Marcia, I've thought about going to an "articles only" approach, but have never tried it. My main concern is that a lot of the older articles (many of the classics) simply aren't that accessible to students. Many of them use statistical procedures that are no longer all that familiar and they use terminology that we probably don't want our students to pick up (calling subjects and experimenters Ss and Es, for example).
I understand your problem in picking a text, though. I've probably used a dozen or so different texts over the years (including the time we were at GMU), and I haven't really liked any of them. Most recently I used Sternberg, but my students hated it (And it wasn't just that it was a class of slackers. Two of the 5 people in that session were just inducted into our Psi Chi chapter). I keep coming back to Solso - not that I'm particularly enamored of the text, but better the devil you know... All the best, Larry > -----Original Message----- > From: McKinley, Marcia [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 11:05 AM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: RE: cognitive textbooks (revisited) > > > Doug, > I don't have the book here, so will send examples privately > to you later. > > However, since we are on the topic...I have actually thought > about just abandoning a textbook for Exp Cog and developing > my own compilation of articles. Has anyone tried this or > have ideas about how this would work? > > Marcia > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Doug Wallen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 10:05 AM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: Re: cognitive textbooks (revisited) > > > Thanks for the information Marcia. I too have looked at the > first 3 or 4 > chapters of Willingham, was favorably impressed, and > considering adopting > it. Perhaps you could send me a few more specific examples of > the kind of > thing that caused problems for your students. > > As long as this topic has come up again, let me broadcast a > general call for > information. I teach a sophomore level course assuming no > prerequisites in > psych. The book I used for years was the Human Information > Processing by > Lindsay and Norman, which is now long out of print. I am > really seeking a > current book at about that level. I have used Matlin, > Galotti, Reed, and > Solso, all have worked to a degree, but are too difficult in > specific areas > for this level. Does anyone have suggestions for a book or > combination of > smaller books that might by appropriate? > -- > Doug Wallen, Psychology Dept. (507) 389-5818 > Minnesota State University, Mankato [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 23 Armstrong Hall > Mankato, MN 56001 > > > From: "McKinley, Marcia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Reply-To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 12:43:39 -0500 > > To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Subject: cognitive textbooks (revisited) > > > > A month or 2 ago, I posted a recommendation for a cog > textbook, in response to > > a request for info. After more time with it, I have a > different perspective > > on this textbook, which I feel like I should share, just in > case anyone was > > planning to use that book on my recommendation. > > > > The book is Willingham's Cognition: The Thinking Animal. > I am sure it is a > > very good book for very advanced students. My upper-level > students really > > enjoyed the first few chapters (which is when I > recommended); however, after > > this, they found it very confusing. In fact, we have > really stopped using it > > completely. I have ended up taking most of my lecture > notes and activities > > from Matlin's Cognition book, but don't know if I will use > that next time I > > teach this course (b/c I enjoy doing the activities as a > class, rather than > > students doing them individually.) I guess I will be on > the hunt for another > > one then. > > > > I wish there was a way to figure out this kind of > information beforehand, but > > I seem to need to actually *use* the book before I know its > value. Hope I > > didn't lead anyone astray with my earlier advice. > > > > Marcia > > > > Marcia J. McKinley, J.D., Ph.D. > > Assistant Professor of Psychology > > Mount St. Mary's College > > Emmitsburg, MD 21727 > > (301) 447-5394 x4282 > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
