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SYP 5105-01
FALL 2009
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Ryan A. Wilke
Department of Educational Psychology
and Learning Systems
Florida State University
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| Dr. Ryan A. Wilke
304 Stone Building (EPLS Suite) 850-645-7346 850-644-4592 (EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY & LEARNING SYSTEMS) |
Fall 2009
Wednesday 5:00-7:30 P.M. G157 Stone Building CLICK HERE for Campus Map Location |
Course Reference Number = 04442
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY IF YOU
REQUIRE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH DISABILITIES.
| OVERVIEW |
Social Psychology studies social interaction, social processes, and the interplay among the person, culture and society in attitudes, beliefs and socialization. This course introduces you to the many perspectives social psychologists use in our work. Social Psychology is a separate discipline which allows us the flexibility to explore substantive areas as different as pressures toward conformity, ethnic prejudice, or child and adult development. It can be applied to virtually any organization: schools; the family. the military; businesses; churches, synagogues or mosques; sports teams; and many others. The field's diversity of mid-range theories can create conceptual ambiguity, yet simultaneously Social Psychology offers us considerable insight into the individual and society, and into the human condition.
Please be patient as you encounter six separate terms for the same concept such as social learning, or you puzzle out "chicken and egg problems" in attitude and action.
Social psychology provides the "conceptual glue" between organizations and individuals, the nuts and bolts to explain the reciprocity between social structure and the individual. More than anything else, social psychology addresses processes and sequencing: the routines of daily life such as conversations, forming impressions of people, collectivities or events, and creating and maintaining life in groups.
This semester, we'll examine basic theoretical perspectives in Social Psychology. Unfortunately we cannot swallow the entire discipline in one gulp. For example, I have somewhat less coverage of topics such as the social psychology of emotions (Dr. Turner has a seminar on Motivation and Emotion this semester and will pick up some of the slack here.) I will focus more on constructs such as "the self" or "self-efficacy" where research allows us to draw more consistent conclusions than on popular, yet conceptually murky, concepts such as "personality." I will also discuss basic methodological issues pertinent to Social Psychology, such as experimental demand and reactivity, format construction issues in questionnaires, or drawing causal inferences using more "qualitative" methods such as ethnographies.
My roles as Instructor are to facilitate
and to coordinate the "big picture." For each major course section, I will
discuss basic perspectives, postulated major processes, and particularly
noteworthy empirical findings.
| COURSE GOALS |
• To become familiar with major conceptual perspectives in the discipline of Social Psychology, including:
WE’RE
ONLINE!![]() |
Our course is WEB assisted through the CourseInfo/Blackboard and (the old) WEB-MC systems at FSU. You must be registered for SYP5105-01 to access our site through Blackboard. To access our course, here is what to do. Go online to:
Enter your FSU ID username (USERNAME ONLY!) and password to log in. For example, I would enter "raw7447" ONLY and omit the the rest. Then click on “Theories of Soc Psy” to enter our site.
If you DON'T have an FSU ID account, you will need one immediately. Go to the FSU Guide to Computing Resources website (address below). Follow the links to register online for your garnet account at FSU.
I will use WEB-assist for several course features:
FALL 2009: Here's
how I can be reached:
| 2010 Levy Avenue Suite 217
Innovation Park (near the Mag Lab) 850-645-7346 Voice mail available 850-644-4592 Educational Psychology & Learning Systems |
FSU
Stone Building
CLICK HERE for Campus Map Location of STONE BUILDING Office Hours: Tuesday
3-5 or by appointment
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| ASSIGNMENTS |
You have two assignments:
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| COURSE PAPER | Preliminary prospectus:
September 16
Updated prospectus: October 7 First draft: November 4 Final draft: December 2 |
60
percent
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| PARTICIPATION/BLACKBOARD POSTING | Student provides a response to a question posted by the instructor. The instructor will provide one question each week in class and also post it to Blackboard one week prior to its due date. Student responses to be posted to Blackboard by midnight the day before class. Postings are then discussed the following day in class. Total = 10 postings, 1/2 point each. |
5 percent
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| PRESENTATION | ONE completed during the November 4-December 2 period |
35
percent
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See the links for more information.
The links will be updated during the semester to provide more detail and
format specifications. Please complete readings according to the timetable
in this syllabus and be prepared with assignments by their due date.
I ONLY ACCEPT HARD COPY FOR ASSIGNMENTS IN CLASS ON THE DUE DATE. EMAIL ATTACHMENTS (e.g., WORD documents)
ARE NOT ACCEPTED.
