Examines whether the informed consent and ethical principles often applied to research are applicable to student participation in college courses. Concludes that providing information on course content, grading policies, assignments, goals, and teaching philosophy and techniques may increase respect for the profession and facilitate professors'…

Suggests that, although innovative strategies can enchance a history of psychology course, the key is the instructor's enthusiasm. Describes a college level course in terms of objectives, readings, and visual aids. A major part is an independent research paper consisting of: (1) the historical development of an idea, (2) two biographical sketches…

Describes a ten week college level psychology seminar designed to help students take a more active role in their professional and scientific development. The first five weeks consist of tracing the historical developments in psychology; the second half focuses on contemporary topics in professional psychology. (KC)

Outlines an interdisciplinary university course, Historical and Psychological Analyses of Genocide, which dealt with the Nazi treatment of Jews during World War II. The course examines psychological and sociohistorical principles which could result in mass murder. Concludes that such an approach promotes a thorough explanation of such an event.…

Contends that research methodology courses can be relevant to issues outside of psychology and describes a method which relates the course to consumer problems. Students use experimental methodology to test claims made in television commercials advertising deodorant, bathroom tissues, and soft drinks. (KC)

A lunch-hour psychology course provides continuing education for the community in an informal atmosphere with lectures by university faculty members and other specialists on various social science issues, and has a nonthreatening grading system. (AV)

Describes a college-level course that highlights women's contributions to and impact on psychology. Recommends the use of biographical information and the implications of women's growing presence in psychology. Provides suggestions for modifying traditional psychology courses using this approach. (CFR)

Describes a college-level course in health psychology. Recommends a course divided between lectures and a class-designed research project. Reports that course evaluations by the students indicated that the students enjoyed the course design and assignments. (CFR)

Describes a college-level course in psychology in which students study community issues and problems. Outlines how students work in community program internships and participate in individual and group research projects. Includes course objectives, recommended instructional resources, and evaluation strategies. (CFR)

Describes the use of a student-designed questionnaire to generate data for teaching statistical procedures and concepts. Maintains that students learn firsthand that data analysis is an integral part of the research process. Concludes that students find real data more interesting. (CFR)

Describes an instructional activity in which students are given false data in a research methods class. Finds that all students accepted the data but that seniors were more skeptical than sophomores or juniors. Determines that students agree that the approach helped them learn about the costs and benefits of deception in research. (CFR)

Describes techniques for clarifying goals, improving organization, and evaluating students in research courses that are typically unstructured. Includes methods for assisting students in designing experiments, creating evaluation tools, and monitoring student progress throughout the course. These simple methods are appropriate for courses with an…

Describes an assignment within a college course on thinking, reasoning, and decision-making skills. Discusses how students observe and describe the reasoning style of a partner on four different tasks. Maintains that the assignment illustrates course objectives on theories and models of reasoning in concrete ways. (CFR)

Asserts that conference teaching techniques foster critical thinking skills. Describes conference-style learning and discusses its use in the college psychology classroom. Concludes that the approach helps avoid the sense of struggle and alienation that can arise between teachers and students in the traditional classroom. (CFR)

Contends that no single definition of critical thinking is widely accepted. Describes issues related to critical thinking and offers suggestions for demystifying the concept. Presents a framework for a psychology curriculum using performance-based assessment practices. (CFR)