IB Psychology, SL Mr. Clark Walker
Course Outline Room 7215
Course Description
Psychology is the systematic study of the human condition through a variety of approaches. Such investigative approaches include the experimental method, observation, clinical interviews, and questionnaires. Seen through three major perspectives, the study of psychology offers the International Baccalaureate candidate a field of study that brings together several academic traditions.
The International Baccalaureate candidate will study psychology through the three major perspectives developed over the last one hundred years: Biological, Cognitive and Learning. Assumptions of psychology that are addressed include motivations underlying human behavior, social interaction, language and thinking, memory & emotion. The students will be engaged in a variety of practical activities including observations, experiments and interviews. There is an emphasis on writing as a way of thinking.
Course Topics
1. Introduction to the International Baccalaureate Psychology syllabus-the perspectives
-the optional areas
-assessment
-research methodology
-ethics
2. Introduction to Psychology-history of psychology
-scope of psychology
-the interplay between social and biological perspectives
3. Research Methods-experimental v. non-experimental
-triangulation and valid and reliable data
-ethical considerations
-research design
4. Biological Perspective-physiology
-inherited biological factors v. acquired biological factors
-motivation, sleep, stress and emotion
-sensation and perception
-research methods in biological psychology
5. Learning Perspective-nature v. nurture
-classical conditioning
-operant conditioning
-learning influenced by cognitive functions and social learning
-learning influenced by biology
6. Cognitive Perspective-cognitive science
-cognitive processes in general
-levels of consciousness
-memory
-knowledge and perception in representation
-language: acquisition and cultural impact
-analysis, creativity and reason
7. Psychology of Dysfunctional Behavior-normal v. abnormal
-diagnostic systems
-cultural impact on mental health
-research methods
-classification sources
-DSM-IVr
-ICD-10
-CCMD-4
-psychological disorders
-anxiety disorders
-affective disorders
-schizophrenia
-personality disorders
-treatments and therapy
-biological
-psychotherapies
-clinical assessments
-ethical considerations and social responsibilities in treatment
8. Simple Experimental Study-student conducted replication experiment
Assessments
The IB psychology student will be assessed on three components:
1. One simple experimental study (Internal Assessment)
2. Paper #1: An essay paper based on the three perspectives (External Assessment)
3. Paper #2: An essay paper on the additional subject area (External Assessment)
**The above noted IB assessments are in addition to the regular class assessments and assignments.
Materials Needed
Students are expected to bring the following materials to class each day:
1. blue/black pen or pencil
2. 3 hole punched paper
3. assignments due on that day
4. Psychology Notebook with dividers labeled: History of Psychology, Research Methods, Biological, Learning, Cognitive, Dysfunctional Behavior, Class BusinessLate Work Policy
A maximum of one letter grade will be deducted when students turn in an assignment after the due date. Due dates apply regardless of your presence or absence from school that day. E-mail is an acceptable way to turn in assignments.
Tips for Doing Well in IB Psychology
Take complete class notes and date them. Put notes into your own words. Don’t write down something you don’t understand without asking about it. Leave some blank space on each page to make additions and clarifications. It is very important to review your class notes each day while they are still fresh in your mind. Expand them, clarify them, and add examples so that they will make sense when you go back to study from them later. Use the two-column method and record guiding questions on the column opposite your notes.
- Learn to read more effectively. You can read more effectively by doing the following:
- Read actively: don’t just look at the words. If you spend a half-hour “reading” but are unable to recall anything when you are done, your time was wasted.
- Preview a chapter quickly before you begin, and review the material frequently. Pause at the end of each paragraph and summarize mentally, in your own words, what you just read. Ask yourself, “What do I believe the main ideas of this chapter are going to be?”
- Do not try to read an entire chapter at once. Each chapter of your text is divided into several major sections. These sections are presented in bold print in the summary outline on the chapter’s first page. Limit your reading to one of these sections at a sitting. You will soon start to see a connection between these sections and our daily classroom objectives.
- Do not ignore pictures, diagrams, tables, and sidebars in your textbook. These features serve to make the text more interesting and may include important information.
- Take notes as you read. If you can condense a 30 page chapter to a few pages of good notes, it’s going to be much easier to review when it comes time to study. Be sure to keep a list of questions about the reading.
- Half the battle is vocabulary. Please be sure the key terms and their definition/meaning are incorporated into your notes.
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Please review the above course outline and sign below as a receipt of this information. If you have questions please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you for taking the time to review these policies.
Sincerely,
Clark Walker
437-7540 Ext7215
Print Student Name: _____________________________________________________
Student Signature: _______________________________________________________
Print Student E-mail:_____________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian E-mail: __________________________________________________