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PSYC 311 - Social Psychology Prerequisite: PSYC 111 General Psychology

This course is offered in the Fall semesters every year.

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Instructor: Ling-Yi Zhou, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Office: S435, Tower Hall Office Hours: MWRF 2:30-3:30 p.m. Phone: (815) 740-3594 E-mail: lzhou@stfrancis.edu

Course Description Course Requirements Grading Tentative Schedule

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Required Textbook

Myers, ,

D. G. (2008). Social psychology (9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Course Description and Goals

This course is to familiarize students with the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another. The focus will be placed on the fundamental principles of social thinking (the self, judgments, attribution, and attitudes and behavior); social influence (persuasion and group influence); and social relations (prejudice and discrimination, aggression, attraction, and altruism), with society and culture serving as the contexts.

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course the student will be able to:

1. demonstrate a basic understanding of general research methods used by social psychologists;
2. demonstrate a basic understanding of major concepts and theories in the areas of social thinking (including self-concept, self-efficacy, self-serving biases, self-presentation and management, self-fulfilling beliefs, social beliefs and judgments, behavior and attitudes, and social cognition and human well-being); social influence (including gender issues, cultural issues, conformity, persuasion, social facilitation, social loafing, deindividuation, groupthink, minority influence, and social psychology in court); and social relations (including prejudice and discrimination, aggression, attraction and intimacy, altruism, and negotiation);
3. compare and evaluate theories in social psychology;
4. demonstrate knowledge of the research findings of important studies in social psychology;
5. appreciate various factors affecting social cognition and social interaction;
6. reflect upon the social aspects of themselves (e.g., the self, social cognition of others, and relationships to other people);
7. do citations and prepare references in APA style;
8. locate research articles of primary sources, comprehend the information, and present it to class in a coherent and interactive way; and
9. apply social psychology principles to real life issues.

Methods of Instruction

Lectures assisted with PowerPoint slides and active learning

Course Requirements

Students will be expected to:

1. read the textbook chapters and other required sources in a timely manner;
2. attend all classes and actively participate in all in-class learning activities;
3. take three tests and the final exam; and
4. complete all the assignments independently and submit each electronically before or on its due date.

Attendance Policy

Fifty points are assigned to in-class learning activities. Attendance will be formally taken at each class meeting. If you miss the class, you miss the points assigned to the activities in that class.

Methods of Evaluation

Student learning outcomes will be assessed based upon class attendance, participation, assignments, and tests.

Homework

All of the assignments must be submitted electronically. If all of your assignments are turned in on time, you will receive five extra points to reward your commitment, good time management, and respect for the others' needs. One week extension is allowed for each assignment; after one week, I will not accept late submission due to my feedback to the assignment has to be released to the rest of the class.

Tests

Make-up tests are possible if you have valid reasons AND contact the instructor prior to the test date. If the student fails to obtain my permission for test date rearrangement, the student's test score will be less ten percent (the reason of this penalty being that he or she is having more time for test preparation than those who stick to the time table).

Grades

Final Grade Componens		Points	Grade
1	Attendance & Participation (50 Points)	540-600	A
2	Assignments (250 points)	480-539	B
3	Quizzes (300 points)	417-479	C
		357-416	D
Total	600 Points	356 and lower	F

Academic Integrity