm.
Late work: Late work will be accepted until one week after the deadline, but 10% of the available grade will be automatically deducted from your score for each day or part of a day (including weekends and holidays) that the work is late. For example, if your lab was due at 1:00pm on Monday, and you hand it in at 4:00pm on Tuesday the deduction will be 1.2pts (i.e., 20% of the possible 6pts). So, if your work would have scored 5pts you will be awarded 3.8pts.
Computer problems: If despite your best efforts you cannot submit the homework through the web page, you can print out the assignment and hand a copy of it to your TA at the beginning of your lab. Homework submitted this way must be typewritten — handwritten assignments will receive 0 points. Note: Handing in a printout out the homework web-form with your answers filled in is not sufficient. Parts of your answers may be missed out, and thus will not score full credit.

Extra credit

Extra credit can be earned in the following ways:

Personal Reactions (0.25% each. Maximum 6): Write a 1-page report (approximately 300 words) that describes how the material presented in a specific class was personally relevant to you. For example: What did you learn from a class? Did the material conform to your understanding of the world, or did it challenge your beliefs or opinions ... etc.?; To submit a personal reaction for extra credit follow the REACTION link once you have logged into the course web site. Your reaction must be sent within one week of the day the class was given, and you must have been present in class on that day.
Error spotting (0.1% each. No limit): I hold you all to a high standard for accurate spelling and correct grammar. It is only fair that I should be held to the same standard. So, if you find a spelling error or a grammar error in any class materials that I distribute to you, or post on class web pages, or in a course textbook, and you are one of the first students to report it to me, I will reward you with extra credit.; To report an error for extra credit follow the ERROR REPORT link once you have logged into the course web site. Your error report must be sent within one week of the day the material was distributed (or referred to) in class, and you must have been present in class on that day. Additionally, your error report must itself be free of errors in order to receive extra credit.

Grades

Your letter grade will be determined according to the following table.

Percentage	Grade
≥ 93.33	A
≥ 90.00 and < 93.33	A−
≥ 86.67 and < 90.00	B+
≥ 83.33 and < 86.67	B
≥ 80.00 and < 83.33	B−
≥ 76.67 and < 80.00	C+
≥ 73.33 and < 76.67	C
≥ 70.00 and < 73.33	C−
≥ 66.67 and < 70.00	D+
≥ 60.00 and < 66.67	D
< 60.00	E

The final application of these guidelines is subject to the discretion of the instructor.

Note that, except for the extra-credit opportunities stated in the syllabus, students will not be allowed to do any additional "extra work" to make up for poor performance in class.

Attendance

You are required to attend your lab section every week. You may not attend another lab section. Attendance will be taken at each lab.

Homework may only be submitted for labs you have attended.

You must arrive on time for each lab. If you arrive after the lab-notes quiz has started you will not be allowed to take the quiz. If you arrive after the lab activity has started you will not be permitted to do the lab.

Note that class will be held whenever classes are in session, including days surrounding holiday breaks. Please plan your travels accordingly. Missing class or lab because your ride is leaving early or getting back late is not an acceptable excuse.

Make-ups for missing labs

Missed labs can only be made up if you have a valid and documented excuse. You should complete my Request to make-up a missed lab (pdf) form and hand it in to me, along with a copy of the documentation that supports your excuse, as soon as possible.

Make-up labs will be done during the final exam week. Rather than using the on-line homework form, you should print out your homework answers and hand them in. In addition to the homework questions, you must also submit typewritten answers to the discussion questions (since you will not be able to participate in the class discussion for those labs).

Communication

If you do not understand something, or you are unsure how to complete an assignment, the first thing you should do is contact me. I will help you if you ask me.
The easiest way to contact me is via the 'send comment' link on the course web site (available once you have logged in).
If you send me a message by campus email and you would like me to reply, please include your real name in your message. It is hard to identify students based on their email address alone (this is especially the case if you send your mail from a non-campus address). Also, irrespective of the email account you use to send your message, I will only send my reply to your campus email account.
If you leave me a phone message and you would like me to call you back, please include your name, state your phone number clearly at the start and end of your message, and suggest an appropriate time (or range of times) when I will be able to reach you.
You are responsible for all material presented and announcements made in class, whether you are in class or not.

Class web pages

I will create an individual web page for you on my course web site. Your web page will be protected by a password that you will give me at the start of the semester. Your page can be accessed from the STUDENT LOGIN link on my homepage: <http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/steve.mansfield>. Your page will show your grades in my class, give you access to extra credit opportunities, and allow you to retrieve the course materials that we use in class. Some class-related materials will only be made available to you via your page.

You must check your grade page at least once a week. If you are unable to access your web page for any reason you should contact me.

Academic honesty

It is expected that all students enrolled in this class support the letter and the spirit of the Academic Honesty Policy as stated in the college catalog.

Academic honesty is essential to the intellectual health of the university and the ideals of education. SUNY Plattsburgh expects students to be honest and to conduct themselves with integrity in all aspects of their relationship with the college (e.g., application, transfer evaluation, academic progress review, and credit and non-credit bearing experiences, including regular course work, independent studies, internships, practica, student teaching, and interactions with faculty, staff, and students). Academic dishonesty adversely affects the educational function of the college and undermines the integrity of its programs.

Dishonest conduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, forgery, and alteration of records, along with any lying, deceit, bribery, coercion, or intimidation for the purpose of influencing a grade or for any other academic gain. Action against a student determined to have violated the academic honesty policy can range from a reduction of the grade on an assignment, through failure of a course, to suspension or even dismissal from the academic program, the department, or the college.

All cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported to the college judicial board in accordance with the college's procedures for addressing suspected academic dishonesty.

Penalties for academic dishonesty

The college procedures require me to specify a sanction for the alleged violation. In my courses the sanctions will be as follows:

Assignments that are not written in the student's own words (e.g., containing passages that match with another student's work, the class textbook, or other reference material) will score zero.
Falsification of a student's signature on a sign-in sheet for attendance or class participation will result in the students receiving zero of the available credit for attendance or participation.
Students who cheat on an exam will fail the course (i.e., their final grade will be an E.)
Students who fabricate data (e.g., by 'making up' results, or reporting data that they did not collect) for a research study or lab class will fail the course (i.e., their final grade will be an E.)
Penalties for other forms of dishonest conduct will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

© 2008 Steve Mansfield. This page is not necessarily representative of official University policy nor of the University in general. Likewise, the official policies of the University are not necessarily representative of my own beliefs or opinions. VALID XHTML1.0 strict