PSY 2110D: Social Psychology Course Syllabus

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École de psychologie | School of Psychology 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Vanier 3002, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5

 613-562-5801  613-562-5147

PSY 2110D: Social Psychology Course Syllabus _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Professor: Dave Miranda, Ph.D. Office hours and availability: ‘Walk-in’ consultations for the course will take place at Vanier Hall (VNR) room 5044; on Tuesday (14:30-16:00) and Wednesday (14:30-16:00) Email and Virtual Campus: [email protected] Teaching assistant: Amélie Morinville, B.A. Email: [email protected] Availability: Vanier Hall (VNR) room 5044 (one hour per week; moment to be determined) Semester: Fall 2013 Classes: Tuesday (16:00-17:30) and Thursday (14:30-16:00) Classroom: Montpetit Hall; room 203 (MNT203) ______________________________________________________________________________________________

A - Official Course Description: PSY2110: Social Psychology (3,0,0); 3 cr. Social perception, attitudes, prejudice, interpersonal attraction, social influence, aggression, groups and leadership. Prerequisites: PSY1101, PSY1102

B - General Course Objective The main purpose of this course is to offer a complete overview of the scientific field of social psychology. Students will learn how to recognize, define, describe, understand, compare, situate, and criticize the major theoretical and empirical contributions from classical and contemporary social psychology.

C - Specific Course Objectives          

To be able to provide a definition for social psychology; To consider a lifespan perspective and a cross-cultural perspective on social development; To be familiar with the main theoretical frameworks in social psychology; To understand the strengths and limitations (theoretical and empirical) of the major themes of research in social psychology, including social cognition, social perception, the self, reasoned actions, attitudes, conformity, group processes, interpersonal attraction, prosocial behaviour, aggression, prejudice, etc.; To understand the work of leading theorists and researchers in each of the main themes of research; To adopt an integrative approach and a biopsychosocial perspective on social psychology; To situate the contributions of social psychology in the broader understanding of human development; To recognize (or provide) examples of social psychological phenomena as they are documented in the scientific literature and as they actually unfold in everyday life; To express a sound and concise opinion about diverse research questions in social psychology; To appreciate and anticipate novel theoretical approaches and future research directions.

Dave Miranda, Ph.D. — PSY2110D: Social Psychology (fall 2013) — University of Ottawa, School of Psychology

2 D - Teaching Methods and Learning Activities 

Required readings: The required textbook is: Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R.M., & Fehr, B. (2013). th Social Psychology, 5 Canadian Edition. Pearson Education. ISBN-13 978-0-13-291835-0. ***One copy of the required textbook will also be on reserve at the Morisset Library (loan time = two hours).

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Course notes: The course notes for each class (in pdf) will be available at least two days in advance on Virtual Campus.

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Lectures: The professor will provide an interactive audiovisual presentation (e.g., power point) for each class. During each class, the essential elements from the assigned readings and the course notes are revisited. Above all, each class provides complementary information, necessary adjustments, and additional content. Therefore, students’ attendance is recommended throughout the session.

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Invited speakers: There will be invited speakers during some of the classes.

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Questions: Students are welcome to ask questions during class, by email, or in person during the office hours.

E - Evaluation Methods and Distribution of Grades 1. A First Midterm Exam will include 35 multiple-choice questions and seven short written-answers. The first midterm exam will count for 30% of the final mark. It will take place in class on October 8, 2013; 2. A Second Midterm Exam will include 30 multiple-choice questions and six short written-answers. The second midterm exam will count for 30% of the final mark. It will take place in class on November 12, 2013; 3. A Final Exam will include 40 multiple-choice questions and eight short written-answers. The final exam will count for 40% of the final mark. It will take place between December 5 and 18, 2013. 

The questions of the three exams will evaluate the students’ understanding and retention of the assigned readings from the book, the course notes, the professor’s presentations, and the invited speakers’ talk;

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These exams are not recapitulative;

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These are closed book exams: students are not allowed to use their books, course notes, any kind of documentation, or electronic communication devices during the three exams;

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The professor and the exam supervisors will not answer questions during the three exams;

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It is mandatory for students to present their University of Ottawa student card and to sign the attendance sheet at each exam.  

The final mark in percent (%) will be converted into an alphanumeric grade (letter) according to the University of Ottawa’s official grading system; November 15, 2013 is the last day to withdraw from a course.

