SAMPLE SYLLABUS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE PSYCH-UA9032L01, Social Psychology NYU London Instructor Information ● Professor Daniel Richardson ● Office hours after class or by appointment Course Information ● Monday 9-12 ○ G03 ● Prerequisite: Introduction to Psychology is strongly recommended but not required. If Introduction to Psychology has not been taken, the student is encouraged to approach Dr. Richardson for some background readings. Course Overview and Goals The themes, methods and ideas of social psychology will be introduced in this course. We will look at how individuals understand themselves and other people, the relationship between behaviour, self and the social situation, and the forces that govern interactions between individuals and groups. We will pay particular attention to the emerging field of social cognitive neuroscience, and moves to understand social phenomena with the tools of cognitive and perceptual psychology. The format of the course will involve two 45 minute lectures each week. Inbetween lectures, there will be a seminar discussion of research papers led by students. Upon Completion of this Course, students will be able to: ● list the general themes that have been covered in the course (see exercise on main themes in social psychology) ● list the main theories covered in each of the lecture topics ● critically evaluate each of the theories in relation to rival theories ● use research evidence to support or refute each idea ● evaluate the strength of research evidence in social psychology [Insert goal and/or objectives] Page 1 SAMPLE SYLLABUS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Transcript
SAMPLE SYLLABUS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PSYCH-UA9032L01, Social Psychology
NYU London
Instructor Information ● Professor Daniel Richardson ● Office hours after class or by
appointment
Course Information ● Monday 9-12
○ G03 ● Prerequisite: Introduction to Psychology is strongly recommended but not
required. If Introduction to Psychology has not been taken, the student is encouraged to approach Dr. Richardson for some background readings.
Course Overview and Goals The themes, methods and ideas of social psychology will be introduced in this course. We will look at how individuals understand themselves and other people, the relationship between behaviour, self and the social situation, and the forces that govern interactions between individuals and groups. We will pay particular attention to the emerging field of social cognitive neuroscience, and moves to understand social phenomena with the tools of cognitive and perceptual psychology.
The format of the course will involve two 45 minute lectures each week. Inbetween lectures, there will be a seminar discussion of research papers led by students.
Upon Completion of this Course, students will be able to: ● list the general themes that have been covered in the course (see exercise on
main themes in social psychology) ● list the main theories covered in each of the lecture topics ● critically evaluate each of the theories in relation to rival theories ● use research evidence to support or refute each idea ● evaluate the strength of research evidence in social psychology [Insert goal and/or
objectives]
Page 1 SAMPLE SYLLABUS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
SAMPLE SYLLABUS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Course Requirements
Grading of Assignments The grade for this course will be determined according to these assessment components:
Assignments/Activities Description of Assignment
% of Final
Grade Due
Class participation Participation in class discussions, and presenting/leading discussion of a research article to the class
15%
Observation essay
1500-word report on an observation of a social phenomenon in a naturalistic setting. Students will be required to describe a sequence of behaviours, and prepare an explanatory account of their psychological significance, relating the observed behaviours to theories outlined in lecture and/or text
25%
Midterm A combination of MCQs, short answers question, and essay questions 25%
Final A combination of MCQs, short answers question, and essay questions 40%
Failure to submit or fulfill any required course component results in failure of the class
Grades Letter grades for the entire course will be assigned as follows:
Letter Grade Percent Description
A Example: 93.5% and higher
Consistent evidence of an organised and inspired understanding of the subject matters. Written work to reflect literacy and lucidity. A command of lectures, required and some additional readings to be evident. All 3 assignments are passed.
B Example: 82.5% - 87.49%
Evidence of an organised understanding of the subject matters. Written work to be generally literate. A command of lectures and some required reading without much further reading to be evident. At least 2 of the 3 assignments must be passed, including the final exam.
C Example: 72.5% - 77.49%
Inconsistent evidence of an organised understanding of the subject matters. Written work to show consistent signs of incoherence and an incomplete grasp of the lecture and/or reading materials. At least 2 of the 3
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SAMPLE SYLLABUS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Letter Grade Percent Description
assessments must be passed, including the final exam.
D Example: 62.5% - 67.49
A consistently partial understanding of the subject matters is evident. Written work is often ill-organised. At least 2 of the 3 assessments are passed.
F Example: 59.99% and lower Only 1 of the 3 assessments is passed; little evidence of learning
Course Materials
Required Textbooks & Materials ● Smith ER & Mackie DM, Social psychology, ISBN 1841694096
Session 10 Power of the situation S&M Chapter 9; Williams, (2007).
Session 11 Explaining behaviour S&M Chapter 3
Session 12 The Social Self S&M Chapters 4&6 Observation Essay
Session 13 Culture and Context S&M Chapter 10; Nisbett, R.E. & Masuda, T. (2005).
Session 14 Evolutionary Psychology S&M Chapter 11; Buss, D. M. (1995); Bem (1997)
Final Assessment
Classroom Etiquette • Toilet breaks should be taken before or after class or during class breaks. • Food & drink, including gum, are not to be consumed in class. • Mobile phones should be set on silent and should not be used in class except for
emergencies. • Laptops are only to be used with the express permission of the teacher. • Please kindly dispose of rubbish in the bins provided [Outline your expectations
here, e.g. food in classrooms, mobile phone use, etc]
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SAMPLE SYLLABUS - SUBJECT TO CHANGE
NYUL Academic Policies
Attendance and Tardiness • Key information on NYU London’s absence policy, how to report absences, and
what kinds of absences can be excused can be found on our website (http://www.nyu.edu/london/academics/attendance-policy.html)
Assignments, Plagiarism, and Late Work • You can find details on these topics and more on this section of our NYUL website
(https://www.nyu.edu/london/academics/academic-policies.html) and on the Policies and Procedures section of the NYU website for students studying away at global sites (https://www.nyu.edu/academics/studying-abroad/upperclassmen-semester-academic-year-study-away/academic-resources/policies-and-procedures.html).
Classroom Conduct Academic communities exist to facilitate the process of acquiring and exchanging knowledge and understanding, to enhance the personal and intellectual development of its members, and to advance the interests of society. Essential to this mission is that all members of the University Community are safe and free to engage in a civil process of teaching and learning through their experiences both inside and outside the classroom. Accordingly, no student should engage in any form of behaviour that interferes with the academic or educational process, compromises the personal safety or well-being of another, or disrupts the administration of University programs or services. Please refer to the NYU Disruptive Student Behavior Policy for examples of disruptive behavior and guidelines for response and enforcement.
Disability Disclosure Statement Academic accommodations are available for students with disabilities. Please contact the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities (212-998-4980 or [email protected]) for further information. Students who are requesting academic accommodations are advised to reach out to the Moses Center as early as possible in the semester for assistance.
Instructor Bio Daniel C. Richardson is a Professor Experimental Psychology at University College London. His lab uses mass participation experiments, gaze, speech and motion tracking technology to investigate how perception and cognition are embedded in the social world. Before coming to UCL, Daniel was an undergraduate at Magdalen College, Oxford, a graduate student at Cornell, a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford, and an assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has carried out experiments at the London Science Museum and for the BBC. He wrote two popular science books, A
