Psychology - Concepts and Applications (Hardcover)

This new text offers a concept-based approach with each chapter organized into discrete learning units or modules. This helps students focus on one topic at a time within the context of a larger chapter structure. Concept-signaling is a unique pedagogy embedded within a complete learning system so that as students read, they are introduced to the same concept a number of different ways--through figures, charts, or marginal inserts--in addition to an explanation integrated into the text. Within each unit, in-text tools help them encode, retain, and recall complex information.

In order to achieve four main goals--to enhance student learning, engage student interest, sharpen critical-thinking skills, and incorporate technology--the learning units contain a unique beginning, end, and pedagogical structure. Each contains a number of learning tools, such as "Key Concepts that help students identify and recall the main issues in each module; "Survey Questions to test and reinforce learning in the chapter summary; "Concept Charts to summarize and review material visually to provide a relational connection; "Think About It features that pose thought-provoking questions to sharpen critical-thinking skills; and "Try This Out features that offer service learning suggestions, self-assessment questionnaires, and hands-on activities. "Review It and "Recall It sections at the end of each module ensure that students take the time to review the material and test their knowledge by completing a short quiz."Did You Know That?... provides a bulleted list of chapter opening questions that preview key topics to help stimulate thinking.The "Chapter Opener describes a real-world vignette or overview, introducing the reader to topics covered in the chapter."Application Modules help students see how psychological principles can be applied to real-world problems and issues.Other end-of-chapter features include "Tying It Together, Summing Up Q&A, Thinking Critically About Psychology, Key Terms, PsychStart CD-ROM preview, and a "WebWorks Web Site preview."Pioneer Boxes appear throughout chapters and provide an interesting glimpse into the lives of key researchers who helped shape the field of psychology.