Spring 2023 - PSYC 476 D100
Advanced Topics in Law and Forensic Psychology (4)
Class Number: 6932
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Adam Blanchard
ajb8@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
PSYC 201, 210, 268, 60 units, and a CGPA of 3.0. Other prerequisites vary by topic offering.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Course can be repeated for credit. Students may not take this course for further credit if similar topics are covered. See Psychology department website for course description.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course provides an overview of contemporary theory and research on wrongful convictions and discusses the role that psychologists play in assisting the police, courts, and correctional systems with issues related to wrongful convictions and other miscarriages of justice. The course focuses on providing an outline of the major theories, research methodology, and empirical findings related to the causes, consequences, and experiences of wrongful convictions.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
Topics:
Specific topics that will be covered include definitional and measurement issues, causes of wrongful convictions (e.g., eyewitness evidence, false confessions, forensic evidence, professional misconduct, biases, and other errors), consequences of wrongful convictions, dealing with claims of innocence in the criminal justice system, prevention and reform strategies, and future directions for theory and research into miscarriages of justice.
Grading
- Proposal: 5%
- Participation: 20%
- Presentation: 20%
- Reflection Papers: 20%
- Major Paper: 35%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
There is no required textbook for this course. Instead, students are assigned several articles per week that will be available online.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html