Psychology Of Gender

Purpose: to help other instructors teaching the same course

Common Course ID:  PSYC 4190
CSU Instructor Open Textbook Adoption Portrait

Abstract:   This open textbook is being utilized in a Psychology course for undergraduate or graduate students by Dr. S. Haynes at California State University, Los Angeles. The open textbook provides an overview of different topics in gender theory through various perspectives: biopsychosocial, education, media, violence, marketing, intersectionality, economics, etc. The main motivation to adopt an open textbook was to prevent students from having to purchase a book. Most students access the open textbook in an e-book format.

Course Title and Number- Psychology 4190 Psychology of Gender
Brief Description of course highlights:  This course is a “GE critical thinking requirement, introductory social science course, research methods course. Psychological research and theory about gender, emphasis on socialization, stereotyping, expectations and effects on individuals; differences and similarities between women and men; intersections of gender, race, socioeconomic status, and sexuality”. 

Student population:  The students taking this course vary in majors, but psychology is usually the predominant; many want to become counselors, therapists, or work in other helping professions. This class is typically the first gender course that they have taken.

Learning or student outcomes:  List student learning outcomes for the course.
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between sex as a biological classification and gender as a social and psychological variable.
2. Gain knowledge of how society, culture, ethnicity, race, and social class can influence gendered behavior, attitudes, and identity.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the influence of gender-related variables on communication, relationships, identity, well-being, skills and abilities, work and career, parenting, violence, and sexual behavior.
4. Critically evaluate the extent of differences and similarities between women and men, boys and girls in major psychological and social domains (e.g., cognition, communication, personality, aggression, emotion, social status and power, social roles, and psychological well-being, disorders and treatment).

Textbook or OER/Low cost Title: The Psychology of Gender, 2nd Edition     

Brief Description: Published via Pressbooks; Concepts include the foundations of gender psychology, scientific study methods, and several perspectives: social, developmental, biological, physical, mental, education, achievement, industrial-organizational, occupational/workplace, stereotypes/discrimination

Please provide a link to the resource  E-book – https://opentext.wsu.edu/psychology-of-gender/front-matter/the-psychology-of-gender-2/

Authors: Kristy McRaney, Alexis Bridley, Lee William Daffin, Jr.

Student access:  Students use their computers to directly access the textbook by using the link provided to them for Pressbooks.

Provide the cost savings from that of a traditional textbook.  Prices for a standard textbook ranged from $144 (used, paperback, e-book) to $280 (new,, hard cover)....

License:  Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial ShareAlike 4.0 International license 

OER/Low Cost Adoption Process

Provide an explanation or what motivated you to use this textbook or OER/Low Cost option.  I chose this textbook because it was free, easily accessible, and provided a really excellent breakdown of this topic. I also like its simple yet efficient organization.

How did you find and select the open textbook for this course?  I browsed several OER sites and also typed the psychology of gender/gender psychology into the Yahoo search box. After reading through it, I liked it, and the decision was made.

Sharing Best Practices: If there is an OER training/class/workshop through your institution, take it so you can learn more, including ideas about how to access OER materials, where to find OER Conferences, outside resources, and more.

Describe any key challenges you experienced, how they were resolved  and lessons learned. I have not had any challenges. The materials are straightforward, simple to access, and simple to use.

Instructor Name - Susan Haynes
Pleas I am a Psychology professor at California State University, Los Angeles.   

Please describe the courses you teach 
Psychology of Gender
Abnormal Psychology
Social Psychology
Personality Psychology
Psychology - Stages of Maturity and Aging,
Physiology & Psychology of Violence and Aggression
Multicultural Psychology

Describe your teaching philosophy and any research interests related to your discipline or teaching.  

My teaching philosophy is simple. I believe that:
1. All students can learn
2. I can learn from them, too
3. Learning should be absolutely fun!