Psychology of Paranormal Beliefs

Spring - 2024

PSYC 3160-A
Mon/Wed 4:00 - 5:15 pm, Hale 102

Paralinks
Presentation Schedule	Presentation Guidelines
FINAL PAPER INFORMATION!
Key Points to Consider
GRADES

Instructor:	Stephen T. Paul, Ph.D.		Office:	471 Nicholson
E-mail:	paul@rmu.edu		Office Hours:	M/W: 1:00 - 3:30
Phone:	(412) 397-5416.			& appointment.

If a thing exists, it exists in some amount; and if it exists in some amount, it can be measured.

-- Edward L. Thorndike

The easiest lies to tell are the ones you want to be true.

-- Holly Black

Text:	Smith, J. C. (2018). Critical Thinking: Pseudoscience and the Paranormal, 2nd Ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell. [978-1-119-02935-9]
Overview:	The formal study of human behavior (Psychology) has been around for less than 200 years. In this relatively brief time, the purview of psychology has become unmanageably vast. There are more sub-fields of psychology than could be represented in the number of classes typically needed to achieve an undergraduate degree. In addition, there are dozens of "fields" popularly believed to be related to the science of psychology, but which are not (e.g., astrology, biorhythms, speed-reading, channeling, subliminal self-help, psychic surgery, etc.). Such pseudoscientific topics are often lumped together with, or outright labeled as, "psychology" to the immense disservice of the true fields of psychology. This course will equip students with the means to distinguish nonscientific (pseudoscientific) from scientific claims as well as improve their critical thinking skills when it comes to evaluating claims regardless of source.
Objectives:	Upon successful completion of this course, you will: Have a better understanding of the basic methods of knowledge acquisition, including strengths and weaknesses of each. Have a better understanding of what science can prove about paranormal claims. Have a basic understanding of many of the psychological phenomena that contribute to and support paranormal beliefs (e.g., placebo effect, ideomotor effect, cognitive heuristics). Recognize and appreciate the self-correcting nature of science. Recognize common fallacies that support irrational thought and behavior (e.g., confirmation bias, anecdotal evidence, need for certainty). Understand how operant conditioning contributes to superstitions. Better understand how to think more rationally about any claim. Know how to "bend spoons with your mind" (misdirection), how to talk with the dead (cold reading), how to "read minds" (deception), and how to predict stock market fluctuations with 100% accuracy (heuristics vs. algorithms).
Web Site:	http://www.drspeg.com/courses/courses.html
Policies:	In an Emergency: RMU Police emergency response telephone number is: 412-397-2424. From campus telephones dial only: 2424. RMU Alert: All students are urged to sign up for the RMU emergency alert notifications at rmu.edu/rmualert. Always check with RMU to see if classes are in session during inclement weather. Academic Integrity: Academic Integrity is one of this university's highest ethical values. All students are expected to understand and adhere to the standards of Academic Integrity as stated in the RMU Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found on the RMU website at rmu.edu/ai. Any student who violates the Academic Integrity Policy is subject to possible judicial proceedings that may result in sanctions, as indicated in the Policy. Depending on the severity of the violation, sanctions may range from receiving a zero on an assignment, to being dismissed from the university. If you have any questions about the Policy, please consult your course instructor. NOTE: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology for the completion of coursework is not allowed unless expressly permitted by the instructor for the course. Excerpt from Robert Morris University Student Academic Integrity Policy and Judicial Procedures document (June 1, 2011, p. 3): Violation of 'Fair Use': As noted, students' projects may include any of the following works: speeches, PowerPoint presentations, web pages, charts, graphs, illustrations, images, photographs, drawings, cartoons, and the like material obtained through people such as news sources, video and audio recordings, interviews, and the like information and opinions obtained through electronic media such as web sites, blogs, images, video as well as audio materials, and the like. Improper use of any such work or similar authored by other people is a violation of academic integrity as is the failure to comply with "fair-use" requirements. In many cases, written permission from the artist is required for use in a student's project. Students who feature the original artistic media works of others in their projects should ensure that they have complied with the legal and artistic implications of this use. This includes knowledge of the concepts of "licensing," "copyright," "fair use" and "public domain." (See www.fairusenetwork.com). Masking: You may elect to wear face masks in the classroom. Please respect individual decisions about whether to mask. Any negative response to an individual who elects to wear a mask will be reported to Student Conduct. If you are feeling ill but well enough to attend class, we strongly encourage the use of a face mask until you are feeling well. Accessibility Accommodations for Students: Robert Morris