COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is a survey of topics in the psychology of memory, including current theories of memory and forgetting, the neurobiology of memory, memory models, metamemory, memory development across the lifespan, organic and functional memory disorders, and applied issues such as eyewitness legal testimony, children's memory abilities, effects of drugs and alcohol on memory, and the repressed memory debate.

Radvansky, G. (2006). Human Memory. Pearson: Allyn & Bacon.

Parkin, A.J. (1997). Memory and Amnesia: An Introduction. (Second Edition). Blackwell Publishers.

Assigned readings available using Blackboard.

Regular attendance is expected. Attendance will be recorded and will be 10% of your course grade. (Two classes may be missed without reducing your overall attendance grade.) You are responsible for completing all course requirements and for keeping up with all that goes on in the course even if you are not present.

Study Aids:

Copies of the Powerpoint files used during my lectures can be downloaded from the course webpage (see my webpage URL listed above). It is recommended that you download them before each class so that you do not need to copy them during lecture.

Exams:

Three multiple choice/short answer exams (non-cumulative), two midterms and a final, will be given on the dates noted on the syllabus, each one covering assigned chapters in the textbooks, assigned readings, and class discussions from the end of the previous exam. (You may keep your midterm exams to use when studying for the final.) These exams will count 75% of your course grade (25% for each exam). Contact me if you miss an exam. Exams that are missed due to a verifiable emergency or illness may be made up by appointment. Please arrive at each exam on time. No one will be permitted to start the exam after any student has finished it and left the room. Make-up exams will be essay exams. It is generally to your advantage to take the scheduled exam, since students typically do not do as well on make-up exams.

MPORTANT: No student will pass this course without taking all exams. If you miss any exam, you will be given a grade of incomplete (I) for the course, which must be made up or it will turn into an F. If you cannot be present for an exam, please contact me ASAP.

Exercises:

Occasional short exercises will be assigned during class. These are to be completed either in class or outside of class, as instructed. Each exercise is intended to illustrate some aspect of memory functioning. They will be graded based on thoroughness of completion. Together, these assignments will be 15% of your course grade.

The required coursework for this class includes:

Attendance	10%
Exercises	15%
Midterms (25% each)	50%
Final Exam	25%

The exams will be curved, so your grade will be determined in comparison to the other students in the course. Curving is accomplished in a way that makes it potentially possible for everyone to earn an A in this course, if everyone does as well as the top few students. Grade distributions and answer keys will be available after each midterm so you can compare your progress with others and use your midterm exams to study for the final exam.

Extra Credit:

Extra credit on the final exam can be earned by signing up for and participating as a subject in experiments through the Cal Poly Pomona human subjects pool (Sona). A link to instructions for doing this is provided on the course webpage. One unit of credit for experiment participation will count as one point on the final exam. Up to three points can be earned this way. The span between grades is typically 4 pts, so in many cases this can be enough points to raise your score from one grade to another. This is optional -- there is no requirement to earn extra credit this way. An extra credit question will be provided on the final exam, for those who do not wish to participate in experiments.

Problems:

Understanding the material in this course requires effort and you may need to read the textbook more than once in order to fully understand it. Be sure to read assigned pages before attending the class on each topic. Class time will be used to explain important concepts, but you are expected to be prepared. If you have a disability or other difficulty that can be helped by reasonable accommodation, please meet with me early in the quarter and before the exams. No changes to exam grades can be made after the fact.