Policy on attendance, language quality and late submissions Attendance during classes is encouraged because it is important for the successful completion of this course. Five percent (5%) can be deducted for lack of language quality in the written exams. Absences from exams and the late submission of assignments must be supported by a medical certificate (see the University policy in this area). Absences for any other serious reason must be justified in writing to the professor or to the academic secretariats of the Faculty within five business days following the date of the exam or the assignment deadline. The professor or the Faculty reserves the right to accept or refuse the reason put forward. Justifications such as travel, jobs or the misreading of the examination timetable are not acceptable. Dave Miranda, Ph.D. — PSY2110D: Social Psychology (fall 2013) — University of Ottawa, School of Psychology

3 F- Absence from an Exam Must be Justified 

At the beginning of the session, it is the responsibility of each student to understand the regulations and procedures for undergraduate studies of the University of Ottawa, the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the School of Psychology concerning any foreseeable (or unforeseeable) absence from an exam.

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Information about the Academic Regulations for Undergraduate Studies can be consulted on the University of Ottawa’s website, for instance at http://web5.uottawa.ca/admingov/regulations.html#r77.

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Section 9.5 (Justification of absence from an examination or of late submission of assignments) from the Academic Regulations for Undergraduate Studies (http://web5.uottawa.ca/admingov/regulations.html#r77) mentions: “Absence from any examination or test, or late submission of assignments due to illness, psychological problems or exceptional personal circumstances must be justified; otherwise, students will be penalized.”

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Foreseeable (or unforeseeable) absence from an exam: the student has to inform first the professor directly by email (students must use their email account from the University of Ottawa).

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Foreseeable (or unforeseeable) medically motivated absence from an exam: students have to justify their absence to the professor by presenting a medical certificate and a request for deferral form from the Secretariat of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The medical certificate should mention: (1) name and date of birth of the student; (2) dates of absence and return to studies; (3) code of the course; (4) physician’s signature with date. If necessary, the professor can ask for the medical certificate to be validated by the University of Ottawa Health Services.

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Foreseeable (or unforeseeable) absence from an exam for any serious reason (other than medical): students have to (a) justify their absence in writing by email to the professor and (b) complete a request for deferral form from the Secretariat of the Faculty of Social Sciences (or at the School of Psychology).

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For any foreseeable absence from an exam, students must provide the necessary justifications (documents) in advance before the exam date, while for unforeseeable absence from an exam, students should provide the necessary justifications within 5 working days after the exam date.

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The Faculty of Social Sciences, the School of Psychology, and the professor reserve the right to accept or refuse students’ justification for their absence from an exam.


4 G - Calendar of Classes, Activities, Course Content and Evaluations Week 1 Thursday September 5

1. Introduction to social psychology Main themes:  Presentation of the Syllabus  Social foundations of human nature, basic areas of research and applications (e.g., self, social cognitions, attitudes, persuasion), and key definitions  Epistemological and historical overview  Social influence  Construals, needs, and motives Readings: chapter 1 Week 2

Tuesday September 10

2.1. Methodology in social psychology (part 1) Main themes:  Empirical research (e.g., hypothesis, data, validity, assessment, ethics)  Research methods (e.g., observational, experimental, and correlational) Readings: chapter 2

Thursday September 12

2.2. Methodology in social psychology (part 2) Main themes:  Psychometric modeling (e.g., latent variables and indicators)  Independent, dependent, mediating, and moderating variables  Between-person and within-person longitudinal and experimental designs  Social neuroscience designs  Prevention and intervention program evaluations (efficacy) and theory testing Readings: chapter 2 Week 3

Tuesday September 17

3. Social cognition Main themes:  Automatic and controlled social cognitions  Schemas, heuristics, thinking styles Readings: chapter 3


4. Social perception Main themes:  Communication and emotions  Implicit theories  Causal attribution theory Readings: chapter 4


5 Week 4 Tuesday September 24

5.1. Self and self-regulation (part 1) Main themes:  The Self  Self-awareness theory, self-perception theory  Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation Readings: chapter 5


5.2. Self and self-regulation (part 2) Main themes:  The Selves  Social comparison theory  Self-discrepancy theory Readings: chapter 5 Week 5

Tuesday

6.1. Attitudes (part 1)

October 1

Main themes:  Cognitive, affective, and behavioural attitudes  Theory of planned behaviour Readings: chapter 6

