Class Information Instructor Information
PSYCH 6205 Helen
C. Harton, Ph.D.
Bartlett 1060 Bartlett
2080; 273-2235
F 12-12:50 harton@uni.edu
http://www.uni.edu/harton
Office Hours: W 2-3; Th 11-12; F 1-2;
whenever I’m around
Course Information
Course Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, you
should be able to:
1. Evaluate and critique
research in social psychology and other areas;
2. Integrate past literature
to formulate and defend research hypotheses;
3. Interpret research; and
4. Present and defend your
research ideas clearly.
Instructor Course Description: This course is what is often referred to as a
“brownbag” course or series.
Students and faculty from UNI and elsewhere will do presentations of
research broadly related to social psychology. The research projects may be
completed or in progress. Presentations may also take the form of discussions
of research articles or statistical or methodological techniques.
Course Catalog Description: Seminar involving presentations and discussion of
current research in social psychology. May be repeated for maximum of 4 hours
credit. Credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in
psychology (Social Psychology emphasis) or consent of instructor.
Course Policies
Attendance Policy: If you need to miss class physically, your first option is to
participate virtually instead (you must be in one place—e.g., don’t
try this in a moving car). If that is not possible, your second option is to
read and complete written critiques of three social psychological articles from
major journals on the topic to be discussed that day (about 2 pages each). You
can substitute one related academic talk (online or in person) for one of the
articles if you wish. Summaries need to be of at least B+ quality to get
credit. These alternative assignments must be turned in within one week after
the class you missed. If you need to miss class on the day of your
presentation, we will reschedule your presentation. Send me an email before
class if you know you won’t be able to attend in person. If you need to
stay home to quarantine or because you’re sick, do it. Just let me know,
and we’ll work it out.
Virtual Class Policy: If class must become virtual at any time
during the semester for any reason, including university directive,
cancellation due to weather, and/or instructor illness, the default response
will be to meet via Zoom during regular class time. Check your email at that
time for further information.
Academic Ethics Policy: Students must observe the Academics
Ethics Policy (http://www.uni.edu/policies/301).
You should adequately cite your sources
on PowerPoint slides and in your presentations. You should not use
another’s words on your slides or in your presentation without proper
attribution. You should also only cite primary sources and make sure that you
actually read those sources.
Diversity and
Inclusion Policy: My goal is to present materials and activities that are respectful of
various types of diversity, including but not limited to gender, sexuality,
disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, religion, and culture
and to create a positive learning environment for all. Your suggestions are
encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know if there are ways I can improve
the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or
student groups.
Civility Policy: It is important that we discuss
topics calmly and respectfully. We want to have an open setting where everyone
feels free to contribute, where no one tries to dominate the conversations, and
where we all remain open to other’s ideas. Ad hominem comments are not
appropriate.
Credit Hour
Statement: This
course meets the Course Credit Hour Expectation outlined in the Course Catalog.
Students should expect to work a minimum of 2 hours per week outside of class
for every course credit hour. Since this is a graduate course, the expectation
is that you will work approximately 4 hours per week outside of class for every
course credit hour.
Required Readings
One or more readings (typically a journal article)
or videos will be assigned by the speaker for each class session that need to
be read or watched carefully prior to class.
**Bring the readings to class with you when we discuss
that topic (hard copy or electronic).
Course Elements and Expectations
Participation: Students
are expected to come to and participate in each class session. Participation
entails listening critically and responding to the information presented by
offering helpful suggestions, observations, and critiques. Don’t be
afraid to speak up in class. Participating actively in class will help you
develop important critical thinking skills as well as help you become a better
and more comfortable communicator. There are no bad questions or comments
(although there are off topic ones—try to minimize those). If there is
not good and fairly equal participation, I reserve the right to start requiring
thought papers for each class. These papers would be 1-2 pages of critical
analysis of the material presented.
Readings: One
or more articles, chapters, or videos assigned by the presenter should be
read/watched and understood by all prior to each session. You should come
prepared to discuss the readings and videos and whatever other topics the
speaker addresses. It’s disrespectful to the speaker to do otherwise
(plus, you’re not going to learn as much or enjoy the discussion as
much).
Presentations: This
semester is all about working to finish your thesis. You’ll be
responsible for leading two classes related to your thesis and/or first year
project. On the first date, you’ll discuss your idea and get feedback for
your proposal meeting (or present the findings if your first
year project). On the second date, you’ll hopefully be able to
present some data and get feedback for your results and discussion. We’ll
have two classes where we discuss what we learned at the various conferences
you’ll go to this semester. And then the final four classes will be
“thesis workshops.” For these days, each of you needs to bring in
something that you are working on and/or need help on related to your thesis.
For example, you could bring in your Qualtrics survey and have people pre-test
it, or you could talk through the best way to analyze your data, or you could
talk about the issues you’re having in trying to figure out how to
organize the lit review for your thesis. You each need to be prepared to bring
in something to talk through with the class (about 15 minutes
worth) to help you in your progress for each of these classes (and it should be
something different for each one).
Final Grade Determination
Students who participate effectively,
read the assigned articles, give thoughtful, relevant presentations, and
fulfill the other course expectations will pass the course. If you do not
perform adequately (at least “B” quality) in one or more of these
areas, you will be assigned an incomplete until you complete other assignments
as determined at the time related to your areas of deficiency. Note that
receiving an incomplete could negatively affect your funding per Graduate
College rules.
Course Schedule
Course schedule is available at:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TfE1IxT-0VUgpj8QstlkQbu6tqXtKMTiidNTkiuWud4/edit#gid=0.
I pre-assigned people to dates based on my perceptions of where you’re each
at and what would be most useful, but you can switch with another person if they
agree.
Resources and University Policy Statements
Further
information and required syllabus statements related to free speech,
non-discrimination, student accessibility services, and the Learning Center are
available at https://provost.uni.edu/syllabus-statements.