| Product Name: |
PsychSim: Interactive Graphic Simulations for Psychology |
| Level: |
First Year Tertiary |
| Platform: |
Macintosh® / PC - Windows® |
| Supplied Information: |
PsychSim is designed to accompany Psychology and Exploring Psychology, by David Myers, Psychology by D & S Hockenbury and Psychology by Peter Gray.
PsychSim is a set of 16 interactive graphic computer simulations plus some utility files. The modules are designed to enhance student learning by demonstrating classic experiments or simulating psychological processes in ways that would be difficult or impossible with conventional instruction materials. Each module can be completed in 15 to 20 minutes. |
| Possible Use: |
This product is suitable for First Year Tertiary courses for use by students without supervision. |
| Price: |
$40.00 |
| Developer/s: |
Thomas E. Ludwig (Hope College) |
| Review: |
PsychSim is a useful and popular software package containing 19 interactive graphic simulations that have been developed for use in Year 12 and first year psychology classes. The aim of the software is to provide classic psychology demonstrations and simulations to enhance student learning. Each module takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and is accompanied by worksheets. The topic areas covered by the modules include: sensation and perception (2); biological bases of behaviour (4); cognition (4); learning (3); social cognition (2); abnormal psychology (2); and descriptive statistics (2).
PsychSim is accompanied by a very basic manual (40 pages) which clearly outlines the system requirements and installation instructions. It also includes a statement of purpose for each module, gives a brief description of each, and also contains some very simple worksheets.
The modules outline in a "student-friendly" format some of the classic experiments in psychology and also some of the basic psychological processes. It also contains two very useful demonstrations of descriptive statistics that provide a painless introduction to these topics.
The content of the software is accurate and the instructions make it very easy to use. The student can exit the program at any stage and obtain feedback about their performance at multiple points. While it does not have a HELP function this is not a problem as the instructions and the design of the template make this unnecessary.
PsychSim can be networked which makes it a very useful teaching tool in undergraduate psychology courses. It is a worthwhile purchase as it demonstrates a range of concepts that could not be achieved using traditional teaching methods. However, its usefulness depends to a certain extent on having an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of pertinent psychological concepts, as it provides very little depth in this area.
Modules include: Neural messages; Hemispheric Specialisation; Hunger and the Fat Rat; EEG and Sleep Stages; The Auditory System; Visual Illusions; Iconic Memory; Forgetting; Cognitive Development; Classical Conditioning; Operant Conditioning; Maze Learning; Social Decision Making; Mystery Client; Computer Therapist; Expressing Emotion; Rational Thinking; Descriptive Statistics; and Correlation.
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|
Sue Burney, Department of Psychology
Monash University, Gippsland Campus
|
Other references
to this product: |
A review of software for introductory psychology instruction. P. Hornsby & M. Anderson, Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, and Computers, 22, 184-193 Psychology Software News, v.4, March 1994. |
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| Supplier: |
Worth Publishers Inc., 33 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003, USA |
|
http://www.worthpublishers.com/ |
| Date Record Last Modified: |
27/5/99 |
