COURSE SYLLABUS
PSYCH 297A 3 credits
Special Topics
Inter-cultural Assessments of Undergraduate Student Trait Self-Control and Behaviors
Joint PSU-UU Psychology Spring Semester 2015 Programme
Dr. P. Behrens, Penn State Lehigh Valley
Dr. D. de Ridder, Utrecht University
General Introduction
297 is a “Special Topics” course, so named by the Psychology Department, because it is infrequently offered to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest. This course, 297A, introduces students to short assessment tools and techniques that address dimensions of trait self-control in relation to lifestyle. Results from assessments in classes at Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU) and Utrecht University (UU) will be summarized, interpreted, and compared cross-culturally for undergraduate students at both locations. Although assessments will occur independently at each location, student teams at each site will be in regular communication on the progress of the project. Team results will be presented in a poster session at Utrecht during the first full week of March 2015 (Penn State Spring Break).
Prerequisites
Students should have at least a 2.50 GPA and 6 credits of Psychology including PSYCH 100 and
either PSYCH 200 or another 200-level course (preferably PSYCH 238 or 243).
Course Objectives
As a result of the experience, students will demonstrate skills to:
- Conduct team research on a short psychological assessment
- Administer a psychological assessment
- Summarize and interpret results of an assessment
- Make cross-cultural comparisons of beliefs and attitudes
- Construct a professional- style poster and learn presentation skills
Required Readings
De Ridder, D. T. D., Lensvelt-Mulders, G., Finkenauer, C., Stokl, F. M., & Baumeister, R. F.
(2012). Taking stock of self-control : A meta-analysis of how trait self-control relates to
a wide range of behaviors. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16, 76-99.
Duckworth, A. & Groos, J. J. (2014). Self-control and grit: Related but separable determinants of
success. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23, 319-325.
Mischel, W. (2014). The marshmallow effect: Mastering self-control. New York, NY: Little,
Brown.
Mischel, W, Ebbesen, E. B., & Raskoff-Zeiss, A. (1972). Cognitive and attentional mechanisms
in delay of gratification. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 21, 204-218.
Tangney, J. P., Baumeister, R. F., & Boone, A. L. (2004). High self-control predicts good
adjustment, less pathology, better grades, and interpersonal success. Journal of
Personality, 72, 271-322.
Zuckerman, M., et al. (2004). What individuals believe they can and cannot do: Explorations of
realistic and unrealistic control beliefs. Journal of Personality Assessment, 82, 215-232.
Recommended Readings
Funder, D. C. (2010). The personality puzzle. (5th ed.). New York, NY: Norton.
Ray, W. J. (2009). Methods (9th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks-Cole.
Szuchman, L. T. (2014). Writing with style: APA style made easy (6th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth.
PSYCH 297A ANGEL
This course is supported by an ANGEL site that includes this syllabus; forms and materials in connection with University-sponsored travel to Utrecht under “Lessons”; readings for the major assignment in the course under “Library Reserves”; a “Gradebook” tab; material to write in APA style from the Penn State Library; and a “Communications” tab for all communications and correspondence among PSU students and UU guest participants.
PSYCH 297A Course Calendar
Tue 13 Jan Introductions of faculty and students; share class lists and email addresses;
review project objectives; review ANGEL material; review important
information about the itinerary and documents for the UU portion of the course.
Thu 15 Jan Review student journal requirements and grading; introduce trait assessment
literature (see “Required Readings”); review short assessment of lifestyle and
behaviors (Funder, 2010, chs. 2, 3, 5)
Tue 20 Jan Form teams of 2-3 students; review trait assessment instruments for the PSU and
UU teams; review reliability and validity issues in assessment (see “ Required
Readings” and Funder, 2010, chs. 2, 3, 5)
Thu 22 Jan Review lifestyle assessment instrument (Funder, 2010, chs. 2, 3, 5); continue to
review literature on trait assessment; review administration procedures for
classroom assessment (Ray, 2009, ch. 14 and “Required Readings”)
Tue 27 Jan Review trait assessments (from the list) and lifestyle assessments and the
protocol for classroom administration (Ray, 2009, ch.14)
Wed 28 Jan – Wed 04 Feb PSU data collection by teams. NOTE: no formal class sessions
are held during this time, but the classroom is open for discussion,
communication, and assistance with the assessments and trip preparations
Thu 05 Feb Forming hypotheses on assessment results (Ray, 2009, ch. 3; Funder, 2010,
- 3, 5)
Tue 10 Feb Visual and numerical summaries of assessment results (Ray, 2009, ch. 5)
Thu 12 Feb Summarizing and analyzing assessment results (Ray, 2009, ch. 5)
Tue 17 Feb Review APA style for sharing research results (Ray, 2009, ch. 15)
Thu 19 Feb Review APA style for posters (Ray, ch. 15)
Tue 24 Feb Review APA style for posters (Ray, ch. 15)
Thu 26 Feb Construct APA-style posters for UU trip (Ray, ch. 15)
Tue 03 Mar Construct APA-style posters for UU trip (Ray, ch. 15)
Thu 05 Mar Make preparations for UU trip; deal with concerns and expectations
Utrecht University Activities 09 March – 13 March Outline of Activities
- PSU and UU teams meet to compare assessment results and interpretations
- PSU and UU teams present posters to the UU community
- PSU students visit UU classes
- Students tour professional facilities (e.g., Ambulatorium; Altrecht Mental Hospital; Trimbose Institute)
- Students tour cultural sites (e.g., Mechanical Clock Museum; UU Museum; Utrecht Dom and Tower; National Railway Museum; The Hague)
- Post-trip Activities
Tue 17 Mar Review results of assessments with special attention to cross-cultural
comparisons of results
Thu 19 Mar Compare results from PSU and UU
Tue 24 Mar Conduct cross-cultural analyses of results (Funder, 2010, ch. 14)
Thu 26 Mar Conduct cross-cultural analyses of results (Funder, 2010, ch. 14)
Tue 31 Mar No class (work on team papers)
Thu 02 Apr No class (work on team papers)
Tue 07 Apr Prepare team presentations for campus
Thu 09 Apr Prepare team presentations for campus
Tue 16 Apr Present team posters on campus
Thu 18 Apr – Thu 30 Apr Teams work on final papers
Mon 04 May Team papers and student journals due
Course Evaluation: Student Journals 20%
Each student will keep a personal journal with the following types of entries:
- description and evaluation of the team assessment instrument, including relevant research to support the instrument
- description of team activities
- personal reflection on each of the Course Objectives (see above)
- personal reflection on the international experience
- the contribution of the course to your Psychology major and career plans
Course Evaluation: Team Poster (60%)
There will be a team grade given as a result of the collaboration and contribution of each team member to the poster session in Utrecht. Completeness of the poster and adherence to APA style will be used to evaluate each poster.
Course Evaluation: Team Written Report 20%
A final report (7-10 pages) from each team on the project written as a research paper in APA style.
PSYCH 297A Course Grade
The standard Penn State grade-point system applies to this course:
A 4.0 >.92
A- 3.67 .90
B+ 3.33 .87
B 3.00 .83
B- 2.67 .80
C+ 2.33 .77
C 2.00 .70
D 1.00 .60