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Department of Psychology
Coverage: Findings from a National Sample of Introductory Psychology Syllabi Scott C. Bates, Ph.D. Department of Psychology Utah State University Logan UT
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References Irion, A. L. (1976). A survey of the introductory course in psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 3(1), 3-8. Miller, B. & Gentile, B. F. (1998). Introductory course content and goals. Teaching of Psychology, 25(2), 89.
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Method: Sample National Center for Educational Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS*) was used to generate the sampling universe using the following criteria: 4 year, public, institutions of higher education Within the 50 States & Washington, D.C. Awarding BS/BA in Psychology Universe N = 492 Randomly sampled institutions: 161 *
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Method: Sample Universe N = 492 Sampled institutions: N = 161
Responses: n = 63 (38.9%) Total Syllabi: 146 Excluded syllabi: 39 Wrong Semester: 10 No Schedule: 24 Sequential Courses: 12 Syllabi for present analysis Syllabi: 107 Institutions: 51
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Method: Domain Classification
Scheduled “Lecture Topics” classified into 17 domains: Introduction Research Methods Bio Sensation Perception Consciousness Learning Memory Cognitive Developmental Motivation Emotion Health Personality Abnormal Treatment Social
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Method: Domain Classification
Subtopics classified into broader topics Sleep/Dreaming = Consciousness Forgetting = Memory Schizophrenia = Abnormal There were some difficult classification decisions
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Methods: Domain Classification
Classification Decisions Nature/Nurture: .50 Bio & .50 Developmental Evolution / Evolutionary Psych .5 Bio & .5 Motivation Language / Thought / IQ IQ = Cognitive Thought = Cognitive Language = .50 Cognitive & .50 Developmental Positive Psychology Personality
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Methods: Domain Classification
Classification Decisions Sensation and Perception Split evenly into S & P Sex & Gender (text specific formulation) Developmental Motivation Social Abnormal
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Methods: Domain Classification
The Miscellaneous Domain Topics that could be classified into multiple domains, where no specific information provided guidance Environmental Psych Work / IO Culture Applied Psychology
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Results
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Mean = 14.2 SD = 2.4 Min = 7 Max = 18 N = 107 r = .19
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Graph 1. Proportion of syllabi indicating any coverage of domain.
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Graph 2. Average class-time invested in each domain.
Hours
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mean mean
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Discussion Syllabi follow textbooks
Most syllabi schedules tracked a text book All but 2 syllabi (from one instructor) used a textbook from a major publisher No single domain was covered in every syllabus. Topics most likely to be covered are most likely to be covered with some depth.
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Discussion Should ‘brief’ texts as a low-cost alternative become ‘core’ texts with supplements that provide readings in less-used areas?
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