SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY PSY-3063
online
Professor: Dr. Travis Langley
Required textbook: Social Psychology, by David Myers.
Check with HSU bookstore for the current textbook information.
Table of Contents/Course Topics: https://is.gd/SOCIALTOC
OVERVIEW:
This course is designed to provide an overview of the scientific study of how people interact. Topics of discussion include social behavior, intimate relationships, aggression, prejudice, propaganda, various means of intentional and unintentional manipulation.
SCHEDULE
UNIT 1 (Wednesday in the middle of week 5, after week 4 has ended)
Chapters 1-4.
UNIT 2 (Monday at the start of week 9, after week 8 has ended)
Chapters 5-8.
UNIT 3 (Monday at the start of week 13, after week 12 has ended)
Chapters 9-12.
UNIT 4 (Wednesday of week 16, last day before Restricted Days)
Chapters 13-16.
FINAL EXAM (40% of the course grade)
The final is a large portion of the grade because it’s when we find out how much you have actually learned from all the other work you’ll do in the class.
You will take the final exam ON CAMPUS at this time. Bring Scantron sheet and #2 pencil. You can purchase a Scantron sheet at the campus bookstore.
SPRING
- Tuesday of finals week, 3:00-5:00
- Location: McBrien Hall, room 311
FALL
- Tuesday of finals week, 3:00-5:00
- Location: McBrien Hall, room 311
You are NOW responsible for making sure you can and will take each online test during its schedule time range and take the final on campus then. Find out now when all your finals will be held. It’s no big deal if I need to add an extra time slot, but we all need to know that soon so I can make that time available as an option that anybody in the class can choose. Do not ask to take it early or late unless you have another final scheduled then, and if so, tell me NOW. Finals schedule: https://www.hsu.edu/academics/registrar/finals-schedule
ONLINE EXAMS (30% of the course grade for those before the final)
Each unit will conclude with a 40‑item exam covering any of the course material. You will take each of the unit exams through Canvas when the time comes.
There will be NO makeup tests. If medical or other emergency (and we do mean emergency) will prevent you from taking a test, contact your professor as soon as possible with written confirmation.
Except for the final, you will have a window of at least eight hours during which you can take each test, so you may start it at any time between noon and about 7 p.m. in order to conclude it before 8 p.m. on the test day. You are responsible now for making sure you can take each test on its scheduled date and time. An eight-hour work shift that coincides with the test time is not an acceptable excuse, so make arrangements as needed. Neither “I got my classes mixed up” nor “I forgot” would count either, so keep track of your own schedule. “My Internet went out” would mean you need to switch quickly to complete the test through another computer before time can run out. If your wifi goes out, you might then use your phone to create a hotspot the computer can use (from the next room because your phone must not be anywhere near you when you take a test). When a test uses Respondus, your phone may not be an option even for a hotspot. Plan your backup ahead of time.
Once you start it, a timer will begin and will not stop even if you log out. Do not start the test until you are ready to complete it in one sitting. Because it’s online, you can’t simply look the test over and then come back hours later after looking up answers.
WEBCAM
For test security purposes, you will be required to download the Respondus lockdown browser and to have a functioning, moveable webcam in order to record you and track your eye movements while you’re taking at least some of the tests. Your monitor’s built-in camera will not be sufficient because it cannot be moved about to show the entire area around your computer or your computer monitor during the environment check. If you do not use a moveable webcam or your environment check does not satisfy the professor for any reason, your test score will not count when grades are figured at the end of the semester. If that happens, you will be required to retake a version of the test in person or your final will weigh more heavily, depending on circumstances, and in either case, it cannot be the test that gets dropped.
At the moment, Amazon and Walmart.com have webcams for about $10 to $20, so this requirement is still cheaper than supplies you must buy for many other courses. Make sure you have such a webcam before the first test. If you’re ordering a webcam, double-check to confirm that the delivery date is well before the test.
GRADING
Test questions range in difficulty to get an accurate idea of exactly how much you know and understand about the course material. They provide a very accurate indication of how much each person does and does not know compared to everybody else in the class. I do not feel it is right to establish a curve based on the highest grade in the class, in which case only one score would determine everyone’s grade. The scale on the 40‑point tests is simply this:
F <‑‑ 20.0 D 20.1 ‑ 25.0 C 25.1 ‑ 30.0 B 30.1 ‑ 35.0 A 35.1 ‑‑>
There can be essay questions to assess your understanding of material.
