Describes the course content and structure of a one-credit, elective senior seminar designed to inform a college psychology department about the effectiveness of their instruction. Assessment measures included a faculty-generated multiple choice test, a student-generated multiple choice test, student surveys, focus groups, and a student essay on…

Advocates the use of Harlequin-style romance novels in a college psychology of women course. Asserts that students develop an understanding of the content and function of gender stereotypes from the books. Describes writing assignments and student evaluation and maintains that student reaction to the approach is positive. (CFR)

Contends that, although computers are used frequently in undergraduate experimental design and statistics courses, they also can be used in courses with different instructional objectives. Describes a course designed to teach the roles of professional psychologists through the use of computers. (CFR)

Describes an undergraduate teaching assistant (TA) program in which the undergraduates engage in the complementary activities of course preparation, course instruction, and one-on-one tutorial assistance. Both students enrolled in an introductory methodology course and the undergraduates serving as TAs indicated that they viewed the experience…

Describes an undergraduate course project where students helped mentally alert senior citizens write their life stories. By assisting senior citizens to organize memories and interpret life decisions, the students experienced stages they had not yet lived through. Students evaluated the course project as a positive learning and personal growth…

Introduces introductory psychology students to behavioral techniques for reducing anxiety and avoidance behavior through the use of participant modeling. Employs guided participation as a technique to encourage students to touch a snake. Finds this method provides an excellent introduction to behavior therapies and engages students in the learning…

Discusses how a prisoner applied education in psychology to his own $2 N:4rehabilitation. Argues that any motivated inmate student can find moral and ethical growth and development in the study of psychology. Suggests how some developmental theories relate to the inmate's life and evolution from guilt and blame to self-acceptance. (DK)

Describes the use of the board game, Jeopardy, in a college level abnormal psychology course. Finds increased student interaction and improved application of information. Reports generally favorable student evaluation of the technique. (CFR)

Profiles a class exercise that teaches the importance of developing an accurate definition of a psychological construct (guilt, control, altruism). The more precise the definition, the easier it is to choose an appropriate technique to measure that construct. Discusses the Health and Psychosocial Instrument File, a recent measurement database.…

Students evaluated the educational applications of introductory courses. Social science courses had the highest average rating, followed by introductory psychology, arts/humanities courses, and natural science courses, respectively. Application items rated as most helpful were understanding yourself, understanding others, and coping with problems.…

Identifies the doctoral psychology programs producing the most mentors (identified as dissertation supervisors). Assesses the quality of these programs as rated in past research. Discovers a strong correlation between those programs assigning mentors and those rated highest in quality. (MJP)

Reviews research on detection of cheating by students on multiple choice tests. Discusses three ideas concerning detecting, deterring, and confronting cheating. Discusses problems confronting teachers attempting to use statistical data to prove cheating. (CFR)

Describes a college-level psychology course in which students learn how to think about the ideas of psychology instead of memorizing psychological information. Suggests modeling of thought in lectures and other classroom activities. Recommends strategies for class discussions and student evaluation. (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…

A project that combined a research practicum for 17 psychology undergraduates with the implementation and evaluation of an assertiveness training program for physically disabled college students is described. A follow-up of students' postbaccalaureate activities revealed that the majority were using skills that they had learned in the project.…