Motivation
Spring, 2019
Dr. Travis Langley

REQUIRED READING:
Motivation: Theory, Research, & Applications by Petri & McGovern
Drive: The Surprising Thing about What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

OVERVIEW:

This course looks at why we do the things we do.  It examines the motives and the drives that stimulate individuals to take action.  Topics of discussion include emotion, hunger, sex, aggression, love, and other appetites.

SCHEDULE:

UNIT 1                        EXAM: February 21
Motivation, chapters 1-3
Drive, part 1
optional: Motivation, chapter 4

UNIT 2                        EXAM:
Motivation, chapters 5, 7, 12
Drive, part 2
optional: Motivation, chapter 6

UNIT 3                        EXAM: April 30
Motivation, chapters 8-10
Drive, part 3
optional: Motivation, chapter 11

CUMULATIVE FINAL
optional chapter: Motivation, chapter 13

See semester schedule for day and time of the final exam.

EXAMS

Each unit will conclude with a 40-item multiple choice exam covering lecture notes, assigned readings, and class discussion. Bring number 2 pencils for every test. Any answer marked wrong due to an incomplete erasure is simply wrong. Bring your own Scantron answer sheet for each test.

On every test, put your name and ID number on the front of the answer sheet and on the back of your test. Follow instructions to put your test and answer sheet face down and in the right stack; otherwise the Scantron machine might grade the back of your answer sheet or grade it according to the wrong answer key.

There will be NO makeup tests, so don’t even ask unless you’ve missed two tests and can prove you had great reasons for both excused absences. As long as you do not miss any tests, your lowest test will be dropped, even if it is the final exam. If you do miss a regular test but have an excused absence, the missing test will be the one that gets dropped.

If you arrange for a guest speaker of sufficient educational value to come to our class (or maybe for us to go to them), an extra A will be figured into your average, equal to one test.

GRADING

Test questions range in difficulty to get an accurate idea of exactly how much you know and understand about the course material. I do not feel it is right to establish a curve based on the highest grade in the class, in which case only one score would determine everyone’s grade. The scale on the 40-point tests (although bonus credit makes them worth more than 40) is simply this:

A         35.1 –>
B         30.1 – 35.0
C         25.1 – 30.0
D         20.1 – 25.0
F

Your professor reserves the right to assign other values for these grade cutoffs. The professor also reserves the right to subtract any number of points from the grade of someone who disrupts class, or to assign a course grade of F to someone caught cheating. Anyone caught cheating will also be referred for University disciplinary measures.

Writing Across the Curriculum: The last question on every test will be “What else did you learn from the current course material that was not otherwise covered by this test?” For that question, you will need to explain concepts in complete sentences, making certain that you are not simply copying the wording as it appears in the book. Convince me you understand.

There will be other essay questions to assess your understanding of material.

ATTENDANCE

The strongest correlate with poor grades in any class is absenteeism. Poor attendance, therefore, punishes itself. Anyone who does not attend class at all during the first week will be dropped (because apparently they’re not really taking the class). The professor reserves the right to drop anyone for profound absenteeism. If you come in after I’ve already collected the roll answers, that’s too late, so don’t come up afterward and try to turn something else to be counted present.

On days when class is online, failing to do that day’s assignment(s) counts as an absence.

If you aren’t here when roll is taken, the reason does not matter. DO NOT TELL ME that you’re going to miss class or tell me why you missed after the fact. If you miss class, you are responsible for getting copies of the notes from fellow students.

Class participation will be more likely to help your grade than signing a roll sheet.

ELECTRONICS POLICY

If your phone rings or vibrates loudly enough for your professor to hear it during class, every ring is a classroom disruption and can cost you points. If it rings once, make sure it does not ring a second time.

Don’t use computers to take classroom notes. Sorry, but too many professors have run into problems with people distracting other students by sitting there surfing the Internet.

Do not text during class because that is distracting to others. If you need to be on your phone that badly, then you need to be somewhere else.

If I hear or see your phone during class, you lose points. Your phone and other electronic devices must be OFF and OUT OF SIGHT during class, especially during tests. You are responsible for making sure you cannot even see your phone during the test. If your phone, iPod, or anything else that could contain notes is visible, that will be treated as cheating because too many students use such things to cheat. I do not have to confirm what was on your phone or related item.

Stay off the computer. Stay off the phone.

COMMUNICATION

The best way to contact your professor is via email at langlet@hsu.edu.

If you do not normally use your reddies.hsu.edu email address, you MUST set it up to forward messages to you because if I have to email a message to the class, that’s where the system will send it. You are responsible for making certain you are set up to receive messages from your professor. Every time you email your professor, say who you are and which course and assignment you’re talking about at the beginning of your message (not just in your subject line because that doesn’t immediately show in some apps).

 

GROUP PRESENTATIONS

In groups of three or four, you will all make presentations before the class at some point during the term. No group can start out as small as two or as large as six. Five is almost certainly too many, and you’ll have trouble convincing me that’s the number you need. Those who make their presentations earliest will be graded slightly more leniently. Grades for the presentations will be based on the quality of presentations, educational value, and amount of work reflected. Each presentation will be worth 40 points, the same as a test. No, it can’t be dropped.

Not all group members will have to get up and talk, as long as everyone in the group feels all have pulled their weight. A group grade will be assigned, with adjustments for individual quality of presentation. For this presentation, your group is teaching class. If you want at least a B, a group of 3 is responsible for 25 minutes; group of 4, 30 minutes; group of 5, 40 minutes. If you’re showing a video as part of a presentation, it should not take up more than a quarter of that time, unless perhaps you made the video yourself (for example, interviewing a gang member).

If you make your entire presentation as a video, it can be shorter than an in-class oral presentation. In that case, it should be at least 7 minutes along and clearly show enough work for every person involved.
Examples of some past videos (good videos although you should include more psychology than they do):

• polygamy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E08DSoPKV_Q
• prostitution http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huehuRNRQcw 

Point value for presentations or YouTube videos:

	A+ 40	B+ 35	C+ 30	D+ 25	E+ 20	F          10
	A  38.3	B  33.3	C  28.3	D  23.3	E  18.3	0          0
	A- 36.6	B- 31.6	C- 26.6	D- 21.6	E- 16.6

You may choose other topics that are not on this list as long as they are clearly relevant to this course. If you’re interested in a topic not on the list (see next page), check with the professor to make sure the topic is okay. No two groups may do the same topic or excessively similar topics.

Examples of possible group presentation topics:

hormones

human factors researchhumorjealousyjusticelimbic systemmating ritualsmethod acting (“What’s my motivation?”)moral developmentmotivational speakersparentingphobias

age changes in motivation addiction alcohol anxiety disorders body language criminal motives consumer behavior cults daredevils depression eating disorders employee motivation endocrinology Game of Thrones grief hormones human factors research humor jealousy justice limbic system

mating rituals method acting (“What’s my motivation?”) moral development motivational speakers parenting phobias racial conflict religious fanaticism reproduction R. Kelly sex crimes sex hormones sexual impulsivity (so-called “sex addiction”) sexual dysfunctions show business sports psychology stress survival of the fittest violence YouTubers

With any of these topics, make very certain you’ve chosen an aspect of it that is clearly relevant to the topic of motivation.

You’re welcome to choose topics not on this list, but double-check any other topic with your professor.

DISABILITY SERVICES

Students with disabilities:  Individuals who may need academic accommodation based on the impact of a documentable disability (e.g.: sensory, learning, psychological, medical, mobility) should contact the Disability Resource Center for assistance.  For more information, visit the DRC website at www.hsu.edu/disability.

The schedule and other details in this syllabus may be subject to revision.