Im going to be doing a review on all 5 modules that I took this sem, for the benefit of whoever else may want to take the module too. They are
PL2132 (Research and Statistical Methods 2),
PL3232 (Biological Psychology),
SSB2216 (Employee Management in Singapore)
PL3235 (Social Psychology)
PH2110 (Logic) (Philosophy mod)
I'll answer 5+1 questions for each: What is it about? How's the workload? How difficult is it? Any miscellaneous tips? Should you take it? and a new question : "How did I do for it?"
If you want to see previous reviews for PL1101E, NM1101E, PH1102E, LAF1201, PL2131, click
this link.
Do note that modules do vary across semesters, depending on which professor is taking it, so I will include the name of the professor for your benefit.
PL2132 - Research and Statistical Methods 2
Prof: Sim Teck Ngee
What is it about?
A continuation from PL2131, this teaches you that everything you have learn in PL2131 is useless and you should use what you learn in PL2132.
Ok fine, it teaches you more advanced statistical techniques besides the t-tests that you've been learning in PL2131.
How's the workload?
There is a whopping THREE textbooks for this module - however, I daresay you can clear this module without even touching any of them, IF you are taking it under Prof Sim.
In fact, this module was probably the one with one of the lowest workloads this semester, apart from PH2110. Read the next section for an elaboration.
There is one mid term exam (short answer), 2 small quizzes (MCQ), 1 final exam, and 1 experimental study (plan and design a simple experiment as a group, carry it out, and write an individual report).
It's not as much as it sounds, because the mid terms and finals are both open book, and the quizzes are short.
One 2h lecture per week and one 2h lab every week
How difficult is it?
After scaring you with the fact that there are 3 textbooks, I have to clarify something.
Firstly, one of the textbooks is written in a very readable, casual, humorous way (but is also the thickest) (andy fields), one of them has information that you should already know from PL2131 (black book), and the last one is probably the most important and small one, but also the most complicated one. (ANOVA)
Textbooks aside, the way Prof Sim conducts this module is that he focuses on UNDERSTANDING why we you are doing what you're doing, rather than becoming proficient at using all the complicated formula in ANOVA (there are alot which he didn't even touch).
Also, for him, the textbooks are supplementary, meaning he just tests whatever he teaches during lectures (and is in the lecture notes). Thus lectures are VERY important.
It also helps that he is a VERY good lecturer, in that he is very clear and deliberate in his explanations. If you can't understand when he lectures, you won't understand when anyone else does.
He also seems to pick out only what he deems important from the textbook and teaches them, so you don't have to read the entire textbook(s). When I compare with other years' exam papers, his are definitely the easiest ones. (which may or may not be a good thing)
As for the experiment, it's just designing a simple experiment that you will carry out on your own as a group. Of course, your design needs to be free of confounds, etc. The report is an individual assignment though - and I suggest you work on it properly.
Miscalleneous Tips
Study the lecture notes. Go for lectures. Study the lecture notes again. He only tests from his notes! (you need to understand the concepts well to answer the questions, so PERHAPS reading the textbook MAY help. -shrugs-.)
Should you take it?
If you have taken PL2131, I suppose you will have to do this module too. If you haven't, you can't do this module. So ... it's either you end up taking or you don't. It's not a choice. Haha. But yea it's pretty easy overall, assuming you're under Prof Sim. I don't know about other lecturers.
How did I do for it?
I screwed up the report for the experiment, probably because I didn't invest as much time in it as I should. I started on it early and ended early and never made continual improvements. Only got a C+ for it which was devastating, given my performance in the other areas have been stellar - I'm pretty sure I got A/A+ level marks for my quizzes + mid terms. (way above median score)
Finals was relatively easy, will post up all my grades in a separate post to be linked later.
Predicted score: B+
PL3232 - Biological Psychology
Prof: Travellia Tjokro
What is it about?
The main part of it is all about the brain - how different functions such as memory and emotions link to the brain. If you like learning biological stuff like how suprachiasmatic nuclei controls the circadian rhythms of the body, this is for you.
