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Psychology (PSYC) 289
Psychology as a Natural Science (Revision 4)

Revision 3 closed Sept. 2001, replaced by current version.

Overview

This course introduces the broad areas of biological bases of behaviour, sensation and perception, learning and memory, and variations in consciousness. Specific topics covered include the brain, sleep, drugs, altered states of consciousness, touch, taste, smell, hearing, seeing, attention, visual perception, emotion, Pavlovian conditioning, operant conditioning, memory, and hypnosis.
Method of Delivery: Individualized study or grouped study. Online-enhanced.
Credit Weight/Area of Study: 3 credits - Social Science
Prerequisite: None.
Precluded course: PSYC 206 (PSYC 289 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for PSYC 206.)

Outline

The course consists of five units of material. The units are composed of the following chapters in the main course text:
  • Unit 1 The Evolution of Psychology: From Speculation to Science
      Chapter 1 The Evolution of Psychology
      Chapter 2 The Research Enterprise in Psychology

  • Unit 2 The Biological Bases of Behaviour
      Chapter 3 The Biological Bases of Behaviour

  • Unit 3 Sensation and Perception

      • Chapter 4 Sensation and Perception

  • Unit 4 Variations in Consciousness
      Chapter 5 Variations in Consciousness

  • Unit 5 Learning and Memory
      • Chapter 6 Learning through Conditioning
      Chapter 7 Human Memory

Evaluation

The determination of the final grade in PSYC 289 depends upon whether or not the student participates in a research project or writes an essay. If the student participates in research, the unit quizzes and the final examination will each account for 50 per cent of the final grade. If the student instead writes an essay, the unit quizzes will account for 30 per cent of the grade, and the final examination will account for the remaining 50 per cent.

The only exception to these percentage distributions occurs if a student receives a failing grade of less than 60 per cent on the final examination, but would otherwise pass the course on the strength of his or her performance on the quizzes and the research/essay. In such a case, the examination mark will be the course mark and the student will have failed the course.

Course Materials

Textbook

Weiten, W. (1997). Psychology: Themes and Variations, Briefer Version. 3rd. ed. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole

Other material

The course materials include a student manual, study guide and a quiz package.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
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This page was updated by E. Comrie