Thursday

6.2. Attitudes (part 2)

October 3

Main themes:  Models of persuasion (e.g., central and peripheral routes)  Theory of cognitive dissonance Readings: chapter 6 Week 6

Tuesday

MIDTERM EXAM # 1 (30%): REGARDING THE CONTENT OF CLASSES 1. TO 5.2. INCLUSIVELY

October 8 Thursday

Guest speaker: Prof. Patrick Gaudreau (main theme: performance)

October 10

Week 7 October 13-19

Study Week (NO CLASSES)


6 Week 8 Tuesday October 22

7.1. Social influence and conformity (part 1) Main themes:  Informal social influence  Normative social influence Readings: chapter 7

Thursday

7.2. Social influence and conformity (part 2)

October 24

Main themes:  Compliance and obedience to authority  Social Dominance Theory Readings: chapter 7 Week 9

Tuesday October 29

8.1. Group processes (part 1) Main themes:  Group, social roles  Group decision making (e.g., ‘groupthink’) Readings: chapter 8

Thursday October 31

8.2. Group processes (part 2) Main themes:  Leadership (e.g., task- or relationship-oriented leaders)  Dilemmas and negotiation Readings: chapter 8 Week 10

Tuesday

9.1. Interpersonal relationships (part 1)

November 5

Main themes:  Propinquity and exposure effects  Attractiveness  Friendship Readings: chapter 9

Thursday November 7

9.2. Interpersonal relationships (part 2) Main themes:  Love and romance  Attachment  Relationship change and stability (e.g., social exchange theories) Readings: chapter 9


7 Week 11 Tuesday

MIDTERM EXAM # 2 (30%): REGARDING THE CONTENT OF CLASSES 6.1. TO 8.2. INCLUSIVELY

November 12 Thursday November 14

10. Prosocial behavior Main themes:  Prosocial behaviours, altruism, empathy  Evolutionary theories, personality, and situational determinants Readings: chapter 10

Week 12 Tuesday November 19

11. Antisocial behaviour Main themes:  Aggression, theories of aggression (e.g., social learning theory)  Society, peers, family, media Readings: chapter 11

Thursday November 21

12. Prejudice Main themes:  Prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination  In- and out-groups, racism  Prevention and interventions for reducing prejudice Readings: chapter 12

Week 13 Tuesday November 26

13. Applied social psychology: environment Main themes:  Sustainable future  Happiness and lifestyle Readings: SPA 1

Thursday November 28

14. Applied social psychology: health Main themes:  Healthy behaviours  Stress and coping Readings: SPA 2


8 Week 14 Tuesday December 3

15. Applied social psychology: legal systems Main themes:  Eyewitness testimony and memory  Juries and procedural justice Readings: SPA 3

Weeks 14 and 15 FINAL EXAM (40%): REGARDING THE CONTENT OF CLASSES 9.1. TO 15. INCLUSIVELY * During this period, it is the students’ responsibility to make sure that they are available for the final exam. December 5 to 18*


9 H - Bibliography (Recommended Readings) Books American Psychological Association (2006). APA dictionary of psychology. (G. R. VandenBos, ed.). Washington, DC: Author. Baron, R. A., & Branscombe, N. R., & Byrne, D. R. (2008), Social Psychology (12th Edition). Allyn & Bacon. Baumeister, R. F., & Bushman, B. J. (2010). Social Psychology and Human Nature, Comprehensive Edition (2 Edition). Wadsworth Publishing.

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Berry, J. W., Poortinga, Y. H., Breugelmans, S. M., Chasiotis, A., & Sam, D. L. (2011). Cross-cultural psychology: research and applications, 3rd Edition. Cambridge University Press. Fiske, S.T., Gilbert, D. T., & Lindzey, G. (2010). Handbook of social psychology, 5th Edition, volume 1). Wiley. Fiske, S.T., Gilbert, D. T., & Lindzey, G. (2010). Handbook of social psychology, 5th Edition, volume 2). Wiley. Kitayama, S., & Cohen, D. (2007). Handbook of cultural psychology. New York: The Guilford Press. Myers, D. (2011). Exploring Social Psychology (6th Edition). McGraw-Hill. Sanderson, C. A. (2009). Social Psychology. Wiley. Taylor, S. E., Peplau, L. A., & Sears, D. O. (2005). Social Psychology (12th Edition). Prentice Hall.

