Synopses & Reviews
Like reading a magazine-not studying from a text-Plotnik's PSYCHOLOGY, EIGHTH EDITION will draw you in and show you how visual and exciting the study of psychology can be. Rod Plotnik's modular, visually-oriented approach to the fundamentals of psychology makes even the toughest concepts engaging and entertaining. Incorporating the latest research updates, the text breaks concepts down into small, easily digested chunks that give you and great flexibility how you approach and study the subject. This Eighth Edition expands upon Plotnik's commitment to helping you learn. For instance, For instance, "Learning Links" features in the text connect you to the newly updated PowerStudy 3.0 CD-ROM. In addition, you can access the Book Companion Website that includes personalized Self-Study Assessments-giving you even further assistance in reviewing and prioritizing study time for maximum effectiveness.
Synopsis
Using a unique "magazine-style" format, Rod Plotnik and Haig Kouyoumdjian's modular, visual approach to the fundamentals gets students involved with and excited about psychology by making even the toughest psychology concepts engaging and entertaining to learn.
About the Author
Rod Plotnik earned his Ph.D. as a biological psychologist from University of Florida and a post doctorate at Yale University. He has been drawn to teaching students through visuals to get them excited about the material, which he also does throughout his text. When Dr. Kouyoumdjian took his first college psychology class at Diablo Valley College, He had the opportunity to use Introduction to Psychology (3rd ed.) by Rod Plotnik. He can still recall the many conversations he had with peers and family members sharing the fascinating stories he read about and his overall enthusiasm for the textbook. For the first time ever, he did the unimaginable--that is he began reading ahead because he was impatient to read the next great story and learn the next interesting concept. Plotnik's text sparked Haig's interest in psychology and he went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science at Saint Mary's College of California, a liberal arts college in the Bay Area.Dr. Kouyoumdjian's interest in psychology continued to deepen while in college and he went on to receive a Master of Arts in psychology at San Diego State University, where he had the unique experience of working closely with Rod Plotnik, who at that time was a Professor in the department and supervisor of the graduate teaching associates training program. Under Plotnik's close supervision, Dr. Kouyoumdjian began teaching undergraduate Introduction to Psychology courses at the university using Plotnik's 4th and 5th editions. Following Dr. Kouyoumdjian's education and training at San Diego State University, he attended University of Nebraska--Lincoln, where he received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. While there, he continued to teach Introduction to Psychology courses and used Plotnik's 6th edition. Dr. Kouyoumdjian's primary areas of research focused on child maltreatment and Latino mental health, which resulted in several publications. He is now an Assistant Professor at Mott Community College in Flint, MI.
Table of Contents
"The community college student generally needs a practical oriented text with ?life? examples to lock-in concepts. No other text does this better than Plotnik."
"Students receive an in-depth presentation of the materials and are then able to test themselves in the Concept Review before proceeding to the next topic area. I also appreciate the Summary Test, Critical Thinking, and Links to Learning sections. The end of chapter Summary Tests are outstanding. Since critical thinking is a major requirement for our accreditation process, it is a major part of my syllabus."
"The Research Focus section is absolutely necessary and adequate. The cultural diversity section makes some interesting points though example.""I plan on adopting the 7th edition. This text has resonated well with students. It has the finest exam band editor I have used to date, very intuitive.""The major strengths of the modules are the accuracy of information, clear writing style, module organization and Concept Review/Summary Test sections. I especially liked that there were many, many new citations included in these modules."The strengths of this text are numerous. First and most importantly, students love the book, which means they read it. I have had more unsolicited compliments from students on the Plotnik text than any book I have used in over 15 years of teaching. The visuals are great and very engaging. The examples are relevant to the student populations and aid in encoding the material in an elaborative way. Application of material is a must and this book does it very well. Language is clear and at the appropriate level for the majority of students in my classes. Theoretically it is eclectic and relatively evenhanded. The cultural diversity sections are outstanding.