GRADING

Grades for the course Personality Psychology will be based on four equally weighted components:
I. Your choice of either a group project or a paper.

A. A group project on a personality topic, completed with a total of three students and presented to the class. Format of the class presentation is open, but the following are possibilities:

1. a network of webpages,

2. a video documentary.

B. One of the following kinds of paper, written alone or with one partner (15 pages):
1. an original theory on a topic in personality,

2. a critical review of the literature on a personality research program.

II. Peer feedback of the following kinds:

A. peer reviews of submitted student papers (participation),

B. peer commentaries on accepted student papers (3 pages each).

III. A midterm exam on all material covered before October 14, 1999.

IV. A final exam on all material covered after October 14, 1999.

 

Group Project

The group project is an opportunity for you to exercise both your creative and critical faculties in discussing a particular personality-related topic. You must follow several steps. First, you must define the problem. The assignments are broad enough that they require a good bit of interpretation. Second, you must determine the skills you need to solve the problem. Third, you must do whatever is required to obtain those skills. Fourth, you must solve the problem. Fifth, you must present your solution to the class in some way--the method you choose is up to you.

In the past, most students have preferred to represent their knowledge in the form of websites that used alternative representations. During one class session, the instructor will introduce you to the world wide web (with an emphasis on personality), and during the following (optional) class session the instructor will teach you how to make web pages using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). No prior knowledge is presupposed.

Some students may wish to represent their knowledge in ways other than creating a website. For example, you might choose to create a video in the form of a 20/20 documentary, a David Letterman show, etc. Remember, this is a chance to be creative, as well as to show an in-depth knowledge of personality. Your final product will be shown to the class during one of the scheduled group project demonstrations.

Each group will have three members. Students who mutually agree to be in the same group will be put together; the remaining students will be assigned to a group. When the project is completed, students will each submit a written statement on the contribution of each group member. Your final grade will reflect both the quality of the final product and your own contribution.

 
Possible Group Project Topics. What do personality theory and research tell us about the following topics?

Creativity
Criminality
Culture
Emotion
Productivity
Relationships
Treatment

You may choose one of the above topics, or a different topic (with prior consent of the instructor).

 

Paper

This course is meant to help you think critically and creatively about the science of personality. As discussed in the prospectus, one method of doing this is for you to capture your ideas in writing. You will write not only for yourself, the instructor, and your peers, but also for persons worldwide with an interest in personality. The Great Ideas in Personality website (visited over 2500 times per month) provides a publication outlet for high quality contributions by you and your peers. This opportunity for disseminating your ideas is meant to add motivation: your thoughts about personality can now become the focus of likeminded persons around the world.

In academic psychology, papers are commonly coauthored by more than one person. This allows two people with slightly different areas of knowledge to accentuate each other's strengths. With this goal in mind, you may choose to write your paper in conjunction with one partner. Unlike the group project, which will be graded partly on individual contributions, the paper will be graded exclusively on the final product. Therefore, it is important that you choose a partner who will be willing and able to make a significant contribution.

Theory Paper. A theory paper is meant to emphasize the creative aspect of the course. You are to create an original theory of personality that (a) takes account of existing research, and (b) has testable consequences. The paper should be at least fifteen double-spaced pages in length, and should be in APA style, including a title page, abstract, headings, and references.

Your paper will be subjected to peer review by other students, after which you will have a chance to revise it. When you turn it in, the instructor will grade it and will select the best papers for publication. Published papers will be raised by one third of a letter (typically from A to A+). They will then become the focus of peer commentaries by students in the class, and possibly also by contributors outside of class. The author(s) of each published paper will then write an author response. Submission guidelines and several exemplary papers are available.

 
Review Paper. Whereas a theory paper emphasizes the creative aspect of the course, a review paper emphasizes the critical aspect. You are to write a critical review of the literature on a theory that has been the subject of vigorous scientific research. If you wish to write about a theory not discussed in class, you must obtain permission of the instructor, which will require that you show that a substantial amount of scientific research has already gone into testing the theory.

Your paper will be subjected to peer review with the possibility of publication. Published papers will be raised by one third of a letter (typically from A to A+). They will be subjected to peer commentary, and the author(s) will write a response. Papers must follow APA style, and must be at least fifteen double-spaced pages in length. Writing advice is available.

 

Peer Feedback

Peer feedback is an important source of mutual correction. Therefore, on both the rough draft and final draft of the papers, you will provide peer review and (for papers accepted for publication) peer commentary. Peer feedback must be written individually (with no partners).

 

Midterm Exam

The midterm exam is meant to be a straightforward assessment of your knowledge of all course material covered up to October 14, 1999. This includes lectures, textbooks, and articles. The best way to prepare is by attending class regularly and reading the assigned materials.

 

Final Exam

The final exam is meant to be a straightforward assessment of your knowledge of all course material covered after October 14, 1999. This includes lectures, textbooks, articles, and group projects (your own and others'). Two review sessions are scheduled for the end of the course, but the best way to prepare is by attending class regularly and reading the assigned materials.

 

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