Psychology: Concepts and Applications

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.