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SYP 5105-01
FALL 2007
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Susan Carol Losh
Department of Educational Psychology
and Learning Systems
Florida State University
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| Professor Susan Carol Losh
307K Stone Building (EPLS Suite) 850-644-8778 850-644-4592 (EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY & LEARNING SYSTEMS)  slosh@fsu.edu |
Fall 2007
Monday & Wednesday 1:00 - 2:15 P.M. 330 Stone Building CLICK HERE for Campus Map Location |
Course Reference Number = 04306
CLICK
HERE for online registration
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 also 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. 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 "slosh" 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 2007: Here's
how I can be reached:
| 307K Stone Building
850-644-8778 Voice mail available 850-644-4592 Educational Psychology & Learning Systems |
 FSU
Stone Building
CLICK HERE for Campus Map Location Office Hours: Monday 12
-1 and
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| ASSIGNMENTS |
You have two assignments:
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| COURSE PAPER | Preliminary prospectus:
September 24
Updated prospectus: October 22 First draft: November 19 Final draft: December 10 |
65
percent
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| LEAD CLASS DISCUSSION | ONE completed during the November 14-December 5 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 DO NOT ACCEPT EMAIL ATTACHMENTS (e.g.,
WORD documents)
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. Please DO NOT slide papers under my office door.They may or may not be placed on my desk--where I may not be able to find them! Here are some alternatives if you absolutely cannot hand your progressive paper milestone deadlines in to me in person:
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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 24, an updated prospectus is due October 22. The paper is due November 19 to allow revisions. The final edition of your paper is due FRIDAY DECEMBER 7.
Prior topics can be seen from the presentations posted to our Blackboard site as well as the 2006 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 22. 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 (I can upload Power Point to Web-MC but might
run out of server room!) Discussion/presentations begin on November 14
(through December 5).
| 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
DISCUSSION/
PRESENTATION.
| TOPICS, REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS AND A SIDE BAR ON SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY JOURNALS |
| COURSE TOPICS |
| APPROXIMATE DATE | TOPIC | OBJECTIVES |
| August 27-
September 12 |
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 3 | Labor Day Holiday | University closed |
| September 17-
October 3 |
Social
Cognition
(Includes Attitudes and Attitude Measurement) |
What is Social Cognition?
How does Social Cognition relate to Self-Presentation and Self-Concept? Self-Esteem versus Self-Efficacy Defining Attitudes
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| October 8-24 | The
Self
Social Learning and Socialization |
What is the difference
between "the self" and "personality?"
What are some basics of symbolic interactionism? Issues in nature versus
nurture
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| October 29-
November 19 |
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 12 | VETERAN'S DAY HOLIDAY | 
NO CLASS |
| November 21 | THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY |  NO
CLASS |
| November 26- | Applications of Social Psychology | |
| December 5 | Last day of our class | |
| December 10 | BY NOON! FINAL
DRAFT COURSE PROJECT +
CD, DISK ETC COPY OF PAPER |
| REQUIRED TEXTS |
Web site support for DUFFY is
available including generic search engines: 
All three books are available at the Bill's
Bookstore (Bill's II) on West Tennessee Street right near the Stone
Building. (All books at the Bill's on Copeland have been moved to the
West Tennessee Street store.) There are also copies 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 |  slosh@fsu.edu |
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.
