Discusses a research design course in which undergraduates were taught to program microcomputers for the control of experimental tasks. Describes the teaching approach for the three-hour course unit, along with the experimental tasks that were performed. Reports that students ranked the programing of experimental tasks as important as other…

Describes a learning theory course using methods recommended in the book, "Women's Ways of Knowing." Outlines course activities and assignments. Maintains that students gave the course high ratings on evaluations. (CFR)

Compares the effectiveness of multimedia and traditional classes. Results show that (1) students in both classes did not differ on abilities before enrollment; (2) students in the multimedia class averaged higher examination scores; and (3) there are no consistent patterns between learning preferences and final examination scores in either case.…

Summarizes the results of a survey that revealed several dichotomies between what instructors felt introductory psychology courses delivered and what students wanted. Students desired a knowledge of people and relationships while the instructors felt the courses provided a broad overview of the discipline. Includes statistical data and analysis.…

Describes a demonstration that recreates the central features of taste aversion (learning to avoid distinctively flavored food or drink paired with gastrointestinal illness) research. Rats are allowed to drink a saccharine flavored solution and then are given an injection of sodium chloride. They associate the unpleasant effects with the solution.…

Describes a college psychology course activity designed to help students define the parameters of cognitive psychology. Students selected a feature film and a journal article that represented some aspect of cognitive psychology. They then wrote a paper discussing the theoretical and empirical connections between the sources and the topic. (MJP)

Describes a community-based research project that collaborated with the police department to survey female residents' attitudes toward the role of the police in handling domestic violence cases. Explains that this project provided students with the opportunity to directly experience the research process early in their undergraduate psychology…

In this article, I describe Writing in Psychology, a semester-length 3-credit elective course designed to improve students' writing skills, familiarize them with psychology's writing conventions, and teach them American Psychological Association (APA) style. Students produced a case report, a report of an empirical study, a conference abstract,…

Sixty-five percent of the 499 U.S. colleges and universities surveyed have a practicum program. Age, size, and purpose of the programs, faculty issues (e.g., supervision, liability insurance), and student issues (e.g., course selection, grading) are discussed. If practicum is to survive, it must assume a more formal academic structure. (RM)

Reports that since 1985 the number of psychology faculty has remained fairly constant, but the number of bachelor's degrees awarded has risen by 59%. The number of degrees granted to women has increased by 80%. Discusses possible reasons, long-range implications, and psychology departments' reactions to this trend. (MJP)

Examines aspects of the introductory psychology textbook market through a publishing house survey. Aspects covered are the current and future number of introductory texts, fewer textbook publishers, custom publishing, changing content, and computer technologies. Discusses the results of the publishers' responses and provides statistical tables of…

Discusses the "value added" approach to determining the quality of postsecondary educational programs. States that this method, which emphasizes educational gains made by students as a result of their studies, can be a powerful tool for improving teaching and learning when the outcomes are used to influence psychology curricula or…

Discusses methods of personalizing the large introductory college psychology class. Contrasts active learning by students with lecturing by professors. Suggests that separating the large class into smaller units can facilitate active learning. Argues that active learning also can be promoted in the large class setting. (SG)

Asserts that, among trends in higher education, none is more debated than the place of general education and the use of the core curriculum as an antidote to specialized education. Argues that psychology can be effectively presented to undergraduates in an interdisciplinary core curriculum. (CFR)

Describes the content of an undergraduate course called "Field Work in Applied Psychology: Teaching Mathematics." Assigns students to gain field work experience by teaching fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-grade students mathematics. Reviews the goals for the teacher, college students, and elementary schools. (CMK)