Social Psychology of Jurors and Juries
PSY 400-162g-01
Spring 2003
Dr. Kim MacLin
This Syllabus is Subject to Change
Seminar Description:
This course will focus on how basic psychological theory, methods and principles can be used to understand the human behaviors and thought processes of individual jurors and of the specialized small group of the jury.
This Syllabus:
This syllabus is our contract. Therefore, it is lengthy and detailed. It clearly states your obligations to me, and mine to you. Imagine any complaints you might have about a course (particularly after the fact, and if you didn’t get the grade you wanted): and look for those possible complaints in this syllabus. If there is something you don’t like, TAKE A DIFFERENT COURSE! Staying in this course beyond the first day indicates to me a commitment to learn in this type of environment.
Have questions about the course? Check your syllabus first! Very likely the information you want is here! Please bring this syllabus to class with you and record any changes in requirements or deadlines on it. Announcements made in class “count” just as much as policies outlined in the written syllabus.
Contacting Me:
Not that I don’t want to talk to you in person (!) but email is the most efficient and reliable way to reach me.
Email: kim.maclin@uni.edu
Phone: 273-2302
Office: Baker Hall 344
Office Hours: MW 10:30am-Noon and by appointment
Class Time: F 10:00am-12:50pm
Class Location: BAK 315
Required Text:
Hans, V. P. & Vidmar, N. (1986). Judging the jury. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing.
Greene, E., Chopra, S., Kovera, M. B., Penrod, S., Rose, V. G., Schuller, R., & Studebaker, C. (2002). Jurors and Juries: A review of the field. In, J. R. P. Ogloff's (Ed.) Taking psychology and law into the twenty first century. New York: Kluwer.
Readings available in Baker 334.
Course website: http://fp.uni.edu/maclink/juries_course.htm
Grades Posted: http://webct.uni.edu (WebCT)
Important Dates:
Friday, 1/17 Class Starts
Monday, 1/20 Holiday
Friday, 1/31 Last day to drop w/o a “W”
Friday, 3/14 Last day to drop w/o an “F”
3/15-3/23 Spring Break
Friday, 5/2 Last Day of Class
Final
Saturday 5/10 Graduation
If you have a disability that could affect your performance in this class:
UNI is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students, including those with documented physical disabilities or documented learning disabilities. It is the responsibility of students to contact the Office of Disability Services (213 Student Services Center-273-2676) to arrange for documentation and accommodation.
If you have University sponsored obligations that require you to miss class:
It is your responsibility to contact me during the first week of class to let me know of your obligations throughout the semester. As soon as you receive your paperwork detailing out the days you will miss class, please provide me with a copy for my files. It is STILL your responsibility, however, to remind me by email at least a day before you are going to miss a class due to your approved obligations, so that we can arrange for any work you might miss. It is your responsibility to ensure that you get makeup assignments from me immediately upon your return. You will need to get class notes from a fellow student.
Do not plagiarize. When writing papers and assignments, be sure to express your work as yours, and someone else's as theirs. Remember that rearranging someone else's words is still stealing them. Plagiarism is copying (or re-writing) someone else's work and claiming it as your own. Paraphrasing without appropriate referencing IS plagiarism. When in doubt—CITE YOUR SOURCE.
Class Attendance:
Class attendance is mandatory. Participation will be about 5% of your grade. Missing one of our seminar days is like missing a full week of a regular course. Don't do it! No late work is accepted. If you cannot attend class on a particular day, your best bet is to send me an email, or to leave a phone message at my office PRIOR TO YOUR ABSENCE. Talking to me after the fact does not ensure that I will be sympathetic or helpful in any way!
Article Presentation:
You will choose a topic, and then choose a relevant article from the reference list of Greene et al. You will present your article and lead class discussion. Please put a copy of your article in the course folder in the department office at least a week prior to your presentation so people can copy it. Your presentation is worth 50 pts.
Homework:
Homework is listed below in the calendar. They are typically pdf's or links. Read the material and type a 1 page response incorporating material you've learned from class and readings. It is due on the day it is noted on the course calendar. Homework is worth 5 pts.
Paper:
Your paper will be on the same topic as your presentation. You will need to use 3 relevant articles from the psychology literature and 1 legal article or case law. Your paper should be in APA style. Undergraduates' papers will be a review of the topic. Graduates' paper will review the topic and include a method section proposing relevant research. You should include a cover page, an abstract page an reference page and 5-7 pages of text. It is worth 100 pts.
Court Experience:
You will be required to visit the Black Hawk County Courthouse in Waterloo and observe at least a portion of a trial in session. Contact the courthouse for days and times of trials. You should write a brief (3-5 pp) summary of your experience.
Grading Scale: NOTICE there are no plusses and minuses given
A=90% and above of possible points
B=80-89% of possible points
C=70-79% of possible points
D=60-69% of possible points
F=less than 60% of possible points
Article Presentation=50 pts
Paper=100 pts
Participation=75 pts
Court Experience=25 pts
HW=45 pts (9 @ 5 pts each)
Total= 295 possible points