There have been too many problems with viruses. In a typical week, I receive well over two dozen viruses, worms, spyware and hacking attempts--often from fsu email addresses. This is especially true for University computers, which have proven to be hotbeds of infection. If you absolutely cannot hand your progressive paper milestone deadlines in to me in person, here are some alternatives:
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During the semester, I may ask for a copy
of your work on disk. For example, I receive copies of all presentations
on disk.
| COURSE PAPER |
Course Paper (about 15 pages). Wide latitude exists for your paper. You may review existing literature in an area of interest to you. You may use existing research to design a future study. Or, you can conduct a small original study or analyze data that were previously collected. A short preliminary prospectus of your paper is due September 18, an updated prospectus is due October 7. The paper is due November 4 to allow revisions. The final edition of your paper is due WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2.
Prior topics can be seen from the presentations posted to our Blackboard site as well as several prior course papers. Some students have written library research papers with topics such as academic motivation, cartoon violence, emotional intelligence, coach-player interaction, bullying, and cross-cultural differences in social cognition. Others have executed a short survey, small experiment or observational design. Examples include observing parent-child interaction at supermarket checkouts or during games, observing conformity in the "upward gaze" experiment replication, seeing how social factors influence the return of a "lost wallet," conformity in aerobics classes, or how watching cartoons or children's comedies affects preschoolers.
ON TEAMWORK
Students often produce especially good
work when they work in teams. This is particularly true for the Course
Paper . It is far easier for teams to plan and execute a small experiment,
survey, or observation in a semester's time than it is for an individual
to do so. Team presentations can also be more complex. You may choose to
work in teams for the Course Paper, and we may coordinate teams on the
Presentations. I will need to know the names of all team members
on the Course Paper by October 7. Using
the course paper prospectus, I also will alert you to possible teammates
(but the choice is yours).
| DISCUSSION/PRESENTATION |
Discussion/presentation (about 20 minutes):
You will lead class discussion on your project topic. We will have facilities
for Power Point but you will also need to distribute a handout summary
(some students print the Power Point slides). Examples will also be posted
to our WEB site in Blackboard. Discussion/presentations begin on November
4 (through December 2).
| GRADING CONSIDERATIONS |
I use plus and minus grading, throughout and for final grades.
Participation in class discussion and class attendance are a definite consideration, especially when a student is "between grades."
Adherence to principles of essay organization, and the conventions of spelling and grammar is expected and understood.
The course paper MUST relate to Social Psychology. It can neither be totally intrapersonal nor totally organizational. One reason for the project "milestone" deadlines is to ensure that your topic is "on track" for this course.
MORE PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PRESENTATION
| TOPICS, REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS AND A SIDE BAR ON SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY JOURNALS |
| COURSE TOPICS |
| APPROXIMATE DATE | TOPIC | OBJECTIVES |
| August 26-
September 9 |
Orientation
Introduction Methods |
WEB site navigation and
course outline
What is the field of Social Psychology? What are some major theoretical Orientations? Which Methods are most
commonly used in Social Psychology?
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| September 7 | Labor Day Holiday | University closed |
| September 16-30 | Social
Perception
(Includes Attitudes and Attitude Measurement) |
What is Social Perception?
How does Social Perception relate to Self-Presentation and Self-Concept? Self-Esteem versus Self-Efficacy Defining Attitudes
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| October 7-21 | The
Self
Social Learning and Socialization |
What are some differences
between "the self" and "personality?"
What are some basics of symbolic interactionism? Issues in nature versus
nurture
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| October 28-
November 18 |
Groups
Group Influences and Interaction Processes |
What is social facilitation?
What are cohorts and aggregates? How are these entities useful? Basic group
definition and properties.
What are the effects of group size? What are major sources of group influence? What are "good" and "bad" effects of group cohesion? |
| November 11 | VETERAN'S DAY HOLIDAY | NO CLASS |
| November 25 | THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY | NO
CLASS |
| December 2 | Applications of Social Psychology | Last day of our class |
| December 4 | Last class day of the Fall semester |
| REQUIRED TEXTS |
At this point, used copies of all texts should be available. Please be sure to purchase or share the stated edition of each.
Web site support for DUFFY is
available including generic search engines:
All books shouold be available at Bill's
Bookstore and at the FSU Bookstore.
| JOURNAL WISH LIST |
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| Journal of Personality and Social Psychology | PLEASE GIVE THE JOURNAL TITLE AND BRIEFLY |
| Social Psychology Quarterly | DESCRIBE THE JOURNAL. IF A WEB SITE IS |
| Public Opinion Quarterly | AVAILABLE FOR THE JOURNAL, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT |
| Small Group Research (use this title under Search) | TOO. JUST DROP A NOTE IN THE EMAIL HERE: |
| Group Dynamics |
NOTE: Approximately twice a year, Sage Publications opens its online journals for FREE downloads. Since Sage publishes several journals, there is sure to be one for your interests. This is a terrific deal for faculty, students and other professionals so keep posted and I will let you know when I am notified. |
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Under
construction as the semester progresses.




