psychology assignment

PSYC 308: Assignment #1 Due: Oct. 21, 2016, by 11:59 p.m.

Submission Requirements: [Points may be deducted for failure to adhere with these requirements.]

• Name, student number, and tutorial on the first line [no title pages and no headers, please]. • Answer all three questions, one question per document (i.e., upload as three separate documents). • Word limits: 150 to 350 words per question [don’t type the question…just your answer]. • Formatting: 1" margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, single-spaced, and left-justified. • Use A.P.A. style guidelines for all in-text citations. • A reference list is required if any external resources are utilized;

no reference list is required if only course materials are utilized.

• You must be the sole originator of the answers you submit and the ideas of others must be duly credited [i.e., in accordance with the requirements of academic honesty].

Each question will be graded out of 10; their combined score will account for 15% of students’ grades.

Question 1 Compare/contrast the roles of introspection and experimentation in psychology as

postulated by Baldwin and Wundt.

Question 2 Respond to the following characterization of William James and Wilhelm Wundt:

“James’s [sic] stream of thought metaphor permitted him to focus on mental

activities and avoid the sterile trap of … Wundt…, who analyzed the discrete

contents of consciousness” (author’s name withheld*, 1978, p. 13).

That is, given the material covered in this course, describe and discuss Wundt’s

and James’ characterization of consciousness and its study, making clear whether

this claim accurately portrays Wundt and James.

Question 3 Using the perspectives or practices of the psychologists covered in the course,

describe and discuss the distinctions drawn between academic and applied

psychology.

*Full citation withheld for pedagogical purposes; it will be revealed when the graded assignments are released.

--------------------------

Some tips:

� These questions do not call for students’ opinions. Rather, students are to draw out relevant and compelling similarities and differences when they “compare/contrast” or “describe and discuss” the perspectives and

practices of the historical figures encountered in this course.

� Read the questions carefully and address each of their elements (e.g., in the case of multi-faceted questions). � Substantiate central points. For example, if you wished to claim psychologist X has a particular theoretical

commitment, describe/explain in what manner X’s theories or practices evidenced that particular commitment,

defining it (i.e., the term, or commitment) in the process.

� It is not possible to discuss all relevant details in the word limits listed; rather, focus on (a) the most compelling points that

(b) directly address the question posed and that

(c) you are comfortable explaining.

� Make an effort to re-frame the course material in your own words, as the strongest understanding is evidenced when a student can accurately describe the historical figure’s argument in original framing (i.e., describing it

anew, without relying on the words of others), and use proper in-text citation to demarcate others’ ideas.

� Keep in mind that this is a history course; as such, demonstrate your familiarity with the history of our discipline by bringing the material covered in this course to bear to the questions I pose to you.

� Students may discuss the course content (articles and lectures) with other students in the course, the TAs, and the instructor, but should develop and write their answers independently.

� Students are strongly encouraged to rely primarily (or entirely) on the assigned readings, as relying on external resources may engender confusion or distract students with unrelated information.

� Minimize introductory and concluding remarks; focus on developing your central points. � If the word limit is sufficiently ample, students may incorporate additional course content they deem relevant.