PSYC

201: Introduction to Social Psychology

Spring 2015

Section A (CRN 37034)
Section B (CRN 37035)
9:00-9:50 am MWF
10:00-10:50 pm MWF
Psychology 142
Psychology 142

Instructor: Lauren Nickel
Email: nickel2@illinois.edu
Office: Psych 408
Office Hours: Wednesday, 11-12

Course Supervisor: Dr. Caroline Tancredy

Email: tancredy@illinois.edu
Office: Psych 229

Important Dates
Monday, March 9
Midterm, 7 pm
Roger Adams Lab 116

Tuesday, March 10
Midterm Conflict Exam, 7 pm
Psych 32

Friday, March 13
Last day to drop a course
without a W

Course Materials

Gilovich, T., Keltner, D., Chen, S., & Nisbett, R. E. (2012). Social Psychology (3rd
edition). ISBN: 9780393913231 (copies are on reserve at the Undergrad Library)
Website: http://compass2g.illinois.edu

Course Evaluation

Exams (Midterm & Final)

For the exams, you will be responsible for ALL of the material assigned in the textbook and
discussed in class. Both exams will be held outside of your normally scheduled class time in
a room different than your class room. The midterm will take place on Monday, March 9 at
7 pm in Roger Adams Lab 116. The midterm conflict exam will be held on Tuesday, March
10 at 7 pm in Psychology 32. The conflict exam application is available on Compass.

The date and time of the final exam will announced as soon as it has been scheduled.
Students will not be allowed to reschedule their final exam due to travel arrangements. You
must assume that the final exam for this course will be on the last day of finals at the last
hour. There will be no exceptions.

The midterm will include chapters 1-7. The final exam will include chapters 8-14. The final
exam is not cumulative.

Rules and guidelines for taking a conflict exam:

If you have a valid conflict at an exam time (e.g., an exam for another class), you
must submit a conflict exam application at least 7 days before the scheduled exam
date.
If you are ill or cannot attend the exam on the exam day, you must provide adequate
documentation for your absence (e.g., a certified excuse from the Emergency Dean).
If you have not submitted a conflict exam application or valid documented excuse
for missing the exam, you will be allowed to take the conflict exam with a penalty (-
15%).
Valid excuses do NOT include travel plans unrelated to university activity, sleeping
through the exam period, forgetting when and where the exam was scheduled, and
being sick but not obtaining documentation from the Emergency Dean.

Quizzes

There will be six quizzes throughout the semester. They will take place at the end of class
on Friday; see the course schedule for dates. Each quiz will be worth 10 points and consist
of multiple-choice, short-answer, and fill-in-the-blank questions. Your lowest quiz score
will be dropped so the five highest scores will make up the quiz portion of your final grade.

Short Writing Assignment

You will be asked to apply your knowledge of social psychology to current events or pop
culture by writing a short paper (about 2 pages long). A full assignment description and
grading rubric will be posted on Compass. Due Friday, April 17.

Extra Credit

You can earn extra credit by participating in psychology experiments. Each hour of
participation will be worth 1% extra credit. The maximum extra credit you can earn is 3%.
To sign up for studies, register for an account at http://uiuc.sona-systems.com; click on
Request an account. Once you are registered, you will be able to search for experiments
for which you are eligible and schedule your time.

Alternatively, you can earn extra credit by way of completing three additional assignments.
They will be worth one percentage point each; you do not need to complete all three to
earn extra credit. The three assignments are:
1. Introduction: Introduce yourself to me! Fill out the form posted on Compass. Due
Friday, January 30.
2. Write your own exam questions: A good way to study for your exams is by writing
practice questions. Write ten multiple-choice questions on course material. Due
Friday, May 1.
3. Study summary: Find a journal article related to a concept discussed in class and
write a brief summary of the study. Due Friday, May 1.

Grading

Midterm Exam
35%
Final Exam
35%
Quizzes

20%
Short Papers
10%

Tentative grade cut-offs

A+
97% C+
79%
A
94%
C
75%
A-
92%
C-
72%
B+
89%
D+
69%
B
85%
D
65%
B-
82%
D-
62%

At the end of the semester, course grades may be curved by the instructor if deemed
appropriate.

Note: Once your grade is calculated, there will be no rounding up. For example, if you have
earned 91.99%, your grade will not be rounded up to 92%. You cannot earn extra points
after the final exam scores have been calculated and all of the extra credit opportunities
have been offered. Please do not email me and ask me to break this rule. Please do take
advantage of the available extra credit opportunities to maximize your ability to do well in
this course.

James Scholar Program

Students may receive credit for the Honors or James Scholar program by completing an
additional assignment. The assignment will be introduced at an informational meeting held
on Wednesday, January 28, at 12:00 pm in Psychology 508.

If you are unable to attend this meeting but are interested in participating, you must
schedule an independent meeting with Dr. Caroline Tancredy; please contact her directly at
tancredy@illinois.edu.

Academic Integrity

University rules regarding academic integrity, examinations, and other official policies will
be strictly enforced. You can find detailed information on the Universitys academic
integrity policies at http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/index.html.

Use of Technology

To aid in your learning and in the learning of others, please silence your phone before
entering the classroom and refrain from using your laptop/tablet for activities unrelated to
class.

Accommodations

Students with physical or learning disabilities who may require special arrangement must
be registered with the Division of Rehabilitation Education Services
(disability@illinois.edu) and should inform their instructor within the first two weeks of
the semester.

Emergency Procedures

Students that will require assistance in the event of an emergency should identify
themselves to the instructor. Your instructor will make arrangements to assist you in
moving to a Safe Area during an emergency. Safe Areas are located on each floor of the
Psychology Building next to the freight elevator in the southwest corner, and they are
marked on the emergency wayfaring maps found throughout the building.

For more information about emergency preparations, visit
http://police.illinois.edu/emergencyplanning/general.

Course Schedule

Week
Jan. 19

Jan. 26

Feb. 2

Feb. 9

Feb. 16

Feb. 23

Mar. 2

Mar. 9

Mar. 16

Mar. 23

Mar. 30

Apr. 6

Apr. 13

Apr. 20

Apr. 27

May 4

Chapter & Topic Area

Ch. 1: Introduction

Important Notes

Ch. 2: Methods

Jan. 30: Quiz 1 (ch. 1 & 2)

Ch. 3: The Social Self

Ch. 4: Social Cognition

Feb. 13: Quiz 2 (ch. 3 & 4)

Ch. 5: Social Attribution

Ch. 6: Emotion

Feb. 27: Quiz 3 (ch. 5 & 6)

Ch. 7: Attitudes, Behavior, & Rationalization

Ch. 8: Persuasion

Mar. 9: Midterm

Mar. 20: Quiz 4 (ch. 8 & 9)

Ch. 9: Social Influence

Spring Break
Ch. 10: Relationships & Attraction

Ch. 11: Stereotyping, Prejudice, & Discrimination Apr. 10: Quiz 5 (ch. 10 & 11)
Ch. 12: Groups
Ch. 13: Aggression

Apr. 17: Short writing

assignment due
Apr. 24: Quiz 6 (ch. 12 & 13)

Ch. 14: Altruism & Cooperation

Review

May 6: Last day of class

May 8-15: Final Exam Period