Journals Annual Review of Psychology Basic and Applied Social Psychology Developmental Psychology Journal of Applied Social Psychology Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin Personality and Social Psychology Review Psychological Bulletin Psychological Science The Journal of Social Psychology


10 I - Additional Resources (Resources for You) FACULTY MENTORING CENTRE - http://www.sciencessociales.uottawa.ca/mentor/fra/ The goal of the Mentoring Centre is to help students with their academic and social well-being during their time at the University of Ottawa. Regardless of where students stand academically, or how far along they are in completing their degree, the Mentoring Centre is there to help them continue on the path to success. A student may choose to visit the Mentoring Centre for very different reasons: talking to older peers to gain insight into programs and services offered by the University, or to simply brush up on study skills (time management, note-taking, exam preparation, etc.) In sum, at the Mentoring Centre, you can discuss all things academic and everything about life on campus with mentors who are social science students themselves and trained to answer all your questions. ACADEMIC WRITING HELP CENTRE http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/writing/ The Academic Writing Help Centre provides free, individualized help and advice for writing academic assignments. With the help of our advisors, you learn to correct your errors, to write well independently, to improve your critical analysis and to sharpen your argumentation skills—everything you need to master the official language of your choice. CAREER SERVICES http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/careers/ This unit provides an array of career-development services and resources designed to help students identify and put forward the critical skills they need to enter the work force. COUNSELLING and Coaching SERVICE http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/personnel There are many reasons to call on the Counselling and Coaching Service (613-562-5200), including personal counseling, career counseling, and study skills counseling. ACCESS SERVICE http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/acces/ The University has always strived to meet the needs of individuals with learning disabilities or with other temporary or permanent functional disabilities (hearing/visual impairments, sustained health issues, mental health problems), and the campus community works collaboratively so that you can develop and maintain your autonomy, as well as reach your full potential throughout your studies. You can call on a wide range of services and resources, all provided with expertise, professionalism and confidentiality. If barriers are preventing you from integrating into university life and you need adaptive measures to progress (physical setting, arrangements for exams, learning strategies, etc.), contact the Access Service right away:   

in person at the University Centre, Room 339 online at http://www.sass.uottawa.ca/access/registration/ by phone at 613-562-5976

Deadlines for submitting requests for adaptive measures during exams, midterms, tests, deferred exams: seven business days before the exam, test or other written evaluation (excluding the day of the exam itself). For final exams:   

November 15 for the fall session March 15 for the winter session Seven business days before the date of the exam for the spring/summer session (excluding the day of the exam itself).

Student Resources Centre - http://www.communitylife.uottawa.ca/en/resources.php These centres strive to meet all sorts of student needs. Help for Students in Distress. Students in distress can find help and support by contacting services available to them on campus and off campus:  

On campus, you can contact the Counselling and Coaching Service (613-562-5200); the Health Services Clinic (613-564-3950); and the Peer Support Phone line (7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 613-562-5604). Off campus, you can contact the Crisis line (24/7), within Ottawa (613-722-6914) or outside Ottawa (1-866996-0991).


11 J - Mention on Integrity and the Writing Process Be aware of academic fraud! Academic fraud consists of dishonest and wrongful acts on exams, test or assignments, resulting in flawed grades and assessments. The University does not tolerate academic fraud, and anyone found guilty of this behaviour is liable to severe penalties. Here are some examples of academic fraud:    

Plagiarizing or cheating in any way Presenting falsified research data; Submitting an assignment of which you are not the sole author Presenting the same work from another course without written permission from the professors concerned.

With the development of the Internet these past years, it has become much easier to detect plagiarism. Indeed, given the powerful tools now at their disposal, your professors can, by typing a few simple words, readily trace the exact source of a text on the Web. For more information on fraud and how to avoid it, you can refer to the Faculty web page, which offers tips to help you with your studies and the writing process for university-level projects at the following address: http://www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca/eng/ugrad_tips.asp. You can also refer to the Faculty web page for information on plagiarism in university assignments: http://www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca/eng/ethics.asp Persons who commit or try to commit academic fraud, or who are accomplices in fraud, will be penalized. Here are some of the possible sanctions:   

a grade of F for the assignment or course in question the imposition of three to 30 more credits as a condition of graduation suspension or expulsion from their faculty.

To consult the regulation, go to: http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/info/newsletter/fraud_f.html