How's the workload?
One Biological Psych textbook, which to me is the same as two normal textbooks. Haha ok maybe i'm biased, I don't like bio much. But it's basically pure memory work.
1 mid terms, 1 finals, 2 presentations to do on 2 different journal articles (pair work).
one 2h lecture weekly, one 2hr tutorial fortnightly.
Tutorials are basically useless besides for you to do your presentations. You do nothing in weeks that you don't present besides sit there and listen to the other groups.
Lectures are.. more or less useless too. She just teaches stuff from the textbook so, and if i'm not wrong there's nothing from the notes that isn't in the textbook, apart from the occasional term here and there. You may want to have a look at her notes just to be safe. Totally ponnable imo.
How difficult is it?
I don't know, how good is your memory?
I didn't feel like it tested my application much, just memorize and memorize. I mean, it's bio!
Miscalleneous Tips
Do read your textbook thoroughly - the finals' essay questions were EACH more or less asking you regurgitate 3 studies outlined in the textbook. So if you memorized the textbook you'll ace it.
Should you take it?
It's a core mod for Psych majors/minors so you have no choice. If you like Biology, why not. There's not alot on genes though, so if you want that, go try Genes and Society (Some GEK)How did I do for it?
Did only average for mid terms, I didn't memorize enough. I do selective memorizing so ... you need to memorize everything. :S And don't think my presentations were good. :( Finals was so-so. I could remember the 3 'empirical evidence' for the essay portion though so I guess it's good.
Predicted Grade - B
SSB2216 - Employee Management in Singapore
Lecturer - Hanoi Lok
What is it about?
A very theory-based module on the key aspects of employee management - such as training and development, performance appraisal/management, etc.
Don't expect to learn anything factual such as how Singapore companies do this this this etc, that's not what this mod is about.
It is very general and theoretical which I thought was quite dumb, since alot of it is common sense. For example, 'what is an employee like today as compared to in the past?'. You can probably smoke out something like 'oh more demanding, want flexi-hours, want work-life balance, etc'.
How's the workload?
1 group project which involves conducting an interview with an organization, a presentation, and a report.
No midterms, 1 open book final exam, which is basically GP style. 3 choose 2 essays.There is one textbook which is virtually useless.. I didn't touch it after the first 2 weeks because its contents are quite useless. Lectures are very important - the module only has one weekly 3hour lecture which is a small-group seminar style. There is class participation, so try to speak up.The project is manageable, provided your group doesn't suck. There is virtually no readings to be done, just ... listen in class and think.
How difficult is it?
What I really dislike about the module is that what you learn in lectures is not really assessed in the finals! Or rather, the format of the final exams doesn't adequately and accurately assess what you were taught.
The issues we were asked to think about during class are not really helpful to writing the essays in the finals.
The essays are really GP style, and you need to have alot of examples so that you can support it well. Of course, knowing the basic theory is necessary, so read your lecture notes.The lectures were quite interesting because Hanoi is a funny lecturer and shares alot of her personal experiences. However, as I said, it doesn't map onto the final exams, so I found this module more or less useless.
Miscallenous Tips
I don't know. Read newspapers and cut out articles? Learn how to write a good essay? Keeping up with current affairs regarding employee management will definitely help you write a better essay.
Should you take it?
No. Take another SS. Unless you're good at essay writing, then go for it.How did I do for it?
My group more or less screwed up the presentation, and more or less got a sub-par report, and I more or less smoked my way through the finals. I'm PRAYING for a C so I can S/U this mod. plsplspls.
Predicted Grade : C
PL3235 - Social Psychology
Prof: Dr Cha Yeow Siah
What is it about?
Psychology with regards to social relationships and social situations. A lot of common sense theories and some theories that defy common sense. To give you a tease: brainstorming has been shown to result in a LOWER quality and quantity of ideas!
What is the workload?