The “total” or “average” shown in Canvas for the class can be misleading when it includes things that do not count as part of your grades and leaves out some things that do. Ignore that number.
INTERNET ASSIGNMENTS (30% of the course grade)
To do your assignments, check the Discussions section for this class several times each week. You will either do each assignment on that discussion forum or learn from the forum where to go to do each task, such as when you have to take some practice quizzes in Canvas (normally the last week before finals). Each response you’re required to make counts as one point simply for following the instructions or minus one point (-1, negative credit) if you don’t do it. You will have several assignments every week. Because missing an assignment in an online class counts as missing class, anyone who fails to do three or more of the assignments may be dropped from the course without further notice.
Do NOT email your work to your professor. Emailing it instead of posting it where it’s supposed to go counts as missing the assignment altogether, plus you’ll lose points from your overall grade.
DEADLINES
Assignments are due at the end of each week, indicated in the assignments’ subject headings. The week’s assignments are posted on the Canvas discussion forum by the end of each Wednesday, and they often appear earlier in the week. If you see no new assignments by Thursday, ask the professor in case of a Canvas error.
The deadline is 5 minutes until midnight at the end of each Saturday except when clearly stated otherwise. For assignments that don’t lock you out at the end of Saturday, you get half credit for up to three assignments completed Sunday – only three, no more. No later work will be accepted. Meet the deadlines.
If you wait until that last day and something goes wrong that keeps you from doing the assignment, well, you should have done it earlier because you’ll have several days to complete each task. If your Internet is out all day, you are responsible for going somewhere with Internet access. If your wifi is out, you could use a phone to create a hotspot with access. The Internet is all around us, the ways to access it are many, and you have chosen to take an online class. Accessing the Internet and keeping track of your schedule are your responsibilities.
ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT AND INTEGRITY
The professor reserves the right to subtract any number of points from the grade of someone who disrupts class, whether online or in person. (This happens very rarely.)
If you do not fully complete the environment check for an online test, you are looking somewhere other than your one keyboard and the one screen browser window that shows the test, you speak to anyone during the test, your phone is active, you are wearing ear buds, video is missing, or anything else about your test performance could suggest a test security problem, then you may receive a grade of zero on the test or potentially fail the class and be reported for cheating. Under some circumstances, a student may be required to come to campus to retake a version of the test in person (which cannot be the test score that gets dropped), or your final may weigh more heavily.
Anyone caught cheating will receive a course grade of F and will be referred for University disciplinary measures. A single instance of plagiarism in any task counts as cheating.
PERSONAL COMMITMENT
While you enjoy great flexibility in taking this course online, you and you alone are responsible for your success. It requires motivation and devotion. You must make sure you follow instructions and do your work before the deadlines. Developing the habit of following instructions and doing things when you’re supposed to do them is probably more important in your life than any specific bit of information that any class can teach you.
COMPUTER TIPS
To make sure your computer can interact with our system, you may need (1) the most current version of your Internet browser, (2) Windows updates, and (3) Java updates. Do not use Safari for your browser. Sorry, but some of the systems we’re using don’t work as well with Safari.
Call the HSU Computer Help Desk at 230-5678 or email helpdesk@hsu.edu if you have non-Canvas account difficulties.
Contact George Finkle at finkleg@hsu.edu about Canvas login or access problems. George has nothing to do with the course content.
CONTACTING YOUR PROFESSOR
For an online course, the easiest way to contact me with questions or comments is by email. Write me at langlet@hsu.edu any time and I will respond after I see the message if a reply is necessary. If you cannot email me, you will need to leave a message on my voicemail at (870)230-5222. Email works best, though. Every time you send me a message without saying who you are or which course you’re talking about (and in spring of 2022, you need to specify whether you are in section 01 or section 02), you will lose a point from your grade for Internet assignments, just as you’ll lose a point every time you could have found your answer by checking the syllabus instead of cluttering the email. We all get too much email. Be responsible and don’t lose those points.
I will need to send messages to the class sometimes through the Canvas message system. However, do not use that system to message me because I might not see them. If you need to contact your professor, email me directly: langlet@hsu.edu
If I can help you with anything else, always feel free to ask. Every online class is different, so do not be embarrassed when you occasionally goof here or there. That’s part of the learning process, and I’ll endeavor to help you get things running smoothly.
Syllabus Part II: Expected Learning Outcomes, Computer Tips, Disability Services
The schedule and other details in this syllabus may be subject to revision.