University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational programs. If you have, or think you may have, a disability that would impact your educational experience in this class, please contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to schedule a meeting with the SAS Coordinator and Assistant Director Molly Hill. She will confidentially discuss your needs, review your documentation, and engage with you in the interactive process to determine your eligibility for reasonable accommodations. To learn more about academic accommodations, please visit https://rmu.edu/sas, email sas@rmu.edu, or call 412.397.6884. Use of Personal Technologies During Class Time: The use of laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, or any other technology that serves to distract you (and/or your neighbors) from course content and delivery are prohibited. If you are caught using ANY of the above technologies during class time, you will be marked absent for that class. Should your electronic addiction become excessive (distracting to the professor and/or other students), you may be asked to leave. Missed Assignments: If you miss a graded assignment (exam, activity, etc.) due to an excused absence, you have one week (or until the last day of classes; whichever comes first) from the date of the missed assignment to arrange with me to complete that missed assignment. If the original assignment cannot be completed, a replacement activity may be assigned. If you fail to arrange with me to make up missed assignments by the deadline, you will receive a zero for that assignment.
Grading:	(1) In order to demonstrate to me that you are keeping up with the readings, you should provide me with 250-word summaries per chapter to compose 15 percent of your final grade. Due dates for the summaries are Wednesday (before class) each week, and they should be emailed to me NOT PRINTED OUT - the specific chapters that will be due may be found in the schedule/calendar of events at the end of the syllabus. (2) Class participation will constitute 20 percent of your grade. This will be earned through in-class activities and class discussion. If you do not actively participate, you will not earn all the points in this category. I cannot stress enough the importance of your active participation in this class! (3) You will also be responsible for critically analyzing a topic that is course-relevant (and has received prior approval from the professor). I have a number of pre-approved suggestions for topics, but if there is one in particular that you want to cover that is not on my list, please talk to me about it. This class project will be presented via PowerPoint and should last between 10-20 minutes. This will constitute 25 percent of your final grade (note that students may team up for presentations, but I expect that presentations involving more than one student will be noticeably superior to presentations by single students). The presentation will be worth 15/25 while your participation in other presentations will be worth 10/25 points. (4) You will also be completing a final comprehensive reflection paper (worth 15 percent of the final grade) summarizing your experiences in and reactions to the course. I expect this paper to be about 4 pages long. (5) Naturally we will have a standard final exam (100 questions taken from the readings) that will be worth the remaining 25 percent of your final grade. SUMMARY of ASSIGNMENTS Assignment Percent of Grade 1)  Chapter Summaries 15 2)  Class Participation 20 3)  PowerPoint Presentation (15 + 10 =) 25 4)  Final Reflection Paper (about 4 pages) 15 5)  Final Exam 25
Grade Scale:	The following breakdown will be used to determine final grades (based on overall percentage score earned by the end of the semester): A     93.0 - 100  B     83.0 - 85.9 C     70.0 - 76.9 A-     90.0 - 92.9 B-     80.0 - 82.9 D     60.0 - 69.9 B+     86.0 - 89.9 C+     77.0 - 79.9 F     0 - 59.9
Comment:	The goals of this class do NOT include forcing you to change your current beliefs. Re-evaluate them, perhaps, but NOT necessarily to change them. Your final grade will not be determined by the degree to which your beliefs match or mismatch my own. I have great respect for students willing to participate fully in class; especially a class such as this. The practice of asking questions (even simple ones) or challenging even minor points results in a broader understanding of issues and reflects genuine interest in the topic and in one's education. Such qualities are associated with excellence in learning, and are correlated with success in college and beyond.
Schedule:	Provided as a general outline/ordering of what will be covered. The course web page is considered the official class syllabus. Any change (eliminations) in course requirements, re-organizations in topics to be covered, or whatever else (e.g., including but not limited to assignment information, announcements, relevant links) will be posted on the official syllabus web page (i.e., HERE) and if possible, announced in class. THIS CLASS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS! This is only the second time that I have taught the course in this manner. I believe it will be an improvement over previous incarnations, but we will see, because DATA > belief. My hope is that you will be patient with, and understanding of, the potential changes that may need to be made in the ordering and inclusion of the topics below throughout this semester.