1 standard textbook with about 1 chapter per week, 1 mid terms, 1 finals, 1 essay. Pretty standard and manageable.
Mid terms is 60 MCQ and 15 Fill-in-the-blanks.
Finals is 60 MCQ, 15 FOTB, 3 choose 2 short essay questions.
1 2h weekly lecture, 1 2 hr fortnightly tutorial. Both are a waste of time, tutorials are worse though. Prof Cha tries to make the lectures interesting with videos and stuff and he is mildly humorous, so it's not that bad, even though the lecture is more or less useless and you can just study the textbook.
Tutorials seem to be an afterthought - It's like because they can't NOT have tutorials, so they have them. Absolutely useless.
How difficult is it?
How well can you memorize? It's another memory module, though it helps if you understand the theories and concepts because you will have to apply them. For example, you learn what 'social facilitation theory' is, and an MCQ may then describe 4 scenarios and they ask you which is social facilitation theory.
You need to memorize the terms though, for the fill-in-the-blanks. Not just the definitions, but the terms.
Miscallenous Tips
You need to study lecture notes as well, because he tests stuff from there which he randomly puts in and is not in the textbook. Just the occasional terms.. So you need a friend to help you copy notes if you plan on ponning lectures.And remember to learn the TERMS not just the definition. So if I provide you with the desciption: "the tendency to not put in your full effort when working in a group" you should be able to respond "social loafing!"
This is exactly what the fill in the blanks tests. If you can recall terms by reading the definition/scenario.
Should you take it?
It is fairly interesting, learning about all the social phenomena and learning some stuff which may contradict conventional thinking. I liked it, just that the textbook that Prof Cha chose SUCKS BALLS. It's the worst textbook in the world - authors Baumeister and Bushman
Very disorganized, very random examples, random pictures, etc.How did I do for it?
For midterms, I neglected to memorize the terms and thus i couldn't recall what the definitions. Hence my memory couldn't recall what the terms were when shown the definitions. So don't make this mistake!
Did well for the essay, average for the mid terms.. hope I do well for the finals :SPredicted Grade: B+
PH2110 - Logic
Prof: Dr Ben Blumson
What is it about?
Reasoning with logic. That's really the most apt description I can give you. Well, you learn how to tell if an argument form is valid via truth tables, trees, etc.
What is the workload?
1 mini textbook which is like damn tiny and little.
Fortnightly online quizzes - all MCQ. Not as easy as it sounds, but you can discuss with friends la.
Mid term exam + final exam.
1 weekly 2h lecture and 1 fortnightly 2h tutorial.
Lectures and relatively important though I find he can be done usually in 1h+ and he talks alot of crap as fillers. Tutorials are very important because you'll truly learn and understand the techniques and you can ask questions if you don't know.
How difficult is it?
The key is to understand the steps and the, erm, logic behind everything you're done. You will learn a few proofs here and there which you must try to internalize so that you can apply in the same way for the exams.
There is relatively little to read and it's more chim than it is heavy. Once you get it, you should be all good.
Miscallenous Tips
Do the practice questions in the textbook! They're probably the only way you can practice trees and predicate logic and etcetc.
Try your best to understand and take down whatever he teaches during tutorials, they're always important and useful. You really need to UNDERSTAND the reasoning behind certain stuff, because the exam tests your ability to apply the deductive reasoning process.
Should you take it?
If you have a need for cognition and want something relatively light in terms of workload/readings, this is for you. It seems to be a popular GEM too, so be prepared to pay abit more for it if you're bidding as a GEM.How did I do for it?
Mid terms was decent, I prepared well for it and got a decent score (I think). For the online quizzes.. they're difficult as hell lol. Even with discussion with friends, I got 1/10 for one and 3/10 for another. So.. all the best for the quizzes :p
Finals was ok.. didn't seem THAT difficult. But I think my bad quizzes will pull me down.Predicted Grade: B+
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Ok that's all I have, I will post up my results on 31st May so you can judge whether to trust my advice or not xD
