Background: The goals of laboratory experiences include developing knowledge base, research skills, and scientific communication abilities. Objective: The aim was to assess an inquiry-based laboratory activity using the model organism "Caenorhabditis elegans" in relation to learning goals. Method: Students in a "Biopsychology"…

The present study examined 12 abnormal psychology textbooks to determine whether Rosenhan's classic study, "Being sane in insane places," was covered, and if so, the nature of that coverage. Only 50% covered the study, with all describing the study as demonstrating the biasing power of psychiatric labels. Two key aspects of the study…

We studied undergraduate psychology students' grades and their ratings of the helpfulness of behaviors related to good academic performance. On average students desired an AB (3.5 on a 4-point scale) and would have been satisfied with a B; 31% of students expressed satisfaction with a BC or lower. Overall, students averaged a BC final grade, a B…

In contrast to "Just Say No" lectures on drug use common in K to 12 drug education programs (e.g., Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or D.A.R.E.), this activity used peer teaching in an Introductory Psychology course to promote active learning and open discussion of controversial issues about drug use. Working in small groups, students researched…

Forty-three references dealing with the teaching of behavior therapy and behavior modification are included in this bibliography. (DE)

Deindividuation is a complex process in which a series of social conditions lead to changes in perception of self and of other people. Described is a classroom demonstration that illustrates this concept, revealing that even normal, well-adjusted college students are capable of highly inappropriate, antisocial behavior under certain conditions.…

Describes study which examines undergraduates' sensitivity to children's behavior and the extent to which students' behavior changes as a result of a "sensitivity to children" course. Research explored whether students' Interpersonal Perceptual Style (IPS: the extent to which a person is sensitive to another's negative and positive behavior) was a…

This study investigated the relation between dilatory behaviors and performance in students whom we randomly assigned to either an online or a traditional, lecture introductory psychology class. Both sections had full access to a class Web site. There were no reliable differences between the 2 sections of the class on the measures of…

Describes exercises designed to give students experience in using methods of naturalistic observation to quantify behavior. Students construct a coding system of the behaviors observed in a small mouse colony, gather data by instantaneous and focal animal sampling, and use the data to calculate interrater reliability and sequence analysis. (GEA)

Argues for a greater and more explicit use of evolutionary theory in psychology courses. Provides examples of ways that this strategy can help students think critically about classic psychological theories, understand the importance of narrower domain-specific theories, and comprehend the rationales behind cross-species comparison in psychology.…