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PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT GOALS
These
goals reflect the knowledge, skills, and values that department
believes are central to undergraduate education in
psychology.
Goal 1. Theory and Content of
Psychology. Students should be familiar with
the major theoretical approaches, findings, and historical trends
in psychology.
Students should
be able to:
1.
Explain and distinguish among the major theoretical approaches in
psychology, e.g., biological, cognitive, behavioral, social,
developmental, etc.
2.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
- theory
and research in cognition/learning
- the
biological and physiological bases of behavior
- social
processes
- developmental changes in human thought and
behavior
- the
history of psychology: the evolution of methods of psychology and
its theoretical conflicts
- psychological tests and measurements and the ways that
test information is used in our society
- perspectives on the origin and treatment of abnormal
behavior
- individual differences in behavior, including those
related to gender, ethnicity, and culture
- Evaluate
the scientific approach as a tool for understanding human thought
and behavior
Goal 2. Methodology. Students
should understand and be able to use major research methods in
psychology, including design, data analysis, and
interpretation.
Students
should be able to:
1. Locate relevant research, theory,
and information necessary to plan, conduct, and interpret results
of research studies.
2. Formulate a testable research
hypothesis.
3. Design basic studies to address
psychological questions using different research
methodologies.
4. Under appropriate supervision,
collect, analyze, and report data designed to answer a
psychological question.
5. Apply APA ethical guidelines in the
design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of
psychological research.
6. Demonstrate understanding of APA
guidelines for the ethical treatment of human and nonhuman research
participants.
7. Apply and interpret basic
descriptive and inferential statistics. Demonstrate understanding
of the appropriate use of various data analytic techniques
foraddressing different types of questions and
hypotheses.
Goal 3.
Critical Thinking, Logic, and Problem-Solving.
Students should use and respect skeptical inquiry,
critical thinking, and the scientific approach to
understandingbehavior.
Students
should be able to:
1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills
and abilities acquired through training andexperience
in scientific methodology, including the ability
to
a. identify, describe, and compare
major scientific methods for gathering and analyzing information
and for explaining behavior.
b. use knowledge of research design
to justify and challenge researchconclusions.
c. support conclusions with
reasoning and evidence.
2. Evaluate the merit of information,
including the ability to
a. differentiate fact from
fiction.
b. recognize and evaluate the source
and context of information.
3. Approach problems effectively,
including the ability to
a. articulate problems
clearly.
b. generate multiple solutions to
problems.
c. recognize and defend against
common thinking fallacies.
Goal 4. Information Competence, Technology, and
ComputersStudents
should demonstrate information competence and the ability to use
computers and other technology for multiple
purposes.
Students should
be able to:
1. Demonstrate these minimum skills: using a
personal computer, making andtransferring files, using basic
word processing programs, using and accessing email, and browsing
the Web.
2. Demonstrate information competence at each
stage in the following process:
- Formulating a topic. Choosing a topic and restating it in
narrower and broader terms.
- Determining the types of information needed. Identifying
sources of information from multiple media and describing their
relationship to the chosen topic.
- Locating
appropriate sources by searching electronic and traditional
databases and providing evidence of the search.
- Differentiating between primary vs. secondary sources,
empirical vs. non-empirical sources, and peer-reviewed vs.
professional vs. other sources for multiple
media.
3. Organize and report information by using
appropriate software to produce understandable reports of the
psychological literature, methodology, and statistical analyses in
APA or other appropriate style, including graphical representations
of data.
4.
Use information and technology ethically and
responsibly, including
- Giving
examples of and identifying examples of
plagiarism.
- Discussing why plagiarism is
unethical.
- Using
citations correctly for a variety of media
sources.
Goal
5. Communication Skills. Students should
be able to express themselves effectively in written and oral
communication.Students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate effective writing skills
in multiple formats (e.g., essays, graphs and tables,
correspondence, technical papers, and note taking) and for
multiplepurposes (e.g., defending, explaining, persuading,
teaching).
2. Demonstrate effective oral
communication skills in multiple formats (e.g., group discussion,
debate, lecture) and for multiple purposes (e.g., defending,
explaining, persuading, debating, teaching).
Goal 6.
Application of Psychology. Students
should have an understanding of applications of psychology to
personal, social, and organizational issues.Students
should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an
understanding of how the study of psychology enables individuals to
make informed judgments that strengthen the community and build
public policy.
2. Explain behavior
using different psychological theories or models.
3. Recognize the value of psychology in
understanding and suggesting solutions for real-world
problems.
4. Evaluate the strengths and
weaknesses of their own field experiences.
5. Appreciate the value of
psychological science in society.
6. Demonstrate understanding of the
importance of life-long learning and maintaining currency in one's
field.
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