Teaching Psychology
Dr. Alison Jane Martingano teaches online and in-person at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and Columbia University. Her courses blend theory and practice, and question common assumptions about human behavior found in ordinary discourse and the popular press
Day in the life of a Professor
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
Dr. Martingano currently teaches the following courses at University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
Great Myths of the Mind
This introductory course teaches information literacy skills necessary to critically evaluate and debunk popular psychology myths, such as the claim that people only use 10% of their brains. You learn to distinguish facts from opinions, recognize misinformation, and apply effective web-based search strategies. You analyze peer-reviewed articles versus popular media, engage in lateral reading exercises, and critically assess visual data displays for credibility. Through hands-on activities, you uncover biases, synthesize information, and understand academic integrity principles, including proper citation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Social Psychology
This course provides an engaging exploration of how individual behavior is influenced by group dynamics. You'll delve into topics such as social cognition, aggression, helping, and attraction through theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, and diverse research methods. This course encourages you to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of various theories and methodologies, apply social psychological concepts to everyday life, and understand the impact of sociocultural and international diversity on behavior. Through a combination of readings, discussions, assignments, and quizzes, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of social psychology and its applications.
Psychology Of Emotion
This course provides an engaging exploration of how individual behavior is influenced by group dynamics. You'll delve into topics such as social cognition, aggression, helping, and attraction through theoretical frameworks, empirical studies, and diverse research methods. This course encourages you to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of various theories and methodologies, apply social psychological concepts to everyday life, and understand the impact of sociocultural and international diversity on behavior. Through a combination of readings, discussions, assignments, and quizzes, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of social psychology and its applications.
Applied Research Lab
This advanced course offers an immersive experience where you’ll apply psychological principles in real-world contexts, develop essential research skills, and communicate your findings to diverse audiences. You'll work directly with Dr. Martingano on one or two research projects tailored to your expertise and interests. For example, using virtual reality to measure empathy, exploring the relationship between empathy and pet ownership, or investigating effective listening techniques through online and offline experiments.
COLUMBIA COURSES
Dr. Martingano currently teaches the following courses at Columbia University
Introduction to the Science of Psychology
This course introduces students to the scientific study of the human mind, brain, and behavior. You'll establish a strong grounding in scientific principles and methodology, applying these concepts to topics like personality, learning, memory, prejudice, and psychopathology. You'll learn to use empirical methods to study the human condition, appreciate experimental rigor, and question common assumptions about human behavior found in ordinary discourse and the popular press. With an understanding of the scientific method and key psychological findings, you'll conduct your own research and complete asynchronous work between class sessions.
Understanding Human Behavior
This course explores major psychological theories and research on human social behavior, examining why humans help each other and why they sometimes cause harm. Topics include empathy, prejudice, helping, compliance, bullying, conformity, and personality development, with discussions on psychological methods for predicting and preventing anti-social behavior.