1. Department of Psychology
Coverage: Findings from a National Sample of Introductory Psychology Syllabi
Scott C. Bates, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Utah State University
Logan UT

2. References
Irion, A. L. (1976). A survey of the introductory course in psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 3(1), 3-8.
Miller, B. & Gentile, B. F. (1998). Introductory course content and goals. Teaching of Psychology, 25(2), 89.

3. Method: Sample
National Center for Educational Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS*) was used to generate the sampling universe using the following criteria:
4 year, public, institutions of higher education
Within the 50 States & Washington, D.C.
Awarding BS/BA in Psychology
Universe N = 492
Randomly sampled institutions: 161 *

4. Method: Sample Universe N = 492 Sampled institutions: N = 161
Responses: n = 63 (38.9%)
Total Syllabi: 146
Excluded syllabi: 39
Wrong Semester: 10
No Schedule: 24
Sequential Courses: 12
Syllabi for present analysis
Syllabi: 107
Institutions: 51

5. Method: Domain Classification
Scheduled “Lecture Topics” classified into 17 domains:
Introduction
Research Methods
Bio
Sensation
Perception
Consciousness
Learning
Memory
Cognitive
Developmental
Motivation
Emotion
Health
Personality
Abnormal
Treatment
Social

6. Method: Domain Classification
Subtopics classified into broader topics
Sleep/Dreaming = Consciousness
Forgetting = Memory
Schizophrenia = Abnormal
There were some difficult classification decisions

7. Methods: Domain Classification
Classification Decisions
Nature/Nurture:
.50 Bio & .50 Developmental
Evolution / Evolutionary Psych
.5 Bio & .5 Motivation
Language / Thought / IQ
IQ = Cognitive
Thought = Cognitive
Language = .50 Cognitive & .50 Developmental
Positive Psychology
Personality

8. Methods: Domain Classification
Classification Decisions
Sensation and Perception
Split evenly into S & P
Sex & Gender (text specific formulation)
Developmental
Motivation
Social
Abnormal

9. Methods: Domain Classification
The Miscellaneous Domain
Topics that could be classified into multiple domains, where no specific information provided guidance
Environmental Psych
Work / IO
Culture
Applied Psychology

10. Results

11. Mean = 14.2
SD = 2.4
Min = 7
Max = 18
N = 107
r = .19

12. Graph 1. Proportion of syllabi indicating any coverage of domain.

13. Graph 2. Average class-time invested in each domain.
Hours

14. mean
mean

15. Discussion Syllabi follow textbooks
Most syllabi schedules tracked a text book
All but 2 syllabi (from one instructor) used a textbook from a major publisher
No single domain was covered in every syllabus.
Topics most likely to be covered are most likely to be covered with some depth.

16. Discussion
Should ‘brief’ texts as a low-cost alternative become ‘core’ texts with supplements that provide readings in less-used areas?