HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDIES

PSYC 1005 Principles of Psychology

First Semester AY 2017-2018
COURSE OUTLINE

Course Instructors: Dr. Sammy K. Ho Dr. Simpson W. L. Wong

Office: AAB 847 AAB 851
Phone: 3411-5780 3411-5676
Email: sammyho@hkbu.edu.hk simpsonwong@hkbu.edu.hk

Course Tutor: Ms. Flora Ip

Office: AAB 844
Phone: 3411-7827
Email: floraip@life.hkbu.edu.hk

Lecture: Tuesday 11:30 am 1:20 pm Venue: SCM 012

Tutorial: 10001 Wednesday 2:30 pm 3:20 pm Venue: DLB 516
10002 Wednesday 4:30 pm 5:20 pm WLB 209
10003 Monday 11:30 am 12:20 pm AAB 711
10004 Monday 2:30 pm 3:20 pm DLB 516
10005 Monday 4:30 pm 5:20 pm DLB 516

Course Description

This course introduces basic concepts in psychology. Major topics include research methods,
biological and developmental processes, sensation and perception, learning, memory,
intelligence, personality, social behavior, psychological disorders, emotion, and stress and
coping. The major psychological approaches to the study of human behavior and the basic
elements of research methods in psychology are discussed. The course also includes analysis of
everyday issues from a psychological perspective.

Aims

Specifically, this course aims

to provide students with basic knowledge of theories and concepts in psychology;
to develop their ability to apply psychological explanations to individuals everyday
behavior; and
to increase their awareness of current issues from a psychological perspective.

1
 HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDIES

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)

1 Demonstrate a critical understanding of psychological approaches and theories to

the study of human behaviors and experiences;
2 Explain key psychological concepts in relation to human behaviors;
3 Use evidence-based psychological approaches to evaluate and analyze human
experiences in everyday life;
4 Demonstrate a capacity to analyze everyday issues from a psychological
perspective.

Course Content

Lecture Topic Instructor Date CILOs Textbook

L1 Introduction Sammy 5/9 1, 2, 3 Ch.1

L2 Research Methods Sammy 12/9 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.2

L3 Learning Sammy 19/9 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.8

L4 Memory Sammy 26/9 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.9 (pp.317-347)

L5 Thinking & Sammy 3/10 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch. 10 (pp.357-375;

Intelligence pp.384-397)
L6 Emotion, Stress & Sammy 10/10 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch. 7 (pp.255-257;
Coping pp.260-271)
Ch. 16 (pp.619-624;
635-638)
Mid-term 17/10 1, 2, 3, 4
examination
L7 Biological Simpson 24/10 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.4
Psychology
L8 Sensation and Simpson 31/10 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.5 (pp.147-172)
Perception
L9 Development across Simpson 7/11 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.3 (pp.71-86);
the Life Span Ch.11 (pp.415-445)
L10 Personality Simpson 14/11 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.12

L11 Social Psychology Simpson 21/11 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.13

L12 Psychological Simpson 28/11 1, 2, 3, 4 Ch.14

Disorders

2
 HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDIES

Learning Materials
Various learning materials are arranged to enhance learning. Students are expected to read the
required textbook. Lecture notes provide only an outline of the content; they are not intended to
be a full record of the lecture given.

HKBU eLearning Platform http://buelearning.hkbu.edu.hk/login/index.php

Internet access to course-related materials including course outline, lecture notes, and internet
resources is available via HKBU Moodle, the eLearning platform. Lecture notes are available
for download before each lecture (except the first lecture). Selected tutorial materials are
available for download after each tutorial.

Attendance
Undergraduate students are expected to attend all scheduled classes for which they have
registered. If absence is due to conditions beyond their control and they wish to establish that
fact in order to justify make-up work (e.g., tutorial activities), a written explanation together
with supporting documents (such as medical certificate) must be presented to the course
instructor for approval within 5 days after the absence.

Course Assessment

Items Weighting CILOs

a. Tutorial Activities 30% 1, 2, 3, 4
b. Mid-term Examination 30% 1, 2, 3
c. Final Examination 40% 1, 2, 3, 4

a. Tutorial Activities (30%)

A number of individual and group activities are designed to encourage active participation and
learning in the tutorials. Students are expected to participate fully in these assigned activities.
Performance will be assessed on some of the activities. In case of absence, make-up activity will
be considered only when approval is sought in writing and supported by official documents
(such as medical certificate).

b. Mid-Term Examination (30%)

The Mid-Term Exam consisting of multiple-choice questions will be held on 17 Oct 2017 during
lecture hours. All topics covered in the lectures and tutorials from L1 to L6 are included. In case
of absence, make-up exam will be considered only for severe circumstances. Approval must be
sought in writing and supported by official documents (such as medical certificate).

3
 HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STUDIES

c. Final Examination (40%)

The final examination is scheduled by Academic Registry during the Semester Examination
period. The final examination paper comprises multiple-choice questions. All topics covered in
the lectures and tutorials are included (coverage: L1 - L6 20%; L7 - L12 80%)). Request for
make-up examination should follow University procedures at the Academic Registry.

d. Semester Grade (100%)

Grades are assigned based on the following scheme:

A = 85% or above C+ = 60 64.99%
A = 80 84.99% C = 55 59.99%
B+ = 75 79.99% C = 50 54.99%
B = 70 74.99% D = 45 49.99%
B = 65 69.99% F = Below 45%

Required Textbook
Cacioppo, J. T., & Frebreg, L. A. (2016). Discovering psychology: The science of mind (2nd ed.).
Boston: Wadsworth. (On HKBU Library 2-hour reserve, Call no. 150 C113D 2016)

Suggested References
Demorest, A. (2005). Psychology's grand theorists: How personal experiences shaped
professional ideas. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. (E-book available through HKBU Library)
Feldman, R. S. (2015). Understanding psychology (12th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Freeman, R. P., & Stone, T. (2006). Study skills for psychology: Succeeding in your degree.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hock, R. R. (2013). Forty studies that changed psychology: Explorations into the history of
psychological research (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ : Pearson.
Hunt, M. M. (2007). The story of psychology (2nd ed.). New York: Anchor.
Kalat, J. W. (2017). Introduction to psychology (11th ed.). Australia: Wadsworth.
Kassin, S., & Briggs, K. H. (Eds.) (2005). Current directions in introductory psychology. Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
Krap, K. (Ed.) (2005). Psychologists & their theories for students. Detroit: Thomson Gale.
(E-book available through HKBU Library)
Wade, C., & Tavris, C. (2011). Psychology (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
VandenBos, G. R. (Ed.) (2007). APA dictionary of psychology. Washington, DC : American
Psychological Association.
Winstanley, J. (2006). Key concepts in psychology. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Weiten, W. (2017). Psychology: Themes and variations (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Wright, P. M., & Mcleod, H. (2006). Get set for psychology. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press. (E-book available through HKBU Library)