PSY 3611 PRESENTATIONS ON PSYCHOLOGY DISCIPLINES

You will help lead a discussion on the history of a particular discipline within psychology (e.g., developmental, health psychology, clinical, I/O, etc.) (20%). The presentation will be a group project. The focus will be on discipline-specific histories based on the roots provided in class (so more of an emphasis on the past 40 years, rather than tracing from Descartes forward again). The presentation should provide information on the main players and shapers of the sub-field, the relevant zeitgeist, and technological/scientific advances that combined to shape the field. Be sure to provide an idea of the impact that the sub-field as it's evolved and connect this information back to the history we’ve covered in class.

You will need to choose an area of psychology on which to do a group presentation. (Again, I have introductory psychology and other books you can borrow that are more discipline-specific. Also, the library, web, and other psychology faculty will be of great help. The American Psychological Association has about 50 "divisions" that represent sub-specialties—and each has its own website. Faculty specialties: Eric Klinger = clinical/personality; Katherine Benson = developmental/psychology of women; Tom Johnson = cognition/sensation-perception; Me = health/social; Leslie Meek = comparative/biological; Dennis Stewart = I-O/social.)

We have 19 people in the class, so there will be five groups of 3 people and one group of 4. There will be two 50-minute presentations per class time. Dates and topics are:

The focus will be on discipline-specific histories based on the roots we've provided in class (so more of an emphasis on the past 40 years, rather than tracing from Descartes forward again). As we've done thus far, provide information on the main players and shapers of the sub-field, the relevant zeitgeist, and technological/scientific advances that combined to shape the field. Be sure to provide an idea of the impact that the sub-field as it's evolved.

§ I expect you to have readings for the class to familiarize them with the field. You'll need to make those available in time for the class to read them. Have them to me 1.5 weeks prior to your presentation date (e.g., Mar. 30 for the April 11 presentation, etc.).

§ "Thought questions" should be to me the Thursday before your presentation to allow me to distribute them to the class. These are required and should be similar in format to what we’ve used over the semester.

§ Presentations should be backed by available literature and a written outline of the presentation and bibliography will be turned in at the time of the presentation.

§ The presentation accounts for 20% of your grade, so each member of the group needs to be an active part of the presentation. Group grades will be given. However, individual grades will be given in instances where significantly uneven effort or contribution has occurred within a group. Points will be calculated from the Speech Evaluation Forms.

§ Team members should meet with me outside of class to discuss their topic and how they will approach their presentation.

§ I am expecting each person to rehearse their talk with their partners. A partner rehearsal sheet will be distributed and will be handed in at the time of the presentation.

§ Any overheads or hand-outs need to be ready for duplicating 48 hours in advance of the presentation and be of reasonable length (that is, consider how much is really necessary for everyone to have their own copy of). If you’ll use PowerPoint, DVD’s, videos, or other media, talk to me in advance to assure equipment is compatible and available.

§ Attendance during presentations is expected. Class participation will be graded during presentation sessions, too. Expect to respond to presenters’ questions and to pose questions and observations yourself.

Be prepared to choose your topic and presentation date at Feb. 28's class.

C. Uses speaking as only means of communicating (in other words, no use of demonstrations, visuals, hand-outs, etc.)

A. Exhibits sound organization: A clear purpose and a clear thesis supported by main ideas that are easily identified.

B. Is intellectually sound in developing a topic of worth with adequate evidence.

C. Clearly connects the discipline-specific information to the history discussed in the course.

F. Demonstrates skill in gaining group understanding of difficult concepts or in winning agreement from group.

B. Constitutes a genuinely individual and creative contribution by the speakers to thinking of the audience.

C. Demonstrates reliability of ideas and arguments through excellent documentation, persuasive evidence, and/or a variety of supporting materials.

D. Provides clear analysis and implications related to the history of the field.

IV. Speeches classified as "below average" (D) are deficient in several of the factors required for the "C" speech.

V. Speeches classified as "failures" (F) are speeches that are not given or that are deficient in most of the factors required for the "